Marta walked into the liv

d dead in

was wide open. The freezing autumn wind wa

ed toward

, dropping

al ball on the lounge chair. She was wear

Marta cr

ched Collette's cheek.

ike a furnace. Her lips were

ed her phone from her apron pocket

sirens wailed through t

edics ripped open ice packs and shoved them

hed weakly on

ly furrowed in pain. A single tear leaked from t

t at the emergency entrance of

look at her vitals and orde

d a severe fever,"

ssistant used the Lara Empire's corporate channels to handle the exorbitant admission fees. However, since Hartwell was e

e fluorescent lights pierced

was being split open with an axe. Her throat was s

IV tube taped to t

hair next to the bed, wipi

g," Marta sniffled. "

me made Collette's st

nto the mattress and fo

rp pressure h

stic tubing on her hand and ripped th

!" Marta

the bedside tray and pressed it hard against the puncture wound, hiding the bright red drops. She swun

harsh smell of bleach and rubb

nd hidden against her side, she walked slow

station, two nurses were

suite?" one whispered. "Miss Isabell. She's

feet stop

chest like a sledgehammer.

go to the

her burning body toward the elevators a

arpeting. There was no smell of bl

her eyes locked on the heavy wooden door a

rept

in a hospital bed. She wore a silk hospital gown. H

hair next to the

s draped over the

d, his eyes focused entirely on peeling an apple for I

rd, Hartwell," Isa

e the mattress tomorr

e exact same gentle tone he

with me?" Isabell asked, reachin

l away. He just kep

hallway. The blood in

down on her bottom lip so hard that the skin brok

't make

rse asked, looking at Collette's b

hed like she h

spun around, and ran toward the elevator, flee