7
When I woke up, my body still ached.
The smell of disinfectant filled the air.
My vision cleared, and I saw Mom and Dad by
the bed.
Mom’s eyes were red and puffy, and she was
crying.
She gripped my hand, sobbing, “Honey, I’m
so sorry. I thought you were faking. I didn’t
know…”
She covered her face and broke down.
I licked my lips and said, “Don’t bother with
the apologies.”
“How many times have my sister and I gotten
hurt? Did you care?”
“You only care about Haley. If she gets a
scratch, you lose your minds.”
<
“My sister’s dead, and I’m leaving. After this,
just take care of your perfect daughter.”
“Slap!”
The sound cracked in the room. Pain spread
across my face.
Dad’s hand shook, and I saw regret flash in
his eyes, but anger quickly took over.
“Don’t talk like that!”
“Your sister’s fine! Stop trying to curse her!”
“You’re always talking about death! Are you
trying to kill us!”
He roared, refusing to believe Sarah was
<
The hospital director walked in, smiling and
shaking hands with Dad. “Mr. Davis, your
daughter Haley is in the VIP suite upstairs.
What are you doing here?”
“She’s perfectly fine, by the way. We’ll take
good care of her. This hospital is your
family’s establishment.”
My mind went blank.
This hospital belonged to the Davis family.
So, my sister died in a Davis–owned hospital
because she couldn’t afford care.
I struggled to sit up, staggered over to Dad.
“Why… Why didn’t you save my sister?”
L
Your nospital! vvny aiant you save ner!
“She could have lived!”
My voice was hoarse, tears blurring my vision.
Dad scowled. “Don’t think you can get away
with anything just because you’re hurt.”
“If you keep talking nonsense, I’m disowning
you!”
Tears streamed down my face, but I laughed,
a desperate, bitter laugh.
“The Davis family? I never wanted to be part
of it!”
“Haley can be your perfect daughter.
66.9
“I’m done! My sister and I are changing our
names, and we’re never coming back!”
A doctor nearby, looked at me.
“I remember you. A week ago, you brought in
a girl from a car accident.”
“She was badly hurt.”
“I’m so sorry, she was so young…”
The doctor looked sympathetic.
My parents looked confused, realizing
something was wrong.
“Who… Who died?”
66–1
.
<
The doctor pointed to me. “This young lady’s
sister.”
“She was in critical condition when she was
brought in.”
“We did everything we could, but we couldn’t
get the money for the surgery in time.”
The doctor paused, sounding sad.
“I remember we called the family, but no one
answered the phone.”
“We kept getting voicemail.‘
وو
A metallic taste flooded my mouth, and tears
poured down my face.
L
In their own hospital, she died because of
money!
I stared at Dad, each word forced out, “You
didn’t answer my calls, you didn’t answer the
hospital! You killed my sister!”
Dad’s face was red. “How much did she pay
you to say that! I didn’t get any calls!”
Mom looked pale, her lips trembling. “It was
Haley… She was playing with your phone the
other day.”
Haley!
She had cut off my sister’s last chance!
I turned to the door.
Haley was standing there, and she’d heard
everything.
Her face was white, and she stumbled back
behind Dad.
“I didn’t! I was just helping Dad with some
apps. I didn’t get any calls from the hospital!”
“She’s lying! She’s doing this because of
what happened the other day! She’s trying to
get me in trouble!”
She turned to Mom, tears welling up.
“Mom, I swear! It’s her and the doctor…”
“They’re working together to frame me!”
alared at Halev fury burning inside me.
Usually, Mom and Dad would have defended
her and yelled at me.
But this time, they just stood there, stunned
and pale.
Two cops walked in.
“We need to ask you some questions about
Sarah’s death.”
Haley looked even paler, her eyes darting
around.
She tried to sneak away, but another officer
stopped her.
“Ms. Davis, we need to talk to you about the
accident.”
