a

lipped for a fraction of a second, revealing a flash of genuine irritation. It was the on

me roughly from the floor. My body felt like a puppet. Lifeless. B

me?" He shoved the waiver back into my hand, the pen now uselessly dangling from its

isted love story. "What does that mean, Chris?" My voice was a whisper, filled with a terrifying calm. "What more can you take from me?

ess and cold resolve in his gaze. "Kimberli... she saved me once. She was there when no one else was." He pau

, my family's wealth poured into his struggling company. It meant nothing. I was a transaction. A stepping stone. My father, his death, wa

d for your twisted games with your precious Kimberli?" The irony was a bitter taste in my mouth. I had played the devoted

s eyes holding a chilling warning. "Enough

e for Chris was a charred ruin. The only thing left was the bi

again, and made a call. His words were curt, laced with a terrifying com

e was ordering the complete removal of everything. The machines wo

nd agony. I lunged at him, clawing at his arm, tryi

illing indifference. "You made your choi

ling towards him. "Don't do this

ity in his eyes, quickly replaced by cold calculation. "He's

lt weak, dizzy, utterly spent. But a new sound pierced the sterile silence. A flatline. This one, de

cture of concern. "Chris, darling, what happened? I heard a scream. Is Ava... okay?" Her eyes flic

her waist. "It's nothing, sweetheart. Ava's jus

ed, a sound I didn't recognize. "You! You demon!" I lunged at Kimberli, a wild, grief

gned shock. She cried out, a small, theatrical whimper, and clut

backward, hitting the wall with a sickening thud. "Ava! What the hell is wrong with you?" He t

houlder, a triumphant sneer replacing her tearful facade.

red contorting his features. "Get her out of here. Now. And make sure she gets nothing. Not a

gh the room. My father. Gone. Forever. My legs gave out. I fell to the floor, my hands outstretched t