eters

ont door burst open, and paramedics flooded the apartment, their

tcher. My fingers were still wrapped tig

onsciousness. The rhythmic beeping of a heart monitor was a fran

had to reach Dustin. He wa

helped me dial his number. I pressed the

oicemail. "The number you h

inder of my complete and utter isolation. Harrison had built my

hope in my eyes

spital. I was rushed through the chaotic emergency room, t

face obscured by a surgical mask. All I coul

he said to the team, his voice a steady an

face. As they wheeled me toward the operating room, I r

nding empathy. He placed his gloved hand over mine, and a faint warmth seeped th

y ears alone. "Don't be afraid. I'm

of Harrison's cold dismissal. In my darkest hour, a complete str

d asked, "What's your h

b to my already wounded heart. I j

too weak to talk. "It's okay, ho

the word scraping my raw thr

t her wishes," he said, his gaze still on me. "Foc

ll mercy, a tiny island of

. As the drugs flooded my system, I stared up at the blinding s

g a glass of champagne with Brooke Shelton at his side. The hero of the hour, toasting to his reunion with her while I bled out on an operating table. I could al

terrupt his night with