Chapter 3

"He took Jane abroad for some 'treatment.' No way he's coming back in time. I—" I began, trying to explain.

"Bullshit!" Miles cut me off with a cold laugh. "Your dad's the most dedicated doctor I know.

"And with your mom being his wife, you're telling me he wouldn't come back for her surgery?

"Come on, Chloe, what's your real angle here? If your mom's really in bad shape, your dad's the best guy for the job. Why are you dragging my teacher into this?"

I stared at him, my eyes wide.

This was the guy I'd been with for three years—my fiancé.

And in my darkest moment, not only was he refusing to help, but he was accusing me of having some ulterior motive.

"Miles Everett, she's my mom! Who'd joke about their own mother's life?" I snapped. "If I could count on my dad, you think I'd be here at the ass-crack of dawn begging you?"

But Miles' face twisted with disgust. "I know you've got a chip on your shoulder about Jane.

"But think about it—she comes from a rough background, lost her own mom. Can't you cut her some slack?

"Or is this about your dad taking her abroad for treatment? You mad at him and making this whole thing up?

"If your mom's really in danger, you'd be calling your dad, not bugging me to reach out to my teacher."

He kept going, his voice sharp. "My mentor's swamped. I'm not gonna bother him. I've got a project I'm working on with him soon. Instead of wasting time with me, why don't you call your dad?

"Chloe, when are you gonna grow up and stop acting like some spoiled princess? Maybe take a page out of Jane's book and be a little more understanding."

With that, he slammed the door in my face, leaving me standing in the hallway, speechless.

My whole body shook, and I couldn't stop it.

Ever since Jane came into our lives, she'd been cozying up to Miles.

She'd used her so-called depression as an excuse to get "counseling" from him, since he's got a master's in psychology.

He'd always agree to help her, no matter how much I protested.

Meanwhile, he got more and more annoyed with me, saying I was too narrow-minded, that I should treat Jane like a sister.

And now, in my lowest moment, he'd shut the door on my last shred of hope.

I didn't know how long I stood there, shaking, before I pulled out my phone and dialed Dad's number.

Just like in my old life, I called over a dozen times, and no one answered.

In my old life, Dad had called me back by this point.

But I waited a whole day, and still nothing. His phone just kept ringing.

Mom's condition got worse.

Yesterday, she could still wake up for a bit, but now she was just lying there, hooked up to a ventilator, barely holding on.

Even after travelling back through time , I still couldn't save her. What was I supposed to do?

But then, out of nowhere, a crazy idea hit me—a last-ditch plan when I had nothing else left.

I practically begged Ruby for Dr. Andrew Bennett's email—the only surgeon who stood a chance at helping. With shaking hands, I poured everything into a desperate message asking for his help. This was all I could do now, my last lifeline.

With a doctor as famous as Andrew, his inbox was probably drowning in thousands of desperate emails every single day.

Whether he'd ever actually spot mine—or if he'd ever reply at all—was a complete shot in the dark.

"Still can't get through to your dad? Your mom's condition is getting worse by the minute—she almost had a cardiac arrest just now. We really can't wait any longer," Ruby said, her voice tight with worry.

Gritting my teeth, I spun around and rushed straight back to Miles's place, desperate to find him.

As soon as I got downstairs, I saw Miles coming out of the building, dragging a suitcase behind him.

When he saw me, his brows immediately furrowed, annoyed.

"Seriously, why are you here again? I'm catching a flight, don't hold me up," Miles snapped, his irritation barely masked.

I clutched his arm tightly, tears stinging my eyes as desperation threatened to spill over.

"Please, I'm begging you—consider it a favor, I'll owe you one! Can you please just talk to your mentor for me? I really can't reach my dad," I pleaded, my voice shaking.

He shot me a look and let out a mocking laugh.

"Chloe, so now you know how to lie too?" he sneered. "I just got off the phone with Jane—she says you haven't even tried to contact your dad.

"So what's all this about not being able to reach him?"