Chapter 3

I don't remember leaving Dr. Marsh's office. I'd had the hope in my hands.

"What did the doctor want?"

Sophie asked when I returned.

I looked at the color slowly returning to her face.

Since learning that a donor had been found, she had begun believing she might live.

How could I take that hope away?

"The doctor said you're still too weak for the procedure.

"They need to delay it."

Sophie paused, then gave me the same sweet, obedient smile she always did.

I couldn't stay. After reassuring her, I left the hospital.

Thinking about Vanessa's call, I knew no one else would have interfered.

Vanessa was the one who'd gotten us into the registry search in the first place.

She also knew people close enough to pressure the process.

When I reached home, crashes sounded from inside.

Mason was having another episode in my house.

He had destroyed everything within reach, leaving broken pieces across the floor.

Vanessa continued soothing him.

She only glanced up when she heard the front door.

"Did you interfere with Sophie's donor?"

I didn't soften the question.

Vanessa frowned, openly irritated.

But while holding Mason, she forced her voice to remain gentle.

"Do you have any idea how dangerous Mason's episodes can get?

"If I hadn't stayed with him all these years, he'd be dead by now.

"All you had to do was swallow a little humiliation. Haven't you managed that for years?"

The certainty in her voice tightened my chest.

A laugh escaped me as my control broke apart.

"His life matters.

"Does my sister's life mean nothing?

"Do you know how long we waited for that donor? She's dying."

Vanessa stared at me, apparently shocked that I had raised my voice.

I looked at the ruined room and at Mason trembling in her arms.

Exhaustion flooded through me.

Ten years.

For ten years, I had surrendered and lowered every boundary.

Now I was expected to surrender my sister's life.

I drew a breath, met Vanessa's eyes again, and pointed toward Mason.

"Did he save your life? Did you cause his parents' deaths? What are you to him that you must sacrifice everyone else..."

Before I could finish, Mason lost control on the sofa.

He grabbed the heavy glass ashtray from the table and threw it at my head.

It struck with a violent crack and shattered.

Blood instantly soaked through the bandage already around my forehead.

It streamed down my cheek.

My vision blurred, and the room spun.

I caught the wall before I collapsed.

Vanessa finally reacted.

She searched frantically for the first-aid kit.

"Where is it? Don't touch the wound. There's so much blood..."

Her voice shook as she reached toward me.

Then laughter broke through the silent living room.

Mason, who'd been screaming moments earlier, pointed at me and laughed until he doubled over.

The sound captured Vanessa's attention.

I took the bandage from her hand and wrapped my own head.

Guilt crept into Vanessa's eyes.

"I'm sorry.

"His episode was bad. He didn't mean to hurt you."

Then she opened her phone and sent me several payments.

A chain of notification sounds filled the room.

"I'll take Mason away for a while. When I return, I'll explain everything."

She slammed the door behind them.

I remained alone in the wreckage.