m was bandaged tightly, and there was an IV drip in my ot

at the foot of my bed, looking at my

ler, Mr. Patterson's assistant. You lost a lot of blo

ed, my voice a dry r

for a moment before answering. "Mr. Patterson

tre

rm, and she was the one who was distressed.

asked, though I alr

iller said, but his tone lacked conviction. He couldn't

e image of him coddling her after she attacked me. As

e only human contact I had was with the nurses and Dr. Miller, who checked on me periodically with

ne. My fingers trembled as I opened my social media apps

ning against his shoulder, a beatific smile on her face. He was looking at the c

ing Uncle Ethan! He always takes the best care of me. Some

a dozen replies from her friends

kay, Mia! Your un

ers. You're wha

cronies. "I heard that actress Ava was there. Did she

just pathetic. Always trying to get in the way.

ber of hope, the tiny, stupid part of me that thought maybe he

her. He always chose her. He let her hurt

s until I found the number I

ered on the

ney, is

d painful. I told her everything. The 99 proposals, the secret obsession, the blood, the hospital

When I was finished, my voice raw and my thro

her own voice thick with tears

d out. "Mom, I'

al room. This wasn't a place of healing. It was a tomb. It was

w was beginning to grow. Somet

I was done being a tool. I

from his life so completely it would be like I