ie

ng the side of her head. Her face was flushed,

id dismissively, not even looking at he

had purposefully tripped Jodie. She'd fallen hard, hitting her head on the e

he' s got a lump the size of a golf ball behind her ear. And you

e Julian will get her one later. Or you can. You' re her mother, after all." She rummaged through

ittered mockingly in her hand. Jodie just looked at it,

voice tight with suppressed rage. "She wanted a

ry ungrateful. You should be teaching her to appreciate what she has, not to covet what ot

l sprinkles, lying on the pristine white rug. Darryl' s latest discarde

be excellent exposure for you, Kylie. Re-establish your career. Help you get back on your feet after... well, after everything." She smiled, a sacchar

t even book a taxi without asking him for money." I remembered the empty bank account, the fr

t. Well, he' s probably just trying to teach you responsibility, dear. But I' m sure he'

t?" I scoffed. "No, thank you. Jodie nee

en your daughter is still wearing rags." She turned to leave. "Ho

ms. Her small body felt feverish. "It's

ld," she whisp

he room. It was hers, an expensive medical-grade device Julian had bought when she'd had

t. "Jodie needs this, Fanny.

old thing? Darryl's using it for his geck

nged for the humidifier, but Fanny' s publicist, who h

please. Let's no

burning into Fann

Julian had assigned us – the house was filled with the sounds of laughter and music. Dar

ore at my heart. I remembered the humidifi

from Darryl' s room. Then, silence.

My precio

vy footsteps rushing

ed. Please, le

I had lived

hing now shallow and ragg

streaming down her face.

fier. I raced to Darryl' s room, pus

Fanny was sobbing theatrically. "Darryl left t

the device. It was soaked internally,

e. "Kylie, now is not the

Julian! And your son

r a new one tomorrow. It's hardly a crisis." His ton

Jodie's gasps for air brought me back

ed, then died. Someone had tampered with the battery.

s tr

one, desperate for a way out. No sig

st posted a picture: "Darryl's little prank! Oops, looks lik

on his face, holding a pair of pliers.

t wasn't an accident

. Julian knew. He had to. He ha

ant he

er small chest heaved. I felt a p

lance. I had managed to send a garbled text

pproached me. "Are you Ms. Gutierrez? I'm Dr. Blake Adams. We r

eassuring. A beacon i

athe!" I choked out

turned to me. "Ma'am, we need to take her to t

emptied our joint accoun

for my wallet. Empty. I

tammered, my voice trembling. "My hus

t the commotion around Julian, who was n

her voice firm. "We'll figure it out.

lian on his phone, oblivious. I trie

hut down: a news alert. Julian had just posted a picture of himself and Fann

knew. He had to know

ilent vow escaping my lips

g hand on my arm. "Come on, Ms. Gutierrez. Let's

a sea of indifference. "Thank you," I chok

yes filled with a quiet determina

formidable bill. "Ma'am, we need immediate pay

nd reeling. I had nothing. Jul

, a terrible premonition settling in my gut. Sure enough, a new post: "Private jet li

d me. He had

stomach. This was it. This wa

se, "Is there anything...

nd face, looked at me with pity. "

s reappeared. "Is t

r the upfront costs, Doct

looked at me, then back at the

napped up

epeated, her voice leaving no room fo

down my face.

"Because sometimes, Kylie, you j