y! Don't l

overed in sweat. My heart pounded against my ribs like a drum o

ully here in California far from my old lif

er to inherit my grandmother's fortune. But no

or always p

aved me when I was left for

t life. He became my salvati

y say I am happy. I have a reason to

ghts when the me

ht I ra

with a stranger, I ra

's like James? What if he on

ll anyone seeme

was in that stranger's arms,

w much my heart whispered that I was s

I couldn't trust anyone-no

-

Year

a's nervous voice tr

where

! Grandma is in th

art s

d? Is she okay? What

Monique just calle

heading t

care,

teering wheel. My chest fel

ndm

I had left-besides Lin

as, driving as fas

A

med into the

at the rearview m

I could

A

it me

h me. My heartbeat

trying t

ghter, trying to speed

hispered, fear cl

to die. I don

er ha

t con

AS

ammed int

sion blurred. Blood dripped fro

move. I tri

dy refuse

h

rd vo

she

e won't

l be pleased. We'll be

sob escap

n't end l

Someone from

anted

e. I refuse t

swallowed

-

p, I was in a

my hand, and the scent of

, Lina wa

ced myself to sit up, bu

ars and helped me. "Your

it hi

The voices.

don't know what I would've do

frowned. "Lina,

, tears pooli

red the words t

... she'

acked. "You're lyin

bed. "The doctors

itched. My

he last time I saw her

wered h

boiled over. "How did she

. "She... she fell

le

ked. "

g over her said sh

ed. "She was in a wheelchai

fli

someone p

ll ran dow

when it happened? Why did

urned pale. S

me,

I... I ordered her t

With all the maids in the house

he knew ab

Drugs? What

lip. "I ne

y voice was d

dn't a

he was hidin

are you keep

If I hadn't sent the nurse away, Grandma wou

"Stop saying that! Nothing y

sor

arply, rubbi

t to g

. we're not allowed i

ze. "

been ev

an cold. "

r day. After Gr

ha

art p

was I un

ee d

llowe

, you called me

er face contor

ys... they cremated he

e down i

last time, Steph. But they didn't l

rned in

! That's my house! I have

s. "Steph... what a

ched m

going

es widene

hey stole everything from us, L