beeped steadily as Winston slowly opened his clo

dry, wrinkled hand between her own, forc

The doctor said you'

bornness, his eyes filled with desperate pleading

tal into the company... Your grandfather

g, Dad, you

hest tightening so hard

mise

sending the heart monitor into a shrill, frantic ala

sed her hands gently

ind him right now, ju

way as they worked to stabilize him. She sank onto a plastic chair outsi

known number. When she answered, Bailee's smug voice floa

ad a stroke, big si

pine instantly, her voic

d the company's liquid assets to fake your death three

oft, mocking laugh

you want him to bail out Dad's pathetic company, get over t

time for you

wrist and tell Emiliano you drove me to suicide ou

ietly triggering the call‑recording function on her cellphone, intent on saving Bailee's threats as evidence.

words, Bailee. Every threat you

ison Avenue. Sitting by the sunlit window was Bailee, dressed in a pristine whit

r and looked dow

is Em

ith a straw, Bailee curled he

ons for me. Did you really think

te chair and sat down, cros

it suicide just to brag ab

need t

bag and slid it across the table, revealing a f

you want to save Dad's company, sign the divorce papers an

glow on Bailee's cheeks and the cup

have leukem

split second before she leane

g as Emiliano believes I'm

doctors at NewYork-Presbyterian. Aren

alous, scheming wife, or the girl who saved his li

rank to pinpricks, and her fingernails

g a cheap Halloween mask who stayed with him all night in the abandoned lighthouse fold

s Bailee lifted the iced coffee and shook the

e, Dania. You ca

g in the cup, the last thread of D