ra Bry

other. Cannon had given it to me on my last birthday, a quiet dinner at home, a gesture of his enduring love and respect. He said

ust have shown her a picture, perhaps excitedly talking about its beauty, and she, in her posses

was stealing from her, stealing her man, stealing her future. Her jealousy,

h! He loves me! He's going to marry me!" She clutched the brooch so hard

me he'd give me everything I ever wanted." She was staring into the middle distance,

deranged eyes. She pulled out her phone

ve a situation. A... pest. And bring your p

ad of Security. A thug in a suit, a man known for his brutal ef

ied, crawling towards the gurney, desperate

his lips a terrifying shade of purple. His eyes,

, tears blurring my visi

peered tentatively around the corner. "Nurse

onal mask slipping back into place. "Everything's fine, Nurse

face on the floor. Her eyes widened with alarm. "But... the

g my judgment, Nurse Anya? Or perhaps you'd like to find another hospital

retreated, her face pale. The fear Brittnie

l dignity. "I'll do anything. Anything you want. Just save

reading across her face. Her eyes, filled with an

ress. "He's a complication. A messy reminder. I don't

's Cannon's brother! Cannon loves hi

ugh to make me gasp in pain. "Don't you dare talk about 'Cannon's brother' to

screamed, the words

"Oh, you're someone's mother, alright. But