: E

he big office opened. I wal

e closed into hard fists by my legs. My

e rang. A cold voice said, "Mr. Vance gives millions to Eastside Hospital. His name is on the wall of the heart wing

od ran cold. Eastside Hospital was the same hospital where Lily was getting her

apartment. I took a taxi to Golden Enterprises and ran up to the top f

he room was dark. Only the city lights

made a silly mistake. He looked d

," Damon said. H

ting down. Just tell me why you

her chair. He put his hands toget

tapped the screen, an

t," Dam

en Enterprises got blackout drunk and married a nobody. Under it

and over my mouth. "This is ab

His eyes did not leave m

ered. "I swear. I did not

e he was reading my face as t

he clerk is under a legal gag, and the file is sealed. I tol

think it

t, I would not have called you here. I only need to

s arms around me. Of course I told him. But Tyler w

the floor for one s

ed away,"

riminal!" I lifted my chin. "I did not do th

ou," Damon said. "I

you ha

nt he stayed very still, studying

never thought it was you. I on

s face was calm, and he soun

hree people knew. If it was not me, and it w

enty years," Damon said. His voi

ian had watched me the whole time I waited ou

wn. He opened a black folder on his de

blem right now. My face is all over the internet. People are calling me a fool for getting drunk and accidentally m

rriage was a mistake. You were drunk, I was tricked by the alcohol, and we both want

. People will believe a couple who live together. We will go to a few dinners, take some pictures, and let the bad news die. In return, I wi

he paper. A hot wa

am poor, I will just let you trap me in your house like a pet? I have pride, M

bag, turned around, and walked fast out of the

t was Damon's personal business card with his direct phone number printed

think about was my twin sister, Lily. She was the only family I h

head. Damon said only three peop

y hands shook as I called

little sleepy. "Babe, I was just

you something. Pleas

What

he six months, everything. Someone lea

Elena, I am at a cheap motel outside the city for a job, the sig

it? Whoever wrote it will make a lot of

ollar from it in months. You came to me crying, and I held you. I pro

bt I felt in my chest sud

ed. "I am sorry

ng you around, and you are scared. He is a rich man who needs someone

ith my sleeve. "T

. Call me w

I believed him completely. Tyler would never hu

through the sliding doors. I ran fast down the whi

ped br

om was

was not making its normal steady sound. Instead, it

ed, running to th

ig panic. One of them pushed me back softly while

the nurse shouted. "We need to giv

ding the metal rail of th

"The hospital office blocked new treatments. Your account has zero money,

falling down to my kn

ace was white like paper. She looked so sm

ainst my face. I cried

no power, and no o

ld not save Lily. Only Damon Vance had t

ness card Damon had given me earlier. My tears dropped onto the smooth paper

before a deep, c

tening,"

I tasted salt and

oice broke in the quiet hospital room. "I will

er is waiting at the hospital door

e I reached the curb, my dress was wet. A black car was waiting there. The d