When Love Becomes a Cage by Nora

I was just about to hit up Jade to get the lowdown on the office drama when Eliana swiped my phone right out of my hand.

"Seriously, do you have any clue how wrecked you are right now?" she snapped.

"Why the heck are you stressing about the office? Let Clyde deal with that mess."

Warren strolled in then, his face a mask of stone, though his eyes flickered with irritation.

"Keen to work? The Grim Reaper's got a spot all lined up for you. Eager for an early promotion?"

"Warren, that's way out of line!" Eliana jumped in, protective as a mother hen, shielding me behind her.

"She's not got long left. Can't you say something nice for once?"

Rubbing my aching forehead, I couldn't help but feel these siblings were here to twist the knife.

"Eliana, cut it out. I've got a couple more years in me."

Both Eliana and Warren turned to me, their faces clouding over.

Warren, casting a glance at my medical reports, said, "Let's get you admitted for a week. We'll talk about discharge once you pass all the tests."

"I haven't lost a patient on my watch yet. Try me," he said, his face unchanging, yet his words carried a chillingly real threat.

Eliana, baring her teeth, added, "You bet. I'll be here every day to make sure."

True to her word, Eliana stuck by me whenever she could.

by now and then, always in

She thinks she's the queen bee, acting all high

please, who doesn't know the real deal

in the group chat. And guess what?

photo, too-the two of them, close together. Rachel, usually so reserved, had a soft smile while Clyde tenderly arranged her hair, both completely lost

eyes

I've got a bombshell

cross your minds, with Rachel applying for student loans and

and selling her kidney wouldn't even cover it.

impatient, slapped her

"The Pattersons."

"How'd you know? And guess which Patterson

Jade both stared at me

I sighed. "Merritt Patterson?"

Rachel

Clyde. Even

told her, she

claimed it was hers.

WY

necklace was worth a fortune,

aren't fools. Merritt, knowing

of her background, making sending

the pair were not

hadn't planned on spilling