Page 120 of Married to Lies

As my mind cleared, it hit me even more strongly that I could have died. And I wanted to cry because I’d spent so much of my life being afraid, hiding, feeling guilty instead of using my mistakes as lessons. “Can we start over?” I said through tears. “Please?”

“No.” He pulled back to look at me. “I’m not starting over with you, not when I know how much I love you.”

A happy, teary laugh passed through my lips. “I love you too.”

He held me, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

A knock sounded on the door. “She’s awake.” It was my brother’s voice. I stared at him in shock. “I’m at your hospital?”

“No,” he replied, stepping into the room.

Quentin squeezed my hand. “I’ll give you two some time.”

I didn’t want Quentin to go, but he slipped away from me, saying, “I’m going to call Jada and tell her you’re awake. Bryce said she hasn’t slept because she doesn’t want to miss an update.”

Once I nodded my acceptance, Quentin left the room, and Dennis stepped farther in, quietly checking my monitors, then my temperature. He sat on the edge of my bed to listen to my heart with his stethoscope. We’d grown up together, probably had been around each other more than anyone else, and yet he felt like a stranger.

“I think you’ll make a full recovery,” he finally said. He dropped his head into his hands. “God, Rei, I’ve been so shitty and selfish.”

My jaw dropped because I couldn’t believe my golden-boy brother was saying that. “Excuse me?”

He looked at me with red-rimmed eyes. “When Quentin called Mom to tell her what happened, all I could think about was that I missed your wedding, and then I thought about our last conversation, and I couldn’t remember the last time we really spoke. We didn’t even talk at Christmas, and not really at Thanksgiving either. Who does that?”

I opened my mouth, but he shook his head. “Don’t answer that.”

My heart broke with that uncomfortable feeling. I wanted to save him from guilt because I knew how painful it could be, but everything he said was true.

“If it makes you feel better,” he said, “Mom’s been calling everyone on the prayer tree since she found out. There’s been a round-the-clock prayer circle in the waiting room since you were admitted yesterday morning.”

“She’s here?” I asked, and I heard the beeping on the screen go faster.

Noticing, Dennis laughed. “Mom does have that effect on people.”

I fell silent, looking at the bracelet on my wrist. It had my chosen name and date of birth. “She’ll probably give me an earful about having my detectors up and running.” I shook my head. “Has she read the news?”

“We all have,” he said with a look akin to awe. “I could never do what you do. I know Mom and Dad are so proud that I’m a doctor, but I couldn’t manage hundreds of employees like that.” There was a look of pride in his eyes that made my throat feel tight. “You’re amazing, Rei, and we’ve missed it all this time.”

“I never wanted you all to love me for what I accomplished. I wanted you to love me for who I am.” My cursed voice cracked, and I angrily wiped away tears.

Dennis looked down at his lap, blinking quickly. “I have a lot of learning to do. I never want Lucy to feel that way.”

It wasn’t an apology, not exactly, but it was an acknowledgement. And if that was all I ever got, I felt at peace about it, because at least Lulu would have it a little bit better than me.

“Do you want to see Mom and Dad?” Dennis asked.

I shook my head, trying not to feel guilty. “Not yet.”

He nodded with a smile that felt like a secret between us. “I’ll tell them you’re not medically ready for visitors other than your husband.” He started toward the door, then paused. “Rei?”

“Yeah?” I managed, feeling weaker than ever. My eyelids were growing heavier by the second.

“I like Quentin,” my brother said. “Seems like he really loves you.”

My lips weren’t too tired to smile. “I love him too.”

58 Quentin

Jada screamed when I told her that Rei would make a full recovery. She screamed even louder when I said that Rei had woken up enough for us to have a heart to heart and make up.