Chapter 4

"Kayla, when are you gonna get better? I miss you so much. Even if you're stuck in bed forever, I'll take care of you."

Lily's words felt like a hex.

Bryson side-eyed her, then knocked on the wooden bedside table.

"Stop the nonsense. She'll be fine. It's just a kidney."

Then he faced me, turning on the charm. "Don't stress. I'll get you the best meds out there. You'll be back to normal in no time."

So yeah—even he admitted I wasn't okay.

"Bryson's right. I didn't mean it like that. Kayla, look—we picked this out for your engagement. Isn't it pretty? Bryson said I'm about your size, so I tried it on. Don't be mad."

She shoved her phone at me.

On screen, she was all smiles, wearing the dress, snuggled up to Bryson like they were the couple getting engaged.

Honestly, if Lily wore it, I didn't want it.

I pointed at some random dress and told them both to leave.

That pic had Bryson looking like he wanted to disappear.

Lily? She flopped on the couch like she owned the place.

"You're right, Kayla. You should rest. Bryson, go. Don't worry, I've got her. Us girls get each other way better than guys do."

She wasn't leaving. I pulled the blanket over my head, tuning her out. The room went dead quiet.

Thirty minutes later, the boutique showed up—with every single dress.

Lily grabbed my hand, giggling. "I know you picked one already, but I thought you might change your mind. So, I brought the whole lineup. Want me to model them for you?"

It wasn't even subtle—she was daring me.

The staff started whispering.

"She's trying on dresses for someone else? Rich people are wild. What's next, testing the husband too?"

"Please, don't you remember Mr. Schubert cozying up to her? Love's just a joke to these people."

I caught every word. Lily leaned in, voice low.

"Wanna know how Bryson gets 'cozy' with me? Why didn't you just stay gone? Why come back and wreck my life? You think you deserve any of this?"

Then she waved the staff off, leaving all the dresses behind like some kind of flex.

I had no idea what Lily was up to.

The room was crowded, but she got way too close. My gut twisted.

Then—bam—she slammed her hand down on my wound, smirking.

"Hurts, doesn't it? Good. You really thought kidnappers took your kidney? Nah. Bryson made the call. He wanted to save me, so he took it from you without a second thought. That love you were so obsessed with? It was always mine. If you've got any sense left, you'll crawl away and stay gone. Next time, I might go for something else."

Blood soaked my hand, hot and fast.

Lily pressed harder, still grinning like a psycho. "Didn't think anyone could be this dumb."