I Stopped Loving Him When He Let Me Bleed Out novel Chapter 98

A lump instantly formed in her throat.

She could picture exactly how she had looked when she first sent that picture.

She had sat cross-legged on her dorm bed, agonizing over the caption, typing it out and deleting it dozens of times.

Terrified of bothering him. Terrified of annoying him. Terrified he would delete her.

The crushing vulnerability of having a desperate, unrequited crush—the delicate balance of people-pleasing, quiet agony, and fragile hope—rushed back into her veins all at once.

Sienna stared at the text that accompanied Finn's photo:

"This was the very first picture you sent me after we became friends."

Her heart seized as if a fist had crushed it.

He actually remembered?

It was so long ago. How could he possibly remember?

Back then, she had been the one throwing herself at him. Finn was always untouchable and distant, taking hours to reply, and usually only offering a cold 'Mhm.'

How could he...

Penny, sitting beside her, noticed all the color drain from her face and asked worriedly, "Sienna, are you okay?"

Sienna rested her forehead in her palm, her voice muffled.

"I lost my appetite. Can you clear my tray for me? Thanks."

She stood up, swaying slightly on her feet, and bolted from the cafeteria.

Penny called after her, but she didn't hear a thing.

Rushing back to the lounge, she locked the door and slumped against the wood.

The emotional whiplash was physically sickening.

That crushing pressure in her chest was back, stealing the air from her lungs.

Why?

She had made an absolute vow to wipe this man from her life. Yet here he was, constantly invading her space, effortlessly plucking at her heartstrings with a single move.

No!

She absolutely refused to be this weak.

She slammed her phone face-down on the desk, took a massive gulp of air, stood up straight, and rigidly adjusted the collar of her white coat.

She still had afternoon rounds.

Her first instinct was to ask a colleague to cover for her, but she quickly changed her mind. She wouldn't admit defeat.

He was just an ordinary patient. A completely ordinary patient. There was absolutely no need to hide from him.

Later that afternoon, when Sienna pushed open Finn's door, he was sitting up in bed, his phone in his hand.

Seeing her walk in, he dropped his phone and straightened up.

His left cheek was still puffy, and the deep purple bruises had faded into sickish yellow-greens, but the eye that had been swollen shut was finally open today.

He fixed his completely unobstructed gaze squarely on her, not dodging her eyes for a second.

"Dr. Sterling."

Her gaze dropped to his hand before snapping back to his face.

His expression was deadly serious. He didn't look like he was joking.

"It really hurts."

Sienna's professional instinct kicked in; she couldn't simply ignore a patient's complaint of chest pain.

She walked back, leaned over the mattress, and pressed her hand exactly where he was pointing.

"Here?"

"A little further left."

Her fingers slid across his chest.

"Here?"

"Yeah."

She applied gentle pressure, feeling the heat and tension of his muscles beneath her fingertips.

"Does it hurt when I push?"

"It hurts."

She started to pull away, but he suddenly grabbed her wrist.

His grip wasn't bruising, but it was just firm enough that she couldn't break free.

A sudden tug threw her completely off balance, and she crashed down against his chest in a wildly compromising tangle of limbs.