O

is

lew a hole straight through my che

uld have returned to my penthouse in Menlo Park-the place I used as a fortress

in silence. Because I couldn't bear another night alone, staring at white

should hav

I di

nt I admitted it, I'd lose control. And control w

, at the hospital-every time she walked in and out with that child in her arms, she-no, Ms. Evans-kept denying

e I

er trigger. Whether in the hospital hallway or that night she called a "compa

of person. At leas

thouse. That place was too emp

e. I rarely returned there, for various reasons. W

into Europe. As the only legitimate son in the family, many assumed I would become CEO. But

friend, who died tragically in a plane crash. At the time, my parents were unab

t and gave birth to my sister, Madison. She was already clo

d a twin

e kidnapped. It was one of the wor

ther d

s I preferred staying in my penthouse. I knew that every ti

iping away tears, I

came to pressuring me into the blind dates s

go meet Isabelle last

not bothering to

mean?" she snapped,

Her grandfather and your grandfather were best friends. Even if you don't like her, for your g

nt on

odded. "Fine.

e not lying to

n I go upstairs now?" I said,

htly. "Of cours

and headed f

nthouse when the hospital called with an emergency.

I overheard my family

ther. "Almost thirty and still single. He barely c

ed, married, or already have kid

octor," my father said in my defense.

furious he'd been when I told him I wanted to be a

ating anyone right now-especially with the rumors a

called in. I really

g but the hospital. He's been home less than an hour, and he's alrea

t's an emergency. I'll

lled h

f," my father said agai

o our bedroom tonight," my mo

d softly. My father

lready 11:30 p.m. The emergency surgery had drained

white golden retriever walked over and rubbed his

h Emma. She'd wanted to adopt him, but dorm rules wouldn't allow it

Milo would be so happy

sure weighing on my chest, and

on for the mysterious condition Emma supposedly had. There were countless possible c

hausted from surgery. I took off my glasse

hone and saw a me

if they were still in touch," he wrote. "She s

nd rubbed

dn't reach her? Was that

ad before she blocked me. I'd planned to delete the chat once I

procedure. He was a close friend from my time in the UK, and we'd both received offe

taff lounge, reheating the

her I should add her using a new WhatsApp account. I couldn't believe sh

r phone all day," Martin teased.

urses were watching, waiting for

fessions at the hospital. Even the director's da

my head. Ma

d my phone again and finally decided to register

n I thought better of it. Emma had blocked me onc

typed in the name

laughed a

was Emma's hig

n't her f

t friend Grace slipping a love letter into Be

d they were, how hard t

are you even laughing about?" I

insane,"

Emma was still alive, I'd do it. Ever since I ret

appy that night. It had been her first time-I'd made sur

ed me just because I was going for my doctorate-she'd always supported my dreams. S

e her a fifty-thousa

make he

d that mome

'd asked, half-joking. "Are you

hday party. You could use the money to buy a dress. I don't like it wh

iliate me because of what I wear. T

u're not ugly. You're beautif

sm

t about

ed it. She s

lier. It was from Emma. Inside were everything I'd ever given her, from high school onward. Ev

rned eve

he food I'd

e fifty thou

ing me she wanted me erase

't know wha

mn