a P

little to dispel the gloom. My head still throbbed, and the scratches on my face felt raw. I rea

been assigned to Leo' s case. "Mrs. Merritt, how are you feelin

e thick with unshed tears. "And I'

d, wringing her hands. "Mr. William just received a formal notice regarding th

demand all he wants. I'm

ically ran down the hall to Leo's room. He was pale, his arm heavily bandaged and in

ed, his eyes still

of his arm. "My sweet boy. We're

th. His eyes were wild, his face unshaven, a stark contrast to his us

He reached for us, his hand clamping onto my

vin!" I hissed, cl

ed to wrench Leo from my arms. "H

k, tears stinging my eyes. "Not anym

nger at Leo. "He's a thief! He stole Aiden'

to Georgia's lies. "What are you talk

se him! You' re trying to erase Georgia' s memories!" He started dragging us, pulling us back into the hospital, towards Georgi

king surprisingly refreshed, a delicate hand pressed to her

ic flourish. "He stole it! The one Aiden gave me! He tried

ace in my shoulder. "I didn'

ards Georgia's bed. "Look at him, Georgia! H

like this? It was Aiden's special gift to me. It's all I have left of him. Don't you car

st my hair. "It was on the floor! I just picked it up,

ys been a difficult child! And you, Alea, you

my throat. He was g

d the room frantically, searching for anything, a weapon, a shield. My gaze landed o

desperation. "He didn't steal anything! Look at the locket, Geor

eyes flickering to the nightstand. There

bt crossed his face. He looked confu

ia, you know. It makes me so confused. I'm so sorry, Leo. Mommy must have planted the idea in your head, didn't she? To make me look bad? You're su

make Georgia look bad. You tried to upset her." He grabbed Leo by his good arm, pulling him out from behind me,

vin, please! He's sick! He'

. A sickening thud. Leo screamed, a high-pitched, agonizing sound. H

and. "Stop it! You're going to kill him!" I t

e floor with a sickening crack. Darkness swirled at the edges of

cries had dwindled to ragged gasps. He looked up at Calvin, his eyes wi

ce barely audible, "I... I jus

frozen in mid-air. A flicker of some

to manipulate you, Calvin," she simpered, her voice a poisonous whisper.

once more, a brutal, deliberate slap across Leo's face.

My body was numb, broken. My vision tunneled. I crawled towa

en. "He's sick! He has a fever! He's h

back at Georgia, who was now smil

creaming in protest. Blood dripped from my nose, my scalp, and m

s eyes wide with a mixture of shock and di