Too Late for Us

When I finally reached the hospital, I saw my mother lying on a stretcher bed in the hallway, crying silently.

I ran over and saw my father's head—there was a large gaping wound. It had been hastily bandaged, but it was still bleeding.

"Where's the doctor? Where are the doctors? The wound is still bleeding—why isn't anyone treating him?"

My mother hesitated for a long time before finally speaking. "There's only one emergency doctor on duty. And there was only one temporary room left. Grayson told him... told him to save someone else first."

Blood rushed to my ears. I stood up, and just then, the door to the room behind me opened.

Hazel was clinging to Grayson, her eyes red, her voice soft and fragile. "Thank you, Grayson. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't dropped Mia's parents to come help me."

Grayson patted her back gently and spoke softly. "Your parents are my parents. Don't say things like that. Stop crying. Your eyes are all swollen."

I couldn't hold back anymore. I charged forward and slapped Grayson as hard as I could.

My body was shaking uncontrollably. "Grayson, you said you'd take good care of my parents. This is how you take care of them?"

The person who got hit didn't react much. But Hazel let out a shriek and immediately started checking him for injury.

She looked at me, her eyes brimming with tears. "Mia, it was my mom who twisted her ankle. Grayson was worried it might leave lasting damage, so he had the doctor treat her first. If you want to hit someone, hit me. Don't blame Grayson. He was so worried about my mom that he didn't notice the car caught on your dad's clothes. That's how your dad got dragged and injured."

Grayson stepped forward, shielding Hazel behind him. He looked at me, his eyes a little cold.

"Mia, you're upset. I'll let that slap go. But when something happens, you need to be reasonable. Don't throw a tantrum like some backwater town shrew. The doctor looked at your dad's wound and said it was just a flesh wound. That's why I left him out here. But Hazel's mom's ankle can't wait. If it damaged the bone, that's a lifelong problem."

Behind me, I heard my father's weak voice. He called out to me. "Sweetheart... Dad... Dad's fine. Don't pick a fight with Grayson over me. We're country folk. Tough bodies. Not like other people who need such delicate care."

Grayson looked at me and softened his tone. He stepped closer and tried to pull me into a hug.

"See? Even your dad said it. It's probably nothing serious. Stop being upset. Once morning comes, I'll find your dad a new room right away."

I stepped back and avoided his touch.

Grayson's expression darkened. I ignored him. I just made some calls and arranged to transfer my father to another hospital.

I stayed with my parents through the night. The next morning, I went home to pack some things.

I opened the door. The living room was full of laughter and chatter. A sour, fermented smell hung in the air.

And the man who just yesterday claimed he had sinus problems and couldn't stand strong smells was happily eating a bite of pickled vegetables brought by Hazel's parents, smiling with delight.

Next to the trash can in the living room sat two familiar bags. They were the bags my parents had been carrying when they arrived.

I looked at Grayson and asked him, "What is this supposed to mean?"

When Grayson saw me, he stood up. After a brief silence, he spoke.

"Hazel's parents are going to be staying with us for a while. Weren't your parents leaving soon anyway? So I had someone take their things out ahead of time."

I curled my lips into a bitter smile. "Grayson, I never realized before. You really are such a wonderful son-in-law."

Then, without acknowledging the three wary pairs of eyes in the living room, I went back to the bedroom by myself.

Grayson followed me in and tried to smooth things over, the way he always did.

"Don't be mad, Mia. I already booked your parents a five-star hotel. I'll drive their luggage over later. The Watsons are guests, after all. We can't lose face."

I didn't say anything. I kept packing.

Grayson came up close and started folding clothes for me. "Mia, I feel like you've been so distant lately. Hazel already got into grad school. If it really bothers you that much, I'll cut back on seeing her. Okay?"

Then, like a kid showing off a prize, he pulled a necklace out of the drawer.

"See? The one you've had in your shopping cart forever. I bought it for you. Consider it my apology. Also, I've already finalized the venue for the engagement party. The guests are all invited. Tomorrow, all you have to do is show up and look beautiful."

I froze. I turned to him and asked, "You already decided all that? When? Why didn't you discuss it with me?"

His tone was completely casual. "I saw how busy you were. And I figured girls all like the same kinds of things, so I asked Hazel for her opinion."

I slowly repeated his last few words. "Asked Hazel for her opinion?

"So let me get this straight. You two picked the venue, decided the theme, chose the favors, sent out the invitations—the two of you did everything?

"Grayson, don't you think that's a little ridiculous?"

His face did that familiar thing where annoyance flickered across it, but he forced it down. "Mia, I don't want to fight about this anymore. I promise you, I love you. I'm never going to change. Is that enough?"

He held up the necklace, smiling, and reached out to put it on me. "Come on, let's stop sulking, okay? I couldn't sleep without you next to me. Isn't that punishment enough?"

I stepped back, dodging his hands. Grayson's smile faded slightly.

I looked at him for a few seconds, then spoke. "Give me the address of the engagement venue."

The moment the words left my mouth, Grayson's easy smile returned. "See, Mia? I knew it. You still want to marry me. No matter how much you sulk, you can't bring yourself to leave me."

His eyes swept over my suitcase. He was in a good mood.

"Alright, you can stop worrying now. You don't have to keep playing hard to get. How many times have you packed a suitcase? Have you ever actually left? Besides, your hometown is over two thousand miles away. You can throw all the tantrums you want—you still can't go home."

I walked past Grayson and pulled my suitcase toward the door.

He leaned against the doorframe, completely calm, watching me with a smile. "Go ahead and get it out of your system tonight. Just don't forget to show up on time tomorrow for the engagement party."

I smiled back at him over my shoulder. "Don't worry. I definitely will. I'm going to give you a huge surprise."

The next day, I helped my parents load all their bags onto the high-speed train.

As the train's warning alarm beeped and the doors began to close, my phone started buzzing nonstop.

After the third call went to voicemail and the fourth one started ringing, I finally answered.

On the other end, Grayson's mother's voice came through—panicked, tearful, completely lost. "Mia, where are you? Grayson... something happened to Grayson. You need to come quickly..."