looked at my bloody face. I could taste blood in my mouth where his ring h

thought I saw something in his eyes. Was he

cret I found just hours ago. The medical papers in my purse felt like th

onger than I felt. "Don't touc

he was shocked. "Oh Marcus, what did you do? Ava, honey, he di

. How bitter t

ly. My heart was beating so loud

"Go home. Put some ice on that cut. We'll tal

r where Sophia stood. Her fancy dress was messed

ly okay." He wasn't even looking at me anymore. "

me like broken dishes

acting was perfect. "I'm so sorry this happened, sister. Som

s. Designer dresses that cost more than most people's cars. Medical books from

wn off like prizes while I sat bleeding on the

The walls were covered with my parent success stories. there business degree, magazine covers, pho

me feel sick. But I needed it. Without that phone, I couldn't get to the small bank account

through it. Not like a home I was leaving befo

the door. Not angry sounds, but something worse. Quiet wh

hed the door open just

other on the bed. Marcus's voice, low and

ed to Sophia. "I've

from the cold amusement I'd heard

his voice moving closer to where Soph

floorboards above creaked softly, and then there was only

was happening in the room. The betrayal cut

"Ava probably thinks you're comforting me, the poor hurt victim." Her laugh

word hit me

ll that guilt about her 'selfish' feelings toward you.

est. "Cooking your food, handling your schedule, being nice to your boring business friends

us said I was jealous or mean-it was all planned. A slow way to destroy how I f

d with gratitude. My blood felt like ice as I listened from the hallwa

phia replied sweetly. "I

"Can you imagine if it had actually been Ava who gave it to

"Oh god, she would have been so proud of hers

the donor and known that, she still would have insisted on going through with it. She's so determined to play the hero. The guilt would have been useful late

But I couldn't piece together what was happening. All I knew was that

playing along with the cruel game. "If she had bee

like it was the funniest thing in the world. "Did you know rare blood sells for five hundred dollars a bottle on the medic

and slid down until I was sitting on the marble floor

way they talked... the casual cruelty, the way they discussed me like I was just some fool

things harder," Sophia sa

ut my grandmother's will-the one

stuff. A simple accident, some problems from trauma, and problem solved. Ava will be too sad t

ough careful murder made to look like an accident. And the timing wa

a paper trail. His bank records showed money that matched exactly. But it was the insurance papers I found that really open

Sophia asked. "Won't they

ds think she's too good for them now. Her coworkers barely know her. And your parents..." He stopped, enjoying being cru

inking Marcus was being kind by matching what I gave. But he had been using their weakn

gave his wife his own kidney? The loving husband who tried everything to save her, even organ

gift would be the shield that pro

ry kindness was planned manipulation. Every happy

ing and marked for death, something hard formed ins

t woman had been innocent, trusting, desperate for love. This woman- who bled herself weak

n life. And she had already proven she was willing

on. The diamond felt heavy in my hand, worthless despite what it cost. Like ever

rown-away trash, I put it in my pocket. Evidenc

purse made a soft crack

nder rolled across the dark sky. It felt like the world was as angry as I was. The