3: My New Life Is Already a Disaster

Emily's pov

The first thing I felt was a headache. The second was a deep, personal hatred of fainting.

I opened my eyes. Gold light slanted through the tall windows, and the chandelier was still there, glittering over me like it belonged in a palace. Then everything came back. Zelda. Kailani. The book. The murder waiting somewhere in my future.

"Oh, absolutely not," I whispered, and sat up too fast. The room tilted and my skull throbbed. I sank back against the pillows with a groan.

A nurse hurried in. "Miss Vincent, please don't move so suddenly," she said, hovering at the edge of the bed.

"Noted. My brain has filed a formal complaint," I said, pressing a hand to my forehead.

She blinked at me like she wasn't sure whether that counted as a symptom. Before she could decide, the door swung open and Rosa and Charles rushed in.

"Lani!" Rosa grabbed my hand while Charles pulled a chair up beside her, his forehead creased. "Darling, how do you feel?"

*Like a woman who died once and woke up in a book,* I thought. "Better," I said. "Just dizzy."

Rosa cupped my cheek, her eyes shining, her fingers trembling against my skin. Guilt pricked me. Whatever the original Kailani had done, these two clearly loved her. I couldn't hold Rosa's gaze, so I studied the stitching on the blanket instead.

"No more fainting," Charles said, pointing a finger at me. "Understood?"

"I'll schedule my next collapse in advance," I said.

He stared at me. Rosa let out a small, uncertain laugh and smoothed my hair off my forehead. Kailani probably hadn't been this funny, or at least not on purpose. I'd have to be careful. I couldn't exactly tell them I was Emily Authur, a stranger who'd read about their daughter in a novel. They'd call someone with a very large needle.

"Do you remember what happened?" Charles asked, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

"I got confused," I said, picking at the blanket. "Seeing my reflection startled me."

It was a pathetic excuse, and it was all I had.

"You've been under so much stress lately," Rosa said, squeezing my fingers. "Maybe your body is telling you to slow down."

Stress. Kailani's stress was a man who couldn't tell affection from harassment and a best friend who smiled while sharpening a knife. Edward Bernard and Zelda Graham. I planned to avoid both like unpaid bills.

"I think I need some time alone," I said.

Charles hesitated, his jaw working, his knuckles white on the arm of the chair. "We'll be right outside. Call if you need anything."

"Anything?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Anything," Rosa said, and kissed the top of my head.

They left. The door clicked shut and the room went quiet except for the monitor, and I stared at the ceiling. Luxury hospital room. Parents ready to hand me the world. A billionaire family. Maybe dying hadn't been a total financial disaster. I felt a little ashamed of that thought, then a little less ashamed when I glanced at the television again.

Time for a plan. I lifted my new hand and ticked the points off on its long, unfamiliar fingers. One: stop chasing Edward. Two: keep away from Zelda. Three: stay far from Nikolai Bernard, the man who killed Kailani. Then enjoy the money and learn enough about the Vincent business to be useful. How hard could it be to look rich and stay alive?

A soft knock cut off my thoughts.

"Can I come in?" Zelda called through the door.

Of course she could. I pulled the blanket higher, as if it could shield me, and arranged my face into something calm. I failed.

She came in with a small bouquet of pink roses, her eyes damp, her face soft with concern. Her dress didn't have a single wrinkle. If I hadn't read the book, I'd have bought every bit of it.

"Kailani! You scared me so much," she said, setting the flowers on the table and reaching for my hand.

I wanted to pull away. I made myself leave it where it was. "I'm fine. Fainting is my new hobby."

"You're still joking. That's a relief," she said, with a delicate laugh.

"Should I be weeping into the flowers instead?" I asked.

Her smile slipped for half a second before settling back into place. "I just want you to feel better," she said, tilting her head.

"How generous," I said.

Too sharp. Kailani had supposedly adored this woman and trailed after her like a puppy. Zelda sat on the edge of the bed. The mattress dipped, and a cloud of floral perfume rolled over me. "Have you spoken to Edward since the accident?"

There it was.

"No," I said, looking at the window.

"Really? He asked about you," she said, watching my face. "I thought you'd want to see him."

My heart thumped, and not for Edward. I knew exactly what Kailani would have done. She'd have demanded his number and his schedule. "That's nice of him," I said, shrugging. "I'm sure he'll survive without a visit from me."

"But you always worry when he doesn't come," Zelda said, frowning.

"People change," I said.

Her fingers tightened around mine. Her expression stayed sweet, but her eyes sharpened. "Maybe the accident changed how you see things," she said slowly.

"Maybe hitting my head improved my taste in men," I said, pulling my hand free to straighten the blanket.

Her laugh came out stiff this time. She glanced at the door, then back at me. "Edward has always been kind to you, in his own way. You shouldn't misunderstand him."

Kind. He had turned Kailani down over and over, let her be humiliated in public, and still thought he was the reasonable one. The man had the emotional awareness of a decorative lamp.

"I won't misunderstand anything," I said, folding my arms. "Edward isn't a topic I want to discuss."

For the first time, Zelda had no answer. Her lips parted, then closed. She leaned in and patted my hand. "I'm glad you're feeling better. You can tell me anything, you know. I'm your best friend."

The words nearly made me choke. "I'll keep that in mind," I said through my teeth.

"Rest now. I'll come by tomorrow," she said, standing and smoothing her skirt.

"Can't wait," I said, though my smile felt glued on.

She fixed the flowers, turning each stem so the roses faced me, then crossed to the door. I watched her go and wondered whether I'd thrown her off or just annoyed her. I had to be more careful. She knew Kailani's habits better than anyone.

At the door she stopped, one hand on the knob, and looked back. "I'm just happy you're safe. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you."

Perfect words. Perfect face.

Then a voice spoke inside my head.

*Why is she acting so strange?*

I froze, my pulse thudding in my ears, my fingers digging into the sheets. Zelda's lips hadn't moved, not even a twitch.

*Does she know something? Kailani has never brushed Edward off like that.*

My stomach clenched. The voice was clear, feminine, and unmistakably Zelda's, and it came from nowhere in the room.

*If she's done with Edward, that could ruin everything.*

Goosebumps raced up my arms. I forced my face to stay blank. Zelda stood there with her mouth closed, her face all gentle worry, waiting for me to answer something she'd said out loud. I hadn't heard it.

*I need to make sure she doesn't become a problem.*

I'd only heard what she was thinking, word for word.

My mouth went dry, and I swallowed hard. "Oh, hell," I whispered.

I could hear Zelda Graham's thoughts.