Chapter 3
“Oh, and Mr. Garnier came by too, but his wife had a sudden blood sugar drop. He went to take care of her.
“They’re in the next room.”
Outside, the sky was dim. I clenched my pale fingertips.
need a favor–can you help me print a file?”
During my bandage change, I saw William. He was carrying snacks, and when he passed my room, our eyes met.
He looked awkward but came in.
“Cella, sorry. The doctor didn’t know when you’d wake up, so I went to
check on Sharon.
“She’s all alone in Arizona. I figured you’d understand.
“I brought snacks. Pick one–I’ll have Sharon share it with you.”
I pointed at the hamburger.
He hesitated. “Those are her favorite. Pick something else.”
I pointed at the tacos. His face darkened. “Are you doing this on purpose? You never eat that stuff!”
I saw it coming. I shut my eyes. I didn’t want to see his face.
He tried to say something else, but his phone rang. Probably Sharon. He glanced at it, hung up, and left in a hurry.
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I yanked out my IV and went home for my documents.
On the way, I passed the house Mom left me. I couldn’t help but stop. I tried to enter the code–my birthday–but it didn’t work. Then I saw white heels at the door.
P
With shaking hands, I entered Sharon’s birthday instead.
Beep. The door opened.
My blood ran cold. Everything went numb. The house I’d called home for more than 20 years was unrecognizable. My chest tightened–I struggled to breathe.
The place had been remodeled, all in creamy pastels. The bed was piled with sex toys. Their stuff was everywhere.
Panic gripped me. I tore through every corner of the house, searching for Mom’s photo.
I found it beside the dog bed. Her eyes in the photo were burned through. A mustache was scribbled over her lips.
I clutched the photo and sobbed like a child. Mom died giving birth to me. That photo was all I had of her.
William once swore no one would ever live here. That was why I dared to keep my most precious things here.
But now, staring at the used condoms in the trash, I knew–I’d loved the wrong man.
Itrashed everything I could and didn’t stop until I collapsed from exhaustion.
At 2 a.m., he found me. Relieved I was okay, he didn’t even meet my eyes.
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He said, “It’s close to work. I let Sharon stay here for convenience.
“I can buy the house from you. Ten times the price. As an apology.
“Then you won’t mind if I give it to her, right?”
I stared at him in disbelief.
“You know what this house means to me!”
William frowned.
“It’s just a place where a dead woman used to live. It’s not like anyone was using it. Sharon didn’t even mind.
“You’ve changed. Petty over something like this.”
I dragged myself up, shaky, and said quietly, “William, let’s di-”
I didn’t get to finish.
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Chapter 4
