Chapter 3

"She couldn’t have eaten peanuts."

I snapped my head up. "She hasn't touched a nut since she was an infant! I’ve made that clear to everyone around her. I inspect every single thing she eats!"

The doctor sighed and handed me an allergy screening report.

"Her blood levels of peanut-specific IgE antibodies are extraordinarily high. That doesn't happen from a one-time accidental exposure. Judging by the data, she has been regularly ingesting trace amounts of peanut protein over an extended period."

I took the paper. The numbers blurred before my stinging eyes.

*Continuous ingestion.*

Not an accident. A continuous exposure.

"What do you mean, continuous? Who would repeatedly feed her peanuts?" My voice shook.

The doctor shook his head. "That's for you parents to investigate. I strongly advise you to check every food item she comes into contact with—snacks, baby food, even check if her utensils and dishes are being cross-contaminated."

*Continuous ingestion.*

The words drove into my skull like rusty nails.

I sat on the hospital hallway bench all night.

Lily had been moved to the pediatric ICU for observation. Looking through the glass window, her tiny frame was hooked up to monitors and IV lines. An oxygen mask covered her small face. She looked like a fragile porcelain doll that had shattered and been clumsily glued back together.

At three in the morning, Ethan finally showed up.

He reeked of expensive liquor. His suit jacket was slung over his forearm, his tie hung loose, and his steps were uneven.

Behind him was Chloe. She had changed into a modest, light-colored dress, her hair pinned up loosely. She carried a thermos and a bag of fresh fruit, the very picture of a thoughtful, caring friend.

"Where is she? How is she?" Ethan burped slightly, his eyes scanning the corridor.

I didn’t stand up.

"ICU."

He froze, his drunken haze clearing up just a fraction.

"...She’s in the ICU?"

Chloe immediately stepped forward, tears welling up in her eyes right on cue, her voice breaking.

"Ethan, this is all my fault. If only I hadn’t hosted that birthday party—"

"This has nothing to do with your party," I said.

My voice was raspy, like sandpaper scraping across sheet metal. I slowly lifted my head to look at her.

"Whether it has anything to do with you or not, we’ll find out once we investigate."

Chloe’s eyelashes fluttered. A brief flicker of panic crossed her face, but she masked it instantly with a veil of hurt.

She bit her lower lip, turning to Ethan as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Is Tessa blaming me...?"

Ethan’s face hardened. He grabbed my arm, yanking me up from the bench with enough force to make me stumble.

"Tessa, that’s enough! Chloe came all the way out here in the middle of the night just to support you! What’s with the hostility? Landing Lily in the ICU is on you for being a careless mother. What does Chloe have to do with this?!"