The housekeeper cinto the den with a message that set Fitch's teeth on edge. “Sir, Ms. Bennitt is at the front gate. Should I let

her in?”

Fitch felt an immediate distaste at the thought of seeing her. He had pegged her as a stable sort, never imagining she could stir up

such scandal.

“No,” he replied, his voice sharp with finality. After his brief response, he grabbed his coat from the rack and exited through the

back door.

It wasn’t until he pulled up to the pet store that he realized why he had driven there.

Ozzy was gone, and in a way, it was on his conscience. It only seemed right to get a new puppy for Zoey as a gesture of

atonement.

But as he walked among the rare breeds, his gaze kept being drawn to a memory of a scrappy little gray mongrel that somehow

seemed more sincere, more beautiful than the ones before him.

Hesitating only a moment, he chose a pristine white pup and, carrying it in a crate, inquired about Zoey’s whereabouts.

Learning that she was in the hospital, he immediately set off in that direction.

Halfway there, he realized that he wouldn't normally do such a thing for anyone else. His brow furrowed as he pondered whether it

was his involvement that had dragged Zoey into this mess to begin with.

Pressing the accelerator, he continued toward the hospital.

Zoey's fever had broken, and she was awake, though her lips were cracked and bloody. She said nothing, staring blankly at the

ceiling, haunted by dreams of Ozzy wagging his little tail, and then of Wendy heartlessly dropping him from a height. Pain throbbed

wasn't a place that didn't

everything she tried to hold onto inevitably slipped away, even

broth and placed

to sit up, her stomach

face drained of color as she clutched her stomach, “Cornelia, could I have a moment

Cornelia nodded. “I'll leave for now and check on you later. The nurses will bring

lost too

the fever, Zoey had lost a significant

smile but found it impossible

a hospital gown with the window ajar, letting in a breeze that

threaten to break her.

door snapped her back to reality, followed by its opening. She assumed

look up.

familiar presence made her turn. Standing by the door was

wouldn't have been able to stay composed, but

was exhausting, painful, and she

up to you,” he said, his voice as detached as ever, even in this Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FɪndNøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and

moment of supposed amends.

Zoey blinked, uncomprehending.

the first the'd cto see her of his own accord. But

soup and flung

deliver the word he had hurled at

“Get out.”

quivered, his brow furrowed. “What

a cup and throwing it

out,” she repeated,

then he saw something in her eyes—a lifelessness that unsettled

much she had withered, the standard-size hospital gown hanging loosely on her frame. Her

the light that used to shine from

frozen, unable to

the best he could muster was,

offer compensation, a gesture of politeness in response to the scandalous videos that had

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