I got in Tamsin's BMW and harshly slammed the door shut. My face was turned away from her as I wiped my tears.

"Did you break her heart?" Tamsin smugly asked. "How was she? A bawling mess? Did you record it? Actually, I wish I had been there to see it in person-"

"No!" I quickly turned causing her to jump. "I didn't record it. I wasn't going to humiliate her." I started choking back sobs, so I quickly turned away. I didn't need Tamsin witnessing me cry. "Yes, I did breakup- actually, no I didn't do it. I couldn't, so she had to do it to free me from the burden." Tears were falling down my face. "I just lost her." I was beyond defeated. I rested my head on the head rest and looked up before tightly closing my eyes and grimacing from the pain I felt. "It hurts, Tamsin. It hurts so much. You have no idea." A tear escaped my closed eye.

"You were supposed to break her heart, not the other way around." Tamsin whispered.

"Just drive, please." Tamsin wordlessly turned on the ignition and drove back to our house. The whole drive was silent as I tried to keep my composure. My facade dropped a few times and I violently sobbed in the car to the point that Tamsin would have to pull over to check on my state. I would dismiss her attempts of comfort and demand she continue driving us home. When she pulled up to the house, I quickly exited the car and made a beeline for my room. The rest of my family was inside and tried to address me, but I ignored them. I couldn't fake it around them. I was hurt. I was in pain. I was... broken. My family had finally succeeded in breaking the ice queen.

X

I'm not sure how long I've been isolated from the world. Days had blurred together to the point that I could hardly keep track. I've been shut away in my room for the last few days. The only time I'd see another human was when the staff would deliver my food. My sisters and friends have tried contacting me, but I locked my door and turned my phone off. There was nothing anyone could say that would make me feel better. Perhaps I'm being a little dramatic by playing sad music 24/7 and having the colored lights oscillate. My drapes have been drawn so that it was dark in my room. Dark like my soul... okay, yep! I'm being dramatic, but I'm sad and miss Nicola so so much. This time hurts even more than the previous time.

"Ali." I heard Gemma's gentle voice call out. "Please open the door. I know you're in there." I ignore her like I did everyday. I heard a sigh before the door was rattled. I thought nothing of it until my door was opened. I shot up from my bed and stared at Gemma shocked. "Sorry. Never wanted to intrude, but desperate times call for desperate measures." She closed my door before placing the hairpin she used to pick my lock on my dresser. Gemma crawled onto my bed and laid in my lap. Who's the heartbroken one, Gemzi? "I'm so sorry this happened to you. You and Nicola didn't deserve this. Everyone is worried about you, even Tamsin." I scoffed when she mentioned the devil's name. "She regrets everything."

"Well, if she wasn't so selfish, she wouldn't be feeling like shit."

"Ali, this is so wrong. No wonder you weren't ever interested in the suitors. Your eyes were on someone else. This is like a forbidden romance." She sighed out. "But you shouldn't give up!" Gemma jolted up and grabbed my shoulders. "You never take no for an answer. What happened to your fight?!" She shook me. "Don't give up! Do you know how I got our parent's blessings to be with Chico?"

"He made a business deal behind his parent's backs which made them financially susceptible to our family?" I snarked.

"No. I gave up my shares in our private sector." I gasped at Gemma's revelation. "I then gave Chico the money so that it'd look like it was his family presenting the money. The point is that I made a sacrifice to be with someone I love. You need to show her how much you love her. You need to fight for her. That's if you really love her." Gemma shrugged before giving me a final hug and leaving my room. I flopped onto my back and sighed out. I need to fight for her, but how?

"Ali." God no! I rolled my eyes as Tamsin called my name once more. She knocked on the door before slowly opening it. "I saw Gemzi leave and hoped you didn't re-lock your door." She slowly approached me and bowed her head. "I'm sorry. I didn't think that-"

"That's the point. You DIDN'T think. You never think unless it concerns your personal happiness! Screw everyone else's! You hurt me in ways that you will never understand. And for what? Your hatred for her stemmed when she dismissed me in the lunch hall? Embarrassing our family? Did it ever once occur to you that I deserved her treatment. That maybe I was in the wrong. Or did that just never occur to you because you're so conceited that you believe you can wrong everyone and they aren't allowed to call you out for it?"

"Ali, I know I was wrong. Yes, I wanted her to hurt, but I never thought you'd be hurt in the process. I tried talking to mom and dad about allowing you to be with her, but they won't budge and I know I messed up. I just-"

"I hate you, Tamsin."

"No! No you don't! Please tell me you don't!" How is she the one crying now? "Why? I'm trying to fix stuff and-"

"Unfortunately, this isn't something that you can throw money at and fix. She made me aware of that. You've made her life at the school more difficult on purpose to satisfy your sick desire. Your obsession with destroying her is concerning. And I hate you for hurting her."

"Ali-"

"NO!" I roared causing Tamsin to shrink back in fright. I've never raised my voice before which is why she was so frightened. "You destroyed my happiness! You hurt me! You hurt her! And then acted as if you have a problem with gays when one of your close friend is bisexual and you know about it! You're a hypocrite and I-I..." I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my chest. "You- you... I-I..." I clutched my chest and doubled over in pain. "Ahhh!" It hurts so much to the point I could barely stay conscious. Tamsin rushed over and wrapped me in her arms.

"Where hurts?" She went into full on protective big sister mode. I couldn't talk, so I patted my chest. "DAD!DAD! I'll be right back." I grabbed her wrist because I didn't want to be alone when I was having a heart attack. "Don't fall asleep! Think about how much you hate me and want to kill me!" She spoke before rushing out the door. Right before I was about to pass out, I saw her enter with my dad tailing behind.

X

It had taken me a few tries to successfully open my eyes. I immediately shut my eyes as the bright light assaulted my eyes. I squinted a bit until I was able to keep my eyes open. I quietly scanned the room and realized I was in the hospital. Gemma and Zara were passed out in the corner while my mother quietly spoke to a nurse. I'm curious where Tamsin and my dad are. I tried to sit up, but groaned in pain and fell onto my back. The nurse and my mother heard the noise and quickly turned. The nurse ran out the room to get the other staff while my mother held my hand and had tears falling from her eyes. The doctor and staff shortly entered and did the routine diagnosis. The commotion caused the twins to stir. My family was herded out the room so they wouldn't get in the medical staff's way. A few breathing tests and blood work later, most of the staff left except the doctor. He was about to explain my condition when my father entered. He shook the doctor's hand and gave me a small nod.

"As I was about to tell Alicia, her heart is stable. She should avoid any exercises since it could cause trauma to the heart. And we have prescribed more meds for her to take-"

"Can you leave me alone, please?" I asked the doctor who was taken aback by my bluntness.

"She's probably tired and not in the head space to hear such a serious diagnosis. If you don't mind writing up the report so that I can read it later." My father dismissed the doctor. He waited until the doctor left to close the door. He removed his suit jacket and neatly folded it on the chair. He put his hands in his pockets before walking over to the window and staring out. "You know that was rude?" He remarked.

"I was probably tired and not ready to hear such a serious diagnosis." I snarked back. My father lightly chuckled at that. "The invitation to leave was also for you as well."

"You had a heart attack and they had to do surgery... which left you with a nasty scar down your chest." I rolled my eyes as he taunted me. "If you think I'm going to leave my daughter after she just woke up from a coma-"

"Coma?" My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Two week coma to be exact. Tamsin found me in the study when you had your attack. She was incomprehensible due to her panicked state. The words I made out were 'Alicia' and 'heart.' I told her to lead the way and quickly grabbed an Aspirin pen with me. We saw you sitting up right before passing out. I gave you the epipen and called 911. I carried you into the ambulance and told Tamsin to contact your sisters and mother. We arrived at the hospital where you were taken straight into surgery. Seemed that your stint collapsed due to some aggravated stress. Based on Tamsin's account, I have an idea what caused that stress. They had to-"

"Put a new stint in, but it collapsed again so they had to do a bypass surgery. I read up on procedures." I looked my father dead in the eye. "And I assume I had a bad reaction where they had to put me in a medically induced coma for a bit. Took me off the meds, but I wouldn't wake up until about an hour ago. Am I correct?" I sassed.

"Precise. You're aware they are going to want you to stay here for a few days so that they can monitor you. I'll spare you and tell your mother that you are asleep." He went to leave, but right before he left, he spoke again. "That girl. Nicola, I believe." He got my attention at the mention of her name. "She was really worried about you. So much that she posed as a family member to see your unconscious state. It seems as if I have a load of conniving daughters." He chuckled before leaving. I had to bite my cheek to suppress my smile when the nurse technician entered. The only way Nic would've been allowed up here was if she were an immediate family member or my fiancé.