Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Eden never expected her words would set the nurse off like a spark to dry grass.

"Oh, you still think you're some untouchable princess, huh? Well, guess what- everyone knows now. Your dad is Henry. Do you even know who Henry is? He's the one who ruined my family! My father jumped to his death because of him. I've hated Henry my whole life!"

The nurse's eyes were red, her voice shaking with old pain. Twenty years ago, her dad had gone out to collect a debt, leaving her mom home alone with her and her little brother. He never came back. The story went that he'd tried to stand up to Henry, got trapped, and ended up taking his own life.

Her father was just one of hundreds who died like that-a nobody the world forgot. But she could never forget.

And now, staring at the daughter of the man who destroyed everything, she could barely keep herself from lashing out. The only reason she held it together was her family—they'd already lost too much because of Henry.

Another nurse tugged gently at her sleeve, her voice raw. "That's enough. Come on, let's go."

The angry nurse glared at Eden, then let out a cold laugh. "You got to live easy all these years. Lucky you, huh? But it looks like whoever was protecting you finally gave up. Serves you right. You'll be stuck in this hospital for a long time, and I'll make sure to curse you every day."

Eden just stared, lost. Henry? She had no idea who that was. She'd grown up in the Ferguson family, totally sheltered from all of this.

But now, a heavy, uneasy feeling crept into her chest. She'd been in the hospital for days, and not a single person had come to see her.

She glanced at her phone.

had friends in the city-so why did it

pain, she yanked off her bandages and

Eden scrolled through the group chat, reading

time, she'd only known Dylan had taken her in,

just lucky-her birth parents were gone, but she had Dylan, who gave her

in those messages, every word felt

gripped her

Did Dylan do this? No. He would never treat me like

called Dylan over and over, her Shaking, but all she

hands

the automated voice:

bet

you're calling is unle

always picked up before, always been there for her, no matter how much trouble she

he'd

he really not care

him message after message,