Chapter 4

I asked, "Audrey, are you going back to take care of your mom today?"

She nodded and smiled softly. "I'm sorry, Shane. You know she has a heart condition."

I pressed my lips together. I wanted to tell her she didn't have to keep lying to me. I'd already seen who she'd really gone to meet yesterday.

Before I could say anything, she suddenly pulled out a cake in a playful, mischievous way.

"Hey, don't be sad, Shane. I made this just for you to make it up to you!"

My chest tightened even more.

I'd seen that cake before. Someone had dropped it off at the office, and I was pretty sure it was from Russell. But he'd forgotten that Audrey was allergic to mangoes.

I swallowed hard but kept quiet. All I said was, "Stay here tonight."

She seemed to sense that something was off with me, and eventually, she stayed.

But once I started doubting her, it was hard to trust anything she did. Mom and Dad's marriage had fallen apart the same way.

And the way Audrey was acting only gave me more reason to doubt her.

The next morning, I wrote up a report and had a courier deliver it to the local tax office. Then I went straight to the law firm and asked for the lawyer I'd worked with before.

The moment Mr. Whitmore saw that I'd really become someone else, his jaw dropped.

I smiled. "What, Mr. Whitmore? It's only been a day. You don't recognize me anymore?"

He shook his head. "I'm just amazed you really called it. You really did become Russell Walker."

He pulled out an agreement and handed it to me. "So that gift agreement you had me draw up—"

I was about to discuss what to do about the assets I'd transferred earlier when my phone suddenly rang. I held up a hand, then answered it.

Audrey's hysterical voice came through the phone.

"Shane Hatcher, you bastard! Why didn't you tell me you had cancer? Did you know all along that I could swap your soul with Russell's? You murderer!"

Her voice was shrill, nothing like the soft, gentle way she usually spoke.

Mr. Whitmore let out a sigh. "I never would've thought it, Mr. Hatcher. You really almost fell for someone who'd betray you after everything you did for her."

I gave a quiet laugh and said into the phone, "It's only cancer. Why should that stop the two of you from being together?"

Audrey scoffed. "Shane, if he doesn't make it, don't think I'll let you off easy."

I didn't take her threat seriously. I hung up, finished discussing the asset transfers with Mr. Whitmore, and signed the papers without hesitation.

But the moment I stepped out of the law firm, I saw a crowd of reporters waiting outside.

A bad feeling hit me. I took off running, and sure enough, the reporters spotted me and chased after me.

Then Audrey called again, her voice cold. "If Russell dies, don't expect this to end well for you."

I had no idea what she'd accused me of, but right now, the only thing that mattered was keeping myself safe.

The problem was, I was Russell now. I had no bodyguards. I didn't have other places I could disappear to. I couldn't even ask my friends for help because, to them, I was Russell.

Then I thought of the perfect place to go.