agreement on his desk, then back at m
our life's work. Donating it to the national institute is
nod. "I'm sure, Dr. C
al rewards alone could set you up for life. You woul
t. My family certainly knew th
as a resource to be tapped, a prize to be handed ov
and knew exactly how to cry on cue. I was quiet, focused on my book
e difficult, selfish, cold sister to my father, Richard
my late mother would end up in Willow' s possession. When I confront
ou, Ava. Why do you
llow because she claimed the sun helped her "artistic sensibilit
d fighting it. I was just tired. I poured everything I had
They wanted
the desk to Dr. Chen. A weight lifted off my
the house was buzzing with laughter and music. Balloons were everywhe
nt. And in their excitement for her, they had forgotten too. They had forgotten that today was the anniv
ne I'd been saving for a special occasion, ra
e! Did you hear
houlder, his voice booming. "Ava, perfect timing! We
iling adoringly at Willow. My fiancé, Liam, stood bes
on?" I asked,
t. You're going to give it to Willow. She can manage the b
"It's a medical patent. It has nothing to do with
sorry. I didn't mean to overstep. I just thought... with
told me you already agreed. He said you were goi
ears. The man who was supposed to be
mumbled, looking at the fl
" I sai
apped her hands. "Oh, this is wonderful! We
go mousse cake. My stomach clenched. Everyone in this room knew I had a deadly
arkling with malice. "Here, Ava. You should have t
can't eat that," I s
"Ava, stop it. Just for once, can you not make everything
've had so much on my mind... I'm just so clumsy." She turned to my father, tears streaming down h
growl. "Look what you did. You ungrateful child. After everything we
ed. "You will sign over that patent
my voice cle
My head snapped to the side. But he wasn't do
g. I fell, my hands flailing, and my face lan
my nostrils. The sticky cream
y throat. I couldn't breathe. Hives were already erupting
hing heavily. Ethan, looking shocked but making no move to help. Willow, a flicker of triumph in her eyes before sh
e called 911. They
ed onto my stomach, my limbs feeling heavy and useless. I started to craw
reached the purse, my fingers fumbling with the cla
off the cap and jabbed the needle into
k into my lungs, one thought solidified i
d I am never, e