e perfumes and designer clothes quickly filled the space that had onc

n Sarah' s usual seat,

placing a piece of fish on his plate. "I h

He then looked over at Sarah, who was picki

re too thin

g had changed. She remembered a time when he would scold her for skipping meals, his concern a warm blanket. Now, the

herself to swallow. She put a large spoonful o

" he said, seem

a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.

placing a hand on his arm. "She knows how to take care o

issal, a way of mar

she ate, she would go online and research how to repay a decade of kindness. She would calculate the cost o

errands. In a small café, she overheard two

son is finally with Linda Da

so good together. That adopte

n her past life, the news had been about her and Michael, a scandal that had led to

s was for the best, she reminded herself. T

piece of solace in the wreckage of her emotions. She was c

, startling her.

" his voice was

own," she

al hospital. Now.

sk why. A sense of dread washed over

om. Linda was lying in bed, looking pale and weak.

pened?" S

e blood type," Michael said, his eyes fixed on

request. It

. He expected her to be a living blood ba

the care. He had saved her from a life of destitution. What was

she wh

o her arm, and she watched as her blood flowed out, filling

Linda' s hand, murmuring soft words of comfort to her. He didn't even look

blur. She leaned against

oice barely audible. "I... I fee

expression impatient. "Linda needs m

keys onto the nearby table. "Take my car. A

n the silent room. It was a dismissal. A final, cut