ANMELDENTHIRD PERSON POVWilliam sat opposite Bianca, watching her reaction as he explained what he intended to do with the drugs Emily had given him.He had expected her to welcome the idea. After all, she wanted Hazel away from Elvis just as badly as he did. But Bianca had barely said anything since he began speaking, and the longer he talked, the more uncomfortable she looked.When he finished, she leaned back in her chair.“Are you sure about this? You're talking about interfering with my daughter's mind, William.”“I understand what you're trying to achieve, but she's still my daughter regardless.”He got up and walked towards her.“Bianca, we've already discussed this. Hazel won't cooperate willingly. You know how stubborn she can be.”“That doesn't mean I want something terrible happening to her.”“Nothing terrible is going to happen to her. ”“How can you be so sure?”William placed both hands on her shoulders.“Trust me. Nothing will happen to her. She'll only forget Elvis and start
THIRD PERSON POV The black SUV was parked a short distance from the hospital, away from the main entrance where patients and visitors were coming and going. Emily approached the vehicle with a long veil covering most of her face. She glanced behind her before opening the rear door and climbing inside. As soon as the door closed, she removed the veil and let out a sigh. William was sitting at the other end of the back seat, watching her. “Hope you were careful enough,” he said. Emily folded the veil and placed it inside her handbag. “Yes. Don't worry about that. I snuck out of the hospital carefully.” “Did anyone see you leaving?” “No. Donald and Jarvis think I'm resting. I made sure nobody was around when I left the room.” William studied her face. “And Elvis?” “He left before I did.” “Good.” He leaned forward and nudged the driver's seat. “Move.” The driver started the engine immediately. Emily settled against the leather seat, adjusting her dress. She had changed out
HAZELThe door opened, and Bianca walked in.She had been gone for hours with William, leaving Betty and me wondering what they were planning. I had tried listening for their voices outside, but all I heard was the occasional sound of footsteps.I got up from the bed.“Where have you been?”Bianca closed the door and walked towards the chair near the window.“Taking care of something.”“With William?”She placed her handbag on the chair. “Obviously.”I moved towards her.“Bianca, I swear with everything in me, if you dare harm my child, I will not only kill you, but I'll make sure you die a painful death.”She turned and looked at me sternly.“Is that supposed to frighten me?”“Take it as a warning.”“Hazel, you're speaking to your mother.”“Then stop giving me reasons to forget that!”She sighed, as though I was disturbing her peace.“I have always loved you, my child, but you're as stubborn as your father. You never listen, even when someone is trying to help you.”“Don't bring Dad
EMILYI watch Elvis walk out of the room, and it takes every ounce of self-control I have not to scream.That bastard.All this time, he's been pretending to have lost his memory.I grip the bedsheet, watching the door long after he's gone. If my sons weren't here, I would have thrown something against the wall.I believed him when he woke from that coma and couldn't remember certain things. I believed the doctors when they explained that parts of his memory had been affected.I even allowed myself to hope that his condition might bring us closer.What a joke.He remembered everything while I was busy convincing myself that I still had a chance with him.The thought makes my face burn.How many times did he sit there listening to me, knowing exactly what was going on? How many times did he watch me make an effort to get his attention without saying a word?I should have known better.Discovering that he has another daughter with Hazel is a different kind of humiliation.First, there w
ELVISI finally decided to go and see Emily.Donald had called twice since our last conversation, and I couldn't keep ignoring him without knowing how serious her condition was.But I wasn't leaving Maya behind.I took her with me, along with Luna and Patrick, one of the security men assigned to us.Patrick drove while Luna sat beside him. I stayed in the back with Maya, who had fallen asleep again after playing with her rabbit.I looked at her.She had no idea how much trouble was going on around her.“Sir, we're almost there,” Patrick said.I looked up.“Alright.”“Should I drop you at the main entrance?”“Yes. Then find somewhere close to park. Don't go anywhere else.”“Understood.”I glanced at Luna.“Stay in the car with Patrick. I'll call you when I'm ready.”“Yes, sir.”She looked at Maya.“Would you like me to carry her while you go inside?”“No. She's coming with me.”Luna nodded.I knew I was probably being paranoid, but after everything that had happened, I couldn't bring m
ELVISIt had been more than four hours since Hazel walked away from me.Four bloody hours.I checked my watch again, although I already knew how long she'd been gone.There was still no word from her.I called her number for what must have been the twentieth time.The number you are trying to reach is switched off.I ended the call before the recorded voice could finish.“Anything?” Detective Collins asked.I shook my head.He looked towards the officers gathered around the computer at the other end of the room.“Run through the footage again.”“We've already watched it three times,” I said.“I know.”“Then find another camera. She couldn't have disappeared into thin air.”Collins didn't argue.He walked over to the computer while I looked down at Maya.She was asleep in my arms, her little cheek resting against my chest. I'd taken her from Luna almost an hour ago.The poor woman had been carrying her around the hospital while we tried to work out where Hazel had gone. Maya had eventu







