Chapter 4: Chapter 4

After the spiking incident, Ingrid had refused to see Ned, crying and insisting instead that he should be responsible for Angeline if anything were to happen.

Ned didn’t want to lose the love of his life. He swore to the heavens that he never had sex with Angeline that night. However, he wasn’t sure whether he’d actually done it or not.

These few days, he’d been trying to separate Ingrid and Angeline, worried that Angeline would tell Ingrid about what happened that night.

Seeing that Ingrid wasn’t wearing a coat, Ned chided her with a frown and took the coat from her arms before covering her shoulders with it. He then pulled her into a hug and hurried into the building. “Let’s go in!”

“I’m not going in! I still have a schedule in Shangton tomorrow, so I’m on my way to the airport now. I’ll be returning late tomorrow night,” Ingrid said, trying to push Ned away.

She then looked at him and said, “I’m just here to give you your birthday present. Happy birthday! I hope you guys have lots of fun tonight!”

“It’s my birthday today. It only comes once a year! Can’t I send you to the airport early tomorrow morning instead? I’ve got something important on tonight. Please? I promise that no outsiders will be around. It’s just our own gang of people!”

Ned didn’t take the gift bag from Ingrid that she handed to him. Instead, he grabbed her wrists and continued to try sweet-talking her into staying. It was quite different from his usual nonchalant and goofy manner. He just looked like a huge puppy now.

Angeline knew at once who was the “outsider” that Ned kept referring to.

She pulled her scarf closer to her face and stuck her hands back in her pockets. Then, she lowered her gaze and continued down the steps.

Ingrid looked at Angeline’s disappearing figure and tried to comfort Ned. “I know what you’re planning for tonight. They told me about it. I’m sorry, Ned, but I can’t accept your proposal right now. My answer is the same as always.

“If you regain your memories and still choose me, then I will happily be with you. I just don’t want you to blame me if you regain your memories with Angie only after we get married.”

Ned had planned on proposing to Ingrid tonight, but one of his friend told Ingrid about it beforehand.

“Is it because Angeline bullshitted about something to you?” Ned asked, suddenly getting furious. The veins in his forehead turned visible.

Without waiting for Ingrid to respond, he rushed down toward Angeline and grabbed her roughly by the arm. Then, he shoved her down the steps with hatred in his eyes, screaming, “What the fuck did you tell Ingrid? How could you be such a fucking shameless bitch?”

“Angie!” Zachary yelled in shock.

Ned had shoved Angeline so hard that she fell past the barrier and landed smack in the middle of the club’s man-made pool decoration by the entrance. As the icy-cold water enveloped her, she also felt a sharp pain from the corner of her forehead.

“Angie!” Ingrid cried.

Ingrid and Zachary hurried over and fished Angeline out of the water, helping her up.

“Ned, what on earth were you thinking?” Ingrid exclaimed at Ned as she grabbed hold of Angeline’s arm.

Angleine was still submerged in the cold water. Her mind had gone completely blank. Blood was also dripping down her lashes.

“Ned Fletcher! You’re fucking out of your mind!”

Zachary tried to pull Angeline out of the freezing pond. Then, he said, “I’m sending her to the hospital!”

He lifted Angeline up and half-carried her out of the water. Angeline still had a dazed look on her face as she lifted her hand and gingerly touched the red, sticky liquid she saw on her lashes. She seemed to still be out of it as she moved robotically.

Ned didn’t think that pushing Angeline would end up with her being covered in blood. However, his rage grew when he saw the look in Angeline’s eyes.

“Why the fuck didn’t you just die? If you’d died, then at least I’ll never have to see your stupid, disgusting face ever again when I’m on death row!”