“I’m not going to any hospital. I’m going to New York.”
I forced it out through gritted teeth, using every ounce of strength I had left.
Crane stopped wiping. The fake warmth drained from his face in an instant.
“Don’t. Push. Me.” His face went dark. He threw the towel down. “You’re burning up with a hundred–and–three fever. What the hell are you gonna do in New York–die and make Naomi look like a monster for the rest of her life? Is that the plan?”
Every word was venom.
I was shaking–fever or rage, I couldn’t tell anymore.
“Hospital or New York. Pick one.”
I stared at him, repeating myself word by word.
We were at a standoff.
He was betting I’d break first. I was ready to burn it all down.
Then his phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen and his whole face melted–this soft, tender look I’d never seen before.
He grabbed his phone and bolted to the balcony, sliding the door shut like he was hiding
treasure.
“Hey, Miranda… no, no, don’t worry, I’m almost done… Yeah, I’ll be there soon, I promise… Tyler’s birthday present? Already wrapped. He’s gonna flip…”
12:52
You Send Your Daughter
59%
Chapter 7
His voice was low but I caught every word.
Miranda.
Tyler.
So that was her name. Their kid’s name.
Today was that little boy’s birthday.
Perfect.
I’d been locked up, beaten, burning alive with fever–and he was rushing off to play Daddy at some other kid’s birthday party.
My vision blurred. The room tilted.
I knew I was going under.
With whatever I had left, I grabbed my phone and dialed from muscle memory.
Naomi.
Ring… ring… ring…
Forever. I didn’t know if she picked up.
“Naomi… baby, help me… your dad’s… he’s lost his mind…”
The phone slipped. Hit the floor.
Everything went black.
I woke up drowning in bleach smell.
White ceiling. White walls. IV needle jabbed in my hand.
12:52
You Send Your Daughter saK MA—–
Chapter 7
Hospital.
Crane was sitting right there beside me, holding a fruit knife, peeling an apple with a blank expression.
The blade scraped–shk, shk, shk–loud as nails on a chalkboard.
He saw I was awake, he didn’t even look up.
“Well, look who’s alive. Like a damn cockroach.” He smirked. “And I get stuck with the bill. What a pain in the ass.”
I stared at this man–the man I thought I’d grow old with.
All I felt was nothing.
I ignored him and tried to sit up, looking for my phone.
“Looking for this? Gonna call your precious daughter?“:
Crane stopped peeling. Pulled my phone out of his pocket, dangling it like a toy.
“Save yourself the trouble. She already called. I answered.”
A smug grin spread across his face.
“Told her you threw a tantrum and took a little spill. You know what she did?”
He leaned in close, voice dropping to a whisper.
“She didn’t say a word. Just hung up.”
“Evelyn–your baby girl doesn’t give a flying fuck if you live or die.”
“She thinks you’re a cheap, crazy bitch who makes scenes.”
12:52
You Send Your Daughter $3K Monthly
Chapter 7
It felt like he’d driven a spike through my chest.
I didn’t believe him.
I couldn’t.
This had to be another lie. Another knife in the back.
I closed my eyes. I couldn’t look at his face anymore.
I had to survive this.
I had to talk to Naomi myself.
I had to show her who this bastard really was.
12:52

 
	 
 
		 
		 
		 
		