Chapter 1While I Fought for Breath, He Peeled Shrimp for His Intern

It was the annual company barbecue.

I took a bite of the vegetable salad, drenched in some kind of creamy dressing.

A second later, my lips started to tingle. My throat swelled shut, and I couldn't breathe.

Realizing it was an allergic reaction, I shoved my phone at my boyfriend, Liam.

“Call 911.”

Liam took the phone.

He unlocked it, then handed it to his intern, Mia.

“You do it. My hands are shaking.”

Mia took the phone and swiped across the screen a few times.

A moment passed.

She sent a link to a handbag to Liam.

“Liam, what do you think of this one?”

By now, I couldn’t speak at all, only a choked, gurgling sound escaping my throat.

Liam studied the picture of the bag intently.

“The color’s not right for you.”

He took the phone back and opened the camera, pointing it at my swollen, disfigured face.

Mia leaned in for a look.

“Liam, stop. Rachel doesn’t look good like this.”

* * *

With Mia’s words, Liam put his phone away, his brow furrowed in annoyance as he looked at me.

“Rachel, did you just eat something bad?” he snapped, impatience lacing his voice. “Don’t scare Mia. You know how sensitive she is.”

I shook my head frantically, forcing a ragged hiss of air from my constricted throat. I raised a hand, pointing desperately at my backpack.

My life-saving medicine was in there. My EpiPen.

Liam completely misunderstood. His expression soured.

“What the hell are you trying to do?” he demanded. “Can’t you just use your words? What’s with all the pointing?”

Our colleagues started to gather around us, murmuring and pointing.

“Hey, what’s wrong with Rachel?”

“Her face is swollen up like a balloon. Is it an allergic reaction?”

“God, that looks terrifying.”

Amid the chatter, Mia suddenly burst into tears with a loud “wah.” She threw herself into Liam’s arms, her shoulders shaking.

“Liam, did I do something wrong?” she sobbed. “Is Rachel mad because I was showing you that bag? Does she think I was trying to stop you from calling for help?”

Liam immediately wrapped his arms around her, patting her back soothingly.

“It’s not your fault, Mia,” he murmured. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

He turned to glare at me, his eyes filled with resentment.

“She’s just throwing another one of her princess tantrums, trying to make everyone pay attention to her. Just ignore her. We’re not getting involved.”

Black spots danced in my vision as my consciousness began to fade. With the last ounce of my strength, I crawled toward my backpack.

My fingertips were just about to touch the zipper when a polished leather shoe stomped down hard on the back of my hand.

Pain shot up my arm, but I couldn’t even scream.

He loomed over me, his voice dripping with contempt.

“Rachel, have you made enough of a scene? Are you happy now that the whole company is laughing at you?”

From behind him, Mia peeked out, tears still glistening on her cheeks, but her eyes held a triumphant, vicious glint. She leaned closer, her voice a soft whisper only the three of us could hear.

“Rachel, did you like the peanut sauce? I went to three different stores to find that special extra-rich blend, just for you.”

My world narrowed to a pinpoint.

I forced my other hand up, pointing a trembling finger at Mia’s innocent-looking face, trying to show Liam the truth.

Seeing my gesture, Liam’s face darkened. He shoved me away forcefully.

“Now you’re trying to hit her? Rachel, stop bullying Mia! She’s timid, don’t you dare scare her!”

The surrounding colleagues immediately jumped to his defense, their words a torrent of condemnation.

“Yeah, Rachel, you’re going way too far.”

“Mia’s just a new intern. She’s so sweet and fragile, how could you be so mean to her?”

“Liam, your girlfriend has a serious attitude problem. You really need to get her under control.”

My breathing grew faint, my vision blurring into a meaningless smear of color.

I had been with Liam for two years. He always thought I was just an ordinary girl. Today’s barbecue was supposed to be my final test for him before I decided to marry him.

Through the last slivers of light, I saw Liam holding a weeping Mia, gently wiping the tears from her face.

Finally, someone in the crowd noticed something was truly wrong.

“I think she’s really in trouble! Look, her lips are turning blue!”

“Quick! Someone call an ambulance!”

In the ensuing chaos, someone finally remembered to dial 911.

I collapsed onto the ground, my body beginning to convulse uncontrollably.

As all eyes were on me, Mia subtly hooked my backpack with the tip of her foot, sending it sliding several feet away.

My life-saving EpiPen rolled out, landing right underneath the scorching hot grill.

No one noticed.

Liam crouched down, patting my bloated cheek with a show of false concern, his voice sharp with irritation.

“Rachel, stop faking it. It’s getting old. The ambulance is on its way, what more do you want? Everyone’s watching. If you keep this up, I’m going to get really angry.”

My consciousness sank into an endless darkness.

In the distance, I could hear the faint wail of a siren growing closer.

Liam was still cooing at the girl in his arms, his voice dripping with affection.

“Don’t be scared. She’s fine. She just loves to make a big deal out of nothing.”