egan witho

ckened into a heavy downpour that blurred streetlights and swallowed the road in silver streaks. S

n't come h

ed down to nothing, wax hardened like frozen tears.

she told herself. Maybe

him-once, twi

ans

t now, as if she were afraid it might accuse

d back and forth in a stea

more intimate, as if it pressed closer, demanding attention. Andrew knew this.

y, he had teased back t

d when he h

nbidden, to the argumen

mall. Insigni

said over the phone. "But next ti

n a pause on

nly interrogating

e replied qui

gain," he cut in. "Don

d ended sho

he memory. She took a slow br

peated silently. Everythin

adlights snapped her

res skidding dangerously on the slick ro

vely, her foot easin

head-she hadn't noticed h

n inten

suddenly on the

dr

ugh her so strongl

hed for

or a s

cond wa

rld ex

The steering wheel jerked violently in her hands. Sophia screamed,

l tw

shat

loomed everywhere at once, sharp and overwhelming. Her head snapped forward, then

ly came to a

ting silence, broken only by th

body fe

av

spon

to move he

th

and out like distant stars. Blood trickl

ed near her feet, s

me stared b

ps tre

hispered, the sou

shallow breath. Her thoughts scattered,

dding

sm

overth

rners of her eyes, dis

he thought weakly. I jus

ed somewher

ything we

in and out of

ound her, distor

ing a lot

drop

, ma'am. Can

d eyelids. Something cold pressed aga

ied to

nd cam

ess deepe

it was to an unf

pain and nothingness. Machines beeped rhythmical

pit

zation ca

ting. The ceiling above her was stark white, cracked slightly ne

uldn't

raw, as if she had be

lsed through h

d her eye

e was

crashed over her, s

she tried

t hoarse, barely

espo

utes, hours, sh

heard voices o

w's v

art lu

d her so sudd

c

verything

en, focusing with ev

ere just bey

tor was saying. "She survived the su

ognosis?" A

ne was

ca

y be lasting effects. S

was a

held he

t," Andrew said slowly

art sk

hesitated.

larified. "Inheritance. Insur

orld

eamed, No. I mish

something you should discuss with a lawyer

her

sounding almos

said. "Time, resources. I

par

blurred as tears

lt like it w

w continued quietly, "ev

sliced t

recise.

didn't j

hatt

he roaring in her ears. Sophia coul

at the ceiling as the truth fina

d never l

eart. Not

she coul

tched weakly ag

e sides of her face, s

thought dimly. Th

oor o

entered

scream. To confro

body bet

presence be

ushed aga

sn't

was gentle

sat down

h lingered, stea

him before

el W

t speak

st st

a cried-not from pain, but from a grief

ght was sharp and bitte

again... I would

ound her began

orld

rkness-carrying regret, betrayal,