admissions desk of the Mount Sinai emergency room. Brenda Bogg

lifeline. "Averie, thank God!" She shoved a piece of paper into Averie's

obbed. "They need half a million dollars

he pushed her own panic down to soothe her mot

ard. It wasn't a normal card. It was linked to a trust fund Jarett had established when they married, specifically for her fam

o the clerk. "Hi, I need to pay a f

he card and swiped it through the machine. A sharp, nega

nd tried agai

rk said, her voice flat. "T

impossible. Try it again. Th

r. "The system says 'Transaction denied by issuing bank, cardh

ne. She stepped away from the window, her h

tching her nerves tighter, befor

ack. This time, it went straight to

from earlier echoed in her mind.see how

ealization began to daw

led her last resort: Simon Vanc

is voice as calm and detached as

ather. He's in the ER, he needs emergency surgery, but the medica

terrupted, his tone polite but utterly devoid of sympathy. "Rega

from Averie's face

thousand dollars now requires Mr. Sharp's personal, verbal a

g her preparations for their anniversary, knowin

ion was a bitter taste in her mouth. "This is life or death.

. Sharp is currently occupied with an important matter and cannot be disturbed

ant matte

husband was with another woman while her father was dying, and he was de