uments from her Birkin bag. She walked ov

s and slapped them direc

ced across Aubree's cheekbone. A thin

. The top page read Non-Disclosure Agreement. The secon

gn it, Aubree, I will tell the police n

ssed. "This is your only ch

aragraphs of legal text. A b

ith zero assets, and she was permanently banned f

aspy but firm. "I will not sign a co

e reached into her purse and pul

a said. "It details how your brother, Keagan Pratt, fa

itched. Keagan was her only family. H

, "this goes to the university board tom

You are a part of this?" she whispe

he blank wall. "I will do whate

ng piece of Aubree's heart. The lig

king hand reached down and pick

nd held out a hea

rembled so violently from the fever a

ame at the bottom of the confession and the NDA. S

ed a small, red ink pad from

and. She forced Aubree's thu

ck, but she had no strength lef

's ink-stained thumb o

isp white paper. It looked like blood.

way and flicked the edge of t

she sat on the floor. She star

quiet laugh esc

in the quiet hospital room. Eli's stomach tig

bed and pulled herself up. She didn't

avy door open. She walked out into