CHAPTER 57 GRANDMA CHARLOTTE’S POV "Is she awake now?" For the gazillionth time in three days, I asked Finney. We'd attended the same high school, but I was a senior while he was still in junior high. It was a private one. I wasn't close to him. Just with his older sister, who'd died after a long, brutal battle with osteocarcinoma. So in a way, he was like a younger brother. By years. Finney was his surname. His name was Douglas, but “Finney” had taken over his own name. Most people thought that was his name. "Not yet, ma'am. But when she is, I'll let you know." And as always, he gave me the same patient, understanding response. "Why is it taking so long to come awake? I hope there's not been any permanent damage or anything that'll cause her to become a...a..." The word was difficult for me to say. I couldn't possibly say she was a vegetable... or on the verge of becoming one. No, I refused it instantly. She wasn't going to become a vegetable. It had only been three days. It
CHAPTER 56 SAYGE’S POV For the umpteenth time, the alarm stirred me awake from sleep. I would have slammed it quiet and gone back to sleep, but the small part of my brain that had awakened at the shrill sound of the alarm clock also responded to the rap on the door. "Turn the damn thing off," Claire complained sleepily, snuggling into me. I chuckled, ready to go back to sleep with her. I turned off the alarm, declaring today a day off. I couldn't possibly go to work when I'd downed too much alcohol that was still in my system. That would be going against my own company rule. Whatever the schedule was, I'd have to ask Jasper to move it. But that would be when I was fully awake. "Open this door right now!" I froze. Dad? Shit! They were back from the hospital. The hospital where Zyliah was, lying unconscious in one of the private wards. My brain ran a full summary of last night in less than ten seconds. Guilt came rushing back. I quickly got up, tapping Claire. "Hm. What? I wan
CHAPTER 55 CLAIRE’S POV I rose from the sofa, ready to lash out when I saw who it was. But his countenance had me holding back my tongue. Not to mention the bloodstains on the front of his shirt. He walked past as though he couldn't see me. "Sayge, are you okay?" A grunt was all I got in response. I followed him into his room. He didn't bother that I was infringing on what I suspected to be his alone time. He also didn't bother with inviting me to share the bottle of whiskey he'd collected from the mini bar crowded with drinks, mostly alcoholic beverages, built into one part of his wall. He got a short tumbler and got down to drowning himself in it, not saying a word. I was perplexed because I'd never seen him like this before. Yes, there had been times when he'd be down, but never like this. When his grandma and dad had left the house, I'd gotten wind of the reason. Zyliah was in the hospital. There was an accident. "Where's she?" I tried my luck again. "In the hospital."
CHAPTER 54 SABRINA’S POV "Are you sure of what you're saying?" I asked the person on the other side of the call. Upon their affirmative response, I ended the call. Anger boiled. Sorrow swirled. Betrayal stabbed. Tears stung. There was nothing to prove anything yet, but going by the information I'd just received, it was enough to make me suspicious. I looked over at the clock, temporarily forgetting I had my phone in my possession. Past nine p.m., and my husband was yet to be back. I couldn't even complain about his lateness returning from work, or else it would end in bruises and pain—all on me. My body jerked the moment I heard the hurried but quiet steps up the stairs. It was him. I pretended all was normal, propping myself up on the bed, trying to create a visual that I had been waiting for him. He came in, and our eyes met. He averted his. "Long day at work?" I started conversationally, hoping to get words from him. "Yeah. Then I hung out with friends," he added. That
CHAPTER 53 SAYGE’S POV A fist of fear punched my guts, swift and hard. It all felt like a dream, unfolding in a blur. The vehicle swerved, slammed into a post—shouts piercing the night. But I didn’t care. I didn’t care about those drunk bastards—it was clear from the way they’d veered haphazardly across the open road. They were drunk as fuck, those bastards. I ran over to where she’d landed and checked her pulse. Relief spilled from my lungs in a shaky breath. Gently lifting her into my arms, I carried her to the backseat of my car, regret biting into me with every step. God, I was so stupid. If only I’d waited till we got home before blowing up at her. I sped out of there, heart pounding in my throat. “Darla, dial Dr. Finney.” I barked the order at the AI assistant synced to my phone. While Darla dialed, I glanced over my shoulder. She was still. Too still. Every bit of color had drained from her face. "Please hold on, Zyliah." “Hello, Sayge,” Dr. Finney answered, his voic
CHAPTER 52 ZYLIAH’S POV "What do you mean, ask Sayge?! Delia, you know I can't. Sayge and I are like oil and water. He's an arrogant jerk. Asking him for a favor is like committing suicide. I can't." I shook my head. I couldn’t even imagine going to him for help. He was literally the last person on Mother Earth I’d ever ask. The stupid, pompous jerk! Just the mere thought of going to him bruised my pride and dignity. Actually doing it was burying both. "I know you guys don't get along, and only God knows why." She mumbled that last part, but I heard her. I passed her a pouty look. She flashed a meek smile that easily disappeared as a thin coat of determination spread across her face—she was determined to make me see reasons. But no matter what, I was also determined not to see reasons because, in all honesty, there were none to see. "But Delia, you're not doing this for yourself—you're doing it for Natalie, our best friend. Your best friend longer than I have been. And she