Chapter 7

Pain woke Ryan in his room in the servants' quarters.

He reached for his phone, but his hand felt too heavy to lift.

His head was foggy, his throat raw. Every swallow felt like knives.

He couldn't tell if it was the crash or the cancer.

Pain shot through him. He curled up, teeth clenched, but couldn't stop moaning.

He dragged himself out of bed and searched the drawer for his medicine.

As he pulled it out, blood rose in his throat. He coughed up a mouthful, spilling the pills across the floor.

He clutched his chest as pain tore through him.

His phone rang beside him. Dazed, he answered.

Avery's breathing came through the line. For a moment, he forgot where he was. He cried to her like he used to when he was sick and they were in love.

"Avery... it hurts... It hurts so much... I think I'm dying..."

After a long silence, she spoke coldly.

"Ryan, you've already tried this scam. Enough."

Her words jolted him back.

He stared at her name on the screen, realizing what he'd done.

He struggled to hide his pain and forced a faint smile. "Guess you're not buying it anymore. You really don't love me now."

'Good. She doesn't love me anymore.

'It's better this way.'

***

Avery stayed away for days.

Ryan lay curled in the cold room like an abandoned dog, all skin and bones, barely breathing.

His yellowish skin looked almost see-through. Dried blood stained the corners of his mouth. His eyes were lifeless.

He only saw Avery in Dylan's posts.

Every photo cut deep.

She'd taken Dylan to her and Ryan's favorite dessert spot, feeding him cake with the same tender look she'd once given Ryan.

They'd watched a meteor shower. Wrapped in her coat, she nestled in Dylan's arms as he smiled and stroked her hair.

But the Ferris wheel photo hurt the most.

Avery used to say couples who kissed at the top would stay together forever.

Now she was kissing Dylan up there, both gazing at each other with love.

Ryan scrolled through the photos over and over, his hands shaking around his phone.

Tears blurred Avery's face on the screen.

Dylan came back that day.

He pushed Ryan's door open and sneered down at his skeletal frame.

"I know you've been checking my posts, Ryan. See how much Avery loves me?"

Ryan said nothing, gripping the blanket tighter.

Dylan sneered. "We go on dates. We sleep together. We do everything couples do, but she still won't talk about marriage.

"I couldn't figure out why. Today, I finally did."

Resentment flashed in his eyes. He yanked Ryan out of bed and dragged him outside despite his struggles.

Ryan couldn't stand. Dylan dragged him like a rag doll and threw him into a dim room.

Click!

Bright lights came on. Ryan shielded his eyes.

As they adjusted, he lowered his hand and stared, speechless.