Chapter 4

Reagan's POV

When I wake up again, I'm lying on a cold bed in the ER.

The smell of disinfectant burns my nose. Machines beep around me.

Nobody's here with me.

A nurse walks over when she sees I'm awake and pulls out my IV. "Where's your family? They just dumped you in the hallway and left. You've got six stitches in your head and internal bleeding. This is serious. You need to stay here."

I stare at the ceiling. My eyes won't focus.

"I don't have any family." My voice comes out barely above a whisper.

I yank the needle out of my hand. The nurse tries to stop me but I'm already dragging myself off the bed and out of the hospital.

Outside, rain pours down in sheets.

Winter rain. The kind that cuts right through you.

I don't have an umbrella. Rain soaks through the bandage on my head and washes over the dried blood on my clothes.

I need to get back to the estate.

My grandmother's necklace is still there. The one she left me. It's the only thing I have left in this world.

I use the last of my strength to get a cab back to the estate.

The gate's unlocked.

I drift inside like a ghost.

Willow's three-year-old son sits in the living room playing with toy cars.

When he sees me walk in soaking wet, he suddenly runs up to me and shoves me hard.

I'm already barely standing. He pushes me and I go straight down.

Then he drops onto the floor himself and starts wailing.

"She hit me! She pushed me!"

A door slams open upstairs. Footsteps pound down the stairs.

Grayson and Carter come running down.

Grayson's eyes go red the second he sees us.

"Reagan! You never learn, do you? You're really going after a three-year-old kid?"

Grayson storms over and grabs me by the collar, hauling me up like a ragdoll.

"I didn't push him." I don't even have the energy to explain anymore.

"Stop lying! I saw you push him!"

Willow comes rushing down the stairs. She scoops up her son, sobbing. "Reagan, you got a problem with me? Fine. But leave my kid out of this."

Carter walks over. His eyes are ice cold.

He digs through my pockets and pulls out the estate keys. My bank cards.

"So this is what you've become? The Sinclairs are done with you."

Carter's voice is cold and sharp. "You're out. Done. I froze all your cards. You like playing sick? Go play sick on the street."

Then he shoves me out the door like I'm garbage.

The heavy iron gate slams shut in my face.

I collapse in the rain and mud. Stare at that closed door.

And suddenly I feel lighter than I have in years.

It's finally over.

I don't have to make anyone happy anymore. Don't have to prove anything to anyone.

I drag myself up out of the mud and start walking. No destination. Just walking in the rain.

Water runs into my eyes. The pain in my stomach doesn't even register anymore. I'm numb to it.

I don't know how long I walk.

Neon signs blur into twisted streaks of color.

I think I see my grandmother. She's waving at me.

Come here, sweetheart. Let me take you home.

I smile.

I'm so cold.

I close my eyes and collapse into the freezing water pooled on the sidewalk.

When I open my eyes again, I'm floating in the air. Harsh fluorescent lights glare down at me. A hospital ER.

Doctors and nurses crowd around a bed. An emaciated body lies on it.

That's my body. Pale as paper. Dried blood crusts the corners of the mouth. A doctor pulls off his mask and shakes his head.

I watch it all quietly. Feel nothing.

I turn and drift out of the hospital.

Time passes. I don't know how long.

I float back to the Sinclair estate.

I pass through the iron gate. The dining room blazes with light.

The family sits around the table eating soup Willow made.

"Willow's so thoughtful. Reagan's completely lost it. Should've kicked her out years ago." Mom takes a sip of soup, her face twisted with disgust.

Grayson ladles more soup into Willow's bowl. "Let's not talk about her anymore. Ruins the mood. I'll go downtown tomorrow and get the company paperwork transferred over."

His phone rings.

Unknown number. Landline.

He frowns and answers it.

"Hello, is this Reagan Sinclair's family?" A woman's voice. Cold. Official.

"Yeah. What's she pulling now?" Grayson sounds amused.

"This is the morgue at Downtown Medical Center." The woman pauses. "Reagan Sinclair passed away at 9:14 PM tonight due to complications from stage four stomach cancer and severe internal bleeding. We need you to come identify the body."

The spoon drops from Grayson's hand and hits the table.