Chapter 7
Julian chuckled and gently ruffled my hair. “You’re still that impatient little girl I remember. We’ll get married once you’re fully healed, alright?”
“My parents already have everything planned–you don’t need to worry about a thing.”
And just like that, I spent the next three months recovering in the hospital.
Even with all the care and pampering, the burns still left scars.
One day, Julian caught me staring at them. His voice was soft and reassuring. “Don’t worry. I’ve already found the best scar specialist in the country. With the right treatment, they’ll fade. You’ll be good as new,”
But I shook my head, “I want to keep them.”
I needed those scars–to remember what Travis and the Hawthorne sisters had done to me
I looked up at him. “Do they bother you?”
Julian bent down and pressed a gentle kiss to the scar. His smile was warm and unwavering. “Of course not.”
CRASH!
Across the city, Travis exploded, sweeping the cups off the table. Glasses shattered against the floor.
“What did you just say? Elise’s mother is dead?!”
The bodyguard handed him a death certificate. “Yes, sir. She passed away a month ago. Mrs. Langley arranged the funeral herself.”
Travis stared at the paper, flipping it over again and again like it would change. “No. No, that’s not possible. Why didn’t I hear anything? Why didn’t Elise tell me?”
The bodyguard hesitated, glanced up, and finally said, “She passed away on the same day you were celebrating the Hawthorne sisters” birthday.”
“Blair got burned by a firework. You were busy taking her to the hospital and called in the entire specialist team.”
“Mrs. Langley’s mother didn’t get emergency care in time… and she didn’t make it.”
“We checked her call log. She tried calling you. Over and over. But you declined every call ”
Travis’s knees buckled. He stumbled, nearly collapsing
The guard caught him quickly, then continued, “Her mother had relied on a life–saving drug developed by our company. But after you personally approved diverting the remaining supply to Miss Hawthorne’s father, she went nearly six months without it and her condition, deteriorated
Travis’s heart was pounding out of his chiest
His voice shook Sull no news on Elise?”
We’ve increased the search effort,” the guard said. “But no, sir. Nothing”
to control the
“We do know a ladicopter was spotted near the estate the night of the fire…but it was dark, and everyone was busy trying to blaze No our paid it any attention”
Just then, Blair and Lila walked in, arms full of designer bags, strutting in like proper society wives
Click–clark Heels echoed on the marble floors as they strutted up to Travis and each took a seat beside him, snuggling close
“Travis, baby, what’s wrong? You just left us in Europe and flew home? We were scared to death”
You have no idea what we went through trying to get back. If we didn’t love you so much, we would’ve given up.”
ReelShort
Travis stared at the designer bags they’d brought back, his expression didn’t change.
Coldly, he scribbled a number on a check and tossed it in their faces. “Get out.”
The sisters froze in disbelief, eyes wide.
“Travis? What… what are you talking about?”
He looked at their identical faces with nothing but exhaustion in his eyes.
His mind was filled with thoughts of Elise–her smile, the way she used to sit in the garden, laughing as the rabbit hopped around her.
The rabbit. His chest tightened. He had almost forgotten. They’d eaten it.
D
