Falling for Her- A Heiress Abandoned

Chapter 4

When I came to, I was in a hospital bed, a nurse gently removing the IV from my arm.

"You're finally awake," she said with a soft smile. "A kind stranger brought you in—you fainted from an allergic reaction. You also tore a ligament in your right hand where the dog bit you. From now on, no heavy lifting or overexertion, understood?"

She gave me a sympathetic look as she packed up her supplies. "You've got to take better care of yourself. If anything happens again, don't hesitate to come straight to the hospital. The girl in the next room just had insomnia, but her two brothers still demanded a full-body workup."

She walked off, muttering something under her breath about how dramatic young people could be these days.

I just sat there, stunned.

Slowly, I raised my right hand. Pain ripped through me the second I moved it.

Tears blurred my vision.

Painting had been the only thing keeping me afloat since my parents died. Now, even that small comfort might be taken from me.

I wandered out of the room in a daze—only to come face-to-face with Kyle Grant, carrying Jenny Foster on his back. Kevin Grant followed behind, holding her shoes like a doting valet.

"Lynn, are you okay?" Jenny asked sweetly, feigning concern. "I'm so sorry I delayed Kyle and Kevin from getting you to the hospital."

Her voice was all sugar and sympathy, but the sparkle in her eyes told a different story—one of satisfaction, of victory.

And, as always, Kyle and Kevin bought every word.

They rushed to comfort her, barely sparing me a glance before turning on me.

"You're not even sick. Why are you faking it now?" Kevin snapped, but his words died when he noticed the thick bandage wrapped around my hand.

"It's just a dog bite," Kyle said flatly. "Is it really that dramatic?"

Their words sliced through me.

I looked them dead in the eyes, then walked past without saying a word.

"Lynn Evans!" Kevin barked behind me.

I stopped and turned slowly. "What now?"

"That dog—Jenny adopted it out of kindness. If you're planning something, I swear—if you upset her again, you'll regret it."

His voice faltered when our eyes met.

I just gave him a nod. "Sure."

For a second, something flickered in Kyle's expression. But then it vanished, replaced with the same indifference.

When I got back home, I gathered every photo I had of Kyle and Kevin and tucked them away in a box.

Then I unclasped the Grant family's heirloom jade pendant from around my neck—the one Kyle gave me years ago—and handed it back.

He took it, eyeing me warily. "What's this? You trying to play some game?"

I shook my head, exhausted. "Give it to someone who actually matters."

His grip tightened on the pendant.

"You've worn it for years," he said with a bitter laugh. "Jenny probably wouldn't want something so… tainted."

Even now, after everything, his words still found a way to hurt.

"Lynn!" Jenny called brightly, prancing over and latching onto Kyle's arm. "Tomorrow's my birthday party. You'll come, won't you?"

I didn't answer. I just turned and walked away.

Kyle raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

The next morning, I woke to my door being kicked open—so hard the entire frame rattled.