Chapter 51

“It was just… force of habit. The admission tasted bitter on my tongue.

James shifted in his chair, his expression growing careful. “I ran into Blake at the restaurant last night,” he said slowly. He said… he said to tell you to stop calling him without speaking. He said it was childish.”

The words hit like a physical blow. My heart contracted painfully, and for a moment, I couldn’t tell which hurt more – the cancer eating away at my body or the casual cruelty of Blake’s dismissal. Of course he would see my desperate call for help as mere attention–seeking. His returned call probably wasn’t even concern – he’d likely just wanted to berate me for bothering him.

A knock at the door interrupted my spiraling thoughts. Dr. Evans entered, her presence bringing a welcome distraction from the emotional tension in the

room.

“Miss Sinclait, how are you feeling now?” she asked, checking my vitals with professional efficiency.

“Can she eat something?” James straightened in his chair. “I could get breakfast.”

“Not yet, Dr. Evans cautioned, making notes on my chart. Her eyes flickered between James and me, a small smile playing at her lips. “You’ve found yourself a good one here.”

“You have no idea how worried he was about you last night! When I asked him to go back and get the log of your medication intake, he did it right away. And he stayed outside the emergency room the whole time, not sleeping a wink all night!”

“He’s a friend from college, nothing more,” I corrected firmly, perhaps more sharply than necessary. From the corner of my eye, I saw James’s shoulders tense slightly.

“Well, okay then, My bad.”

Watching her check my vitals, I asked the question that had been nagging at me. “How serious was last night?”

Dr. Evans’s expression hardened. “You lost consciousness from the pain, and you’re asking how serious it was?” She fixed me with a pointed look. “With your condition, spicy food is practically suicidal. Don’t try them, or you won’t even make it three months.”

She paused, checking my charts, “We were fortunaté, actually. The dose you agreed to share yesterday – the patient ended up declining it at the last minute.”

Her words made me frown. “The one who asked for fifty million?”

Dr. Evans sighed, setting down her pen. “Yes. Everything was prepared, but when she arrived at the hospital, she suddenly declined the treatment. So, you’re quite lucky.”

She rubbed her temples, looking troubled. “One more thing, her lawyers want to meet with you this week to discuss a collaboration.”

“Collaboration? Seriously?” I just found this concept absurd. Both of us were cancer patients. What kind of collaboration could we need?

I don’t know all the details,” Dr. Evans admitted, running a hand through her hair in frustration. “You’ll understand everything when you meet with her legal representative. What I do know is that this could be good for you, Her boyfriend has considerable resources – he might be able to find even more effective treatments.”

As she turned back to making notes in my chart, I reached for my phone on the bedside table. The moment I turned on my phone, multiple messages from Astrid lit up the screen:

Girl, I’m at your place – are you at the courthouse already?

It’s D–Day with Blake! Make sure you look amazing – make that jerk regret everything!

Why aren’t you picking up? What’s happening at the court?

And is that

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Chapter 51

last night, I’d completely forgotten. Checking the time – 9 AM – sent a jolt

I asked, already

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before Death Takes

Chapter 52

Audrey’s POV

I’d just suggested jumping from the hospital roof. Her incredulous look

understand that other patients with cancer like yours are typically kept under constant

hospital sheets, but I kept my voice steady.

to reveal genuine concern. “And

I have an urgent

urgent than your health!” Her clipboard came down harder than necessary on the bedside table. Whatever it is can

tried again. “Just this

made it clear this wasn’t up for discussion. To ensure I wouldn’t attempt an escape, Dr. Evans immediately assigned Dr. Alexander Blackwood, an intern, to monitor me. I watched helplessly as

I reached for my phone,

Real mature.

And then, sometime later:

that call

consider that my midnight call might have been an actual emergency? And even then, all he could manage was a casual text message. If Laurel had

my hands, Blake’s name

are you?” His voice carried that familiar edge of irritation. “I’m at the court

I glanced at the IV line snaking from my arm, at Alexander standing guard by the door.

“Not feeling well?”

with the rich aroma of fresh coffee. “Audrey, the breakfast place downstairs makes amazing coffee. I brought you

trailed off as he noticed me on the phone, but the damage was already done. The silence on the other

Collins? Spending time with him makes you

“No, that’s not…”

my entire morning schedule to meet

“Blake, please…”

that dangerous register I remembered too well. “I gave

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Chapter 52

Blake’s POV

call. The silence in the car felt oppressive as I addressed our driver. “Back to

reflection in the rearview mirror

soon?”

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