PHOEBEI dragged my coat back on, running my fingers through my hair. “I can’t believe her,” I muttered, my voice shaking with frustration as I followed Ramon down the quiet hospital hallway. “She judges everything…every choice I make, every person I care about. It’s like she wants me to live life her way.”Ramon’s steps slowed and he put a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Phoebe… she’s just protecting you,” he said quietly.“By shutting me out?” I snapped. “By blaming me for everything? That doesn’t sound like protection, it sounds like punishment.”He sighed and let his hand fall. “I know you feel hurt. But she…”“She did more than hurt me,” I interrupted, spinning around to face him.Ramon raised a hand. “Go to her again. Talk it out calmly. Hear her side. Let her know how much this matters to you.”I stared at him, something hot burning behind my eyes. “I will. I’m not letting this go.”He nodded, relief flickering in his eyes. “Good.”But I couldn’t shake the twisting in my chest, th
WINNIEI bolted upright in my seat, heart pounding. “No…help! Somebody! This isn’t right!”Richard strolled forward slowly, as calm as if he were greeting me at a dinner party. “Winnie. Don’t. It’s useless.”I froze. “You…what are you doing here?”I want none of this. I want nothing to do with Phoebe, with Ramon, with you,” I said, voice shaking but determined. “I just want to go home.”Richard leaned back, folding his hands in his lap. The cabin's lights glinted off the polished metal of the seat belt latch behind him. “Home,” he repeated softly. “Such a comforting word.”My fists clenched. “Yes…home. My own home. Where no one’s tied me up or threatened me. Where I’m not part of your games.”He let out a low chuckle. “Game?” he echoed. “This isn’t a game, Winnie.”I laughed bitterly, tears stinging my eyes. “Then what is it? A kind favor from someone my dad trusts? Some twisted rescue mission?”Richard’s face didn’t change. “Your father did what any parent would do. He panicked. He w
WINNIE“I didn’t invite you to get involved in my business. So why did you even go to Ramon’s house the day Ciara was shot?”It stung more than I wanted to admit.I wasn’t expecting gratitude, but I never expected blame. I didn’t go to his house for fun. I went because I cared. Because I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing while everything felt so wrong.And now, somehow, it was my fault.She looked at me like I’d crossed a line. Like I’d overstepped.Maybe I had. But I did it for her. For Ciara. For the truth.I blinked hard, trying not to cry. My throat burned with the effort. I told myself I didn’t care, but I did. I cared too much.I looked down at my hands, bruised, sore, bandaged. I’d gone through hell. I could’ve died. And this was what I got?I bit my tongue, trying not to cry in front of her.Phoebe’s face softened almost instantly. “Winnie,” she said, reaching for me. “That’s not what I meant. I’m sorry, I’m just…”“Just what?” I whispered, finally looking up. “Just stres
PHOEBEI picked up the call on the second ring, barely glancing at the screen. I almost dropped my phone when I heard the words:“This is Valley Point Medical Center. A woman named Winnie is asking for you.”I shot upright. “Winnie? Winnie Collins?”“Yes. She’s here under a different name as Linda, but she’s awake and asking for you.”“Oh my God,” I breathed. “Is she okay? Is she…”“She’s stable. But she’s very agitated.”“I’m on my way.”I hung up and turned to Ramon, who had been sitting silently on the other side of the room, his hands loosely clasped between his knees.“She’s alive,” I whispered.His head snapped up. “Winnie?”I nodded quickly. “She’s at the hospital. Valley Point Medical. She used a different name, but she’s been asking for me.”For a second, he didn’t move. Then he stood. “Let’s go.”The drive was quiet. Too quiet. My hands trembled in my lap the entire time, and I couldn’t stop my knee from bouncing. A thousand thoughts raced through my mind, was she hurt? What
WINNIE“You’re safe now and I will get phoebe for you,” the nurse said gently. “You were brought in last night. Do you remember anything?”I swallowed hard. “Gas station… I collapsed.”She nodded. “That’s right. A woman found you unconscious and called it in. You were dehydrated, bruised, and exhausted. You’ve been asleep for hours.”I tried to sit up. Pain flared through my ribs, and I winced.“Whoa, don’t rush. You’re okay. Just lie back,” she said quickly, pressing my shoulder down with a soft but firm hand.I obeyed, my breaths shaky. “I need to call someone. Her name’s Phoebe. Please, I need to call her. I need her here.”“I’ll help you with that,” she promised. “But first, let’s check your vitals. Just stay calm for me, alright?”“But…” I tried to push again, my panic rising. “She’s in danger. I have to warn her. Richard…he’s…he’s going to…”“Shh,” she hushed me gently, pulling something from her pocket. “We’ll get to that. I promise. But if your blood pressure spikes again, we’
WINNIEI wake up with a massive headache and feel the world spinning. My eyes flutter open and I see the dim light of a room I don’t recognize. My head throbs, and I try to focus on my surroundings. Then I see him again, Richard. He stands in the shadow by the door, his face cold and his eyes full of malice.“Winnie,” he says sharply, stepping closer. “What have you found out about Ciara?”I swallow hard and try to sit up, my body heavy and uncooperative. “I…I know what happened,” I stammer, my voice trembling. “I know you killed her.”Richard’s eyes narrow. “You think you know, huh? And what about the person who showed up that day?” he sneers.I grit my teeth. “I know it wasn’t really Ciara,” I say, forcing my voice to sound strong even as the pain in my head worsens. “I know you lied about everything.”He laughs, a cold, cruel sound that cuts through the silence. “You’re making wild claims, Winnie,” he says icily. “You have no proof.”I lean forward, even though my body protests. “I