Chapter 6

After his "scam" came out, Avery shut Ryan out.

She stopped taking him anywhere or speaking to him.

Her silence cut him over and over.

Dylan was thrilled. He stopped hiding his cruelty.

The first day, he made Ryan collect tiny pearls scattered across the lawn in the blazing sun.

Ryan picked them up one by one, sweat soaking his clothes as his vision dimmed. He found the last pearl just before collapsing from heatstroke.

The second day, Dylan ordered him to scrub every floor in the mansion, down to the cracks.

Ryan scrubbed on his knees all night. His hands turned pale and wrinkled, his back aching. By morning, the floors were spotless.

On the third day, Dylan wanted pastries from North Crestview.

Ryan ran there from South Crestview without a word.

When he returned, Dylan sneered. "They're cold. Get fresh ones."

Ryan went back.

This time, rain poured down. He wrapped his jacket around the box to keep it dry and raced toward the Carter estate, soaked through.

As he crossed the street, an out-of-control car barreled toward him.

Bang!

Ryan flew through the air and slammed onto the pavement.

His mind fogged. Screeching brakes, shouts, police sirens... It all faded.

Just when he thought he was dying, a frantic voice broke through.

"Hey! Are you okay? I'll get you to a hospital!"

The driver shook him hard. Ryan slowly came to and checked the pastries.

They were fine. He staggered to his feet.

"No... I'm okay. I have somewhere to be."

He pushed the driver's hand away and ran toward the Carter estate, covered in blood.

Ryan fought through the pain and held out the pastries.

Dylan eyed his battered, bloody body in disgust.

He ignored the box and pointed to the pool. "Good, you're back. I lost a cuff link. Find it."

Ryan trembled.

He'd just been hit by a car. Everything hurt. He might not survive the pool.

Dylan's face darkened when he didn't move. He tugged Avery's hand.

"Avery..." he whined.

She waved the bodyguards over without looking at Ryan.

They dragged him toward the pool. The box slipped from his hands, scattering pastries across the ground.

Splash!

Cold water swallowed him, flooding his mouth, nose, and ears. He couldn't breathe.

He fought to the surface, but each time he broke through, a bodyguard shoved him under.

"Ms. Carter says you're staying in until you find the cuff link."

The words hit Ryan hard.

His lungs burned, but he gritted his teeth and kept diving.

Minutes passed.

With his strength nearly gone, he finally found it.

He struggled out of the pool and handed the cuff link to a bodyguard. Then he went limp and blacked out.