Chapter 4

An hour later, the party ended.

Ethan carried Lily to the car, rolled down the window, and spoke to me like we'd done this a hundred times.

"Nina, it's one in the morning. Walk home."

"And make sure you go past the crash site."

"I don't want to see you living too comfortably."

The window went up. The car pulled away.

I stood there as a cold wind rolled through.

I pushed through the pain and started walking toward the house, one step at a time.

One in the morning. That was when the New York pile-up had happened.

It was also the time Vivian's heart had been given to me.

Ethan never let me forget it.

Thirteen kilometers. It took me four hours.

By the time I reached the hillside house, my legs were giving out.

I reached up and pressed the doorbell with the last of my strength. My vision went dark. I was about to pass out when the door swung open.

"Nina, go clean up Lily. She's exhausted."

Ethan stood shirtless in the doorway, his body marked with Lily's lipstick and scratches.

The pain in my chest was so sharp I had to clench my teeth.

I looked up and met his eyes.

One more week, Ethan. After that, I won't owe you anything.

I looked away.

I lowered my head and walked through the house to the master bedroom.

The wide black bed reeked of them.

I went in anyway. I leaned over and gently shook Lily awake.

She opened her eyes and looked at me, suddenly shy.

"Nina, I'm sorry to trouble you."

"Mr. Shelton, he—"

She didn't finish. I cut her off, took her arm, and guided her to the bathroom.

I filled the tub with warm water and cleaned her off with a towel, taking care of every mark on her skin.

Half an hour later, I helped her back to bed.

The entire time, Ethan watched with quiet amusement.

When I finished and turned to leave, he spoke.

"Nina. Is there something you forgot to tell me today?"

His eyes drifted toward my stomach.

I smiled, though it hurt. Shook my head. Went downstairs to the staff room.

I shut the door. My whole body shook as I slid down to the floor.

I dug the medication out of my bag and swallowed all of it at once.

The pills kicked in and I drifted off.

I hadn't been asleep long when the door burst open with a kick.

Ethan stood there, furious.

"Nina, what did you do to Lily when you washed her up?"

"Why is she bleeding?"

I pushed myself upright and saw that both of Ethan's hands were covered in blood.

I opened my mouth.

Before I could say a word, Ethan grabbed my arm and dragged me to the car.

"You're coming to the hospital with us."

"If anything happens to Lily, I will not let you walk away from this."

I was thrown into the back seat. I pressed my hand to my chest, the pain so severe I could barely breathe.

At the hospital, I watched Ethan rush through the entrance with Lily cradled carefully in his arms.

I sat alone in a cold plastic chair, clenching my teeth against the pain.

A few minutes later, Ethan came back out.

"Come with me. Lily has an ectopic pregnancy. She's hemorrhaging. You're Rh-negative. Get in there and give blood."

He turned and walked away like it was already decided.

For three years, I had done everything he asked.

But this time, I thought about the heart removal surgery in one week.

And for the first time, I said no.

"Ethan. I won't."

"What did you just say?"

He turned around. The disbelief on his face shifted into a cold sneer as it sank in.

He leaned against the wall.

"Nina. Have you still not figured out where you stand?