Amber’s Pov
It had been three days since my mother died. Three days since I watched her heart stop on that screen.
I hadn’t left the hospital since then. I couldn’t. Not while Jane lay motionless, her face swollen, tubes running from her nose, machines keeping her alive.
The doctors had told me the truth in quiet voices. They didn’t know if she would ever recover. The beating had caused internal bleeding in her brain. She might never wake up.
I sat by her bed, my fingers wrapped around her cold hand. I whispered to her every night. I told her I was sorry. I told her to fight. But she never moved.
My phone buzzed. I wiped my eyes and picked it up.
“Princess,” a voice said. It was Roy.
His tone was firm, “Are you ready to leave? Do you have the divorce papers? I gave you seven days. Your time will be up tomorrow.”
I pressed my lips together, staring at Jane’s pale face. “I’ll be ready,” I whispered. “By tomorrow. I’m almost done gathering all the evidence I need.”
“Good. I’ll be waiting, Princess, I hope you keep your words,” Roy said and the line went dead.
I sighed and dropped the phone onto the bed. I kissed Jane’s forehead. “I’ll fix this, I promise.”
The door creaked open. My heart leapt, thinking it was a doctor. But instead, Jason walked in.
I stood, my hands balling into fists. “What do you want? Haven’t you done enough?”
He stopped in the middle of the ward. His face softened, as he let out a sigh, “Amber,” he said, “I didn’t mean for things to go this far.”
I laughed bitterly. “You killed my mother. You almost killed my sister. That’s your idea of not going too far?”
He rubbed his forehead. “You pushed me. You made me snap. I tried to be nice, but you hurt Chloe. You made her lose our baby. And then you kidnapped Julius… I lost control. What did you expect me to do?”
I ignored him and looked away but he kept talking.
“I know how much you love me, Amber, and I know you acted out of jealousy now. It’s alright, I forgive you.”
The audacity of this asshole to think everything is about him!
“I’ll give your mother a befitting burial. I’m arranging the best brain surgeon for Jane. She’ll recover and everything will be fine.”
“I care for you, Amber,” Jason continued, stepping closer. “I know you love me and you don't want us to be apart. That's why you fought your family years ago to be with me which is why I want us to live in peace. You can even look after Julius like he’s your son.”
My stomach churned but I swallowed the bile rising in my throat and forced a small nod.
I let my face soften. “I’m glad you apologized,” I said quietly. “I’m sorry too. For kidnapping Julius. I was upset and jealous, I wasn’t thinking straight. You know I love you too much.”
His eyes flickered with relief and a smug smile.
“I prepared a document,” I continued. “I transferred all the shares in my late son’s name to Julius. A way to apologize… for the trauma he went through.”
I pulled out the folder and slid it across the table. Jason grabbed it with greedy hands. He didn’t even stop to read it. His pen scratched the paper. His eyes shone as he signed his name.
“Good,” he said with a smile. “This is good. I can’t wait to share the news with Chloe. She’s here already, she got reinstated as resident surgeon because of the video you made.”
I watched him strut out of the room, whistling under his breath.
When the door closed, I scoffed. I pulled the folder back and flipped the page.
The bold title of the document stared back at me: Divorce Certificate.
I had hidden it beneath the false paper of transfer. Jason, in his greed, had signed away his marriage.
I pressed the paper to my chest and laughed bitterly. “Stupid bastard.”
I kissed Jane’s forehead. “I have to go do something important. I’ll be back soon.”
I left the hospital quietly.
—
When I got to the house, everything was quiet. No one was home. I went straight to my bedroom and pulled out bags. I packed clothes, important documents, jewelry, everything that was mine.
Then I gathered the marriage pictures. The frames. The wedding gifts. The things Jason had ever given me over the years. I carried them outside to the fire pit and lit a match.
The flames licked the air. It felt good finally getting rid of all the lies.
When it was done, I went to Jason’s study. I pressed in Chloe’s birthday. The safe clicked open.
Stacks of documents filled the space. I searched quickly. My fingers shook as I pulled out the two files I had been hunting.
As I slid them into my bag, another file caught my eye. My mother’s name was on it.
My heart skipped. I pulled it out. It was a consent form. A hospital document stating she had agreed to participate in an unauthorized medical drug testing.
But the signature wasn’t hers. Jason had signed it.
My knees buckled. I sank against the desk, the words blurring in my vision. Jason had given Chloe permission to use my mother as a test subject for her new drug.
A drug that caused side effects. A drug that triggered her heart attack and caused her to fall from the top floor. A drug that pushed her into a coma.
I pressed the paper to my chest, tears streaming down my face. “You monsters,” I whispered. “You just keep digging your own grave. My son, my brother, and my mother.”
I shoved the file into my bag and closed the safe.
I left the house. My phone pinged as I drove. I checked it at a red light.
Flight booking confirmed for tomorrow evening. Two passengers.
It was set. Me and Jane, tomorrow, I’ll take her away from here to where she will get better.
I reached the hospital and parked. My heart felt lighter knowing escape was close.
But when I walked into Jane’s room, my heart froze.
A shadow hovered over her bed. The figure leaned close, a syringe glinting in the dim light.
“Who’s there?” I demanded, my voice sharp.
The person turned slowly. It was Chloe.
