Chapter 3

"How did you even get this?" I stammered, my voice shaking.

Penelope let out a mocking laugh. "Easy. My cousin works at that restaurant, and my best friend lives right next to that bitch."

The operating room doors swung open again, and we both looked up.

The doctor stepped out, blood smeared on his mask. "The surgery stabilized the situation for now, but..."

I held my breath.

The doctor added, "The kid's been moved to the ICU. The next 48 hours are critical. Someone from the family needs to handle the admission forms now."

Hadley stood up. "I'll go."

After he left, Penelope grabbed my wrist. "Listen, you need to calm down. For Callie's sake, you have to be strong."

I nodded, and the tears finally broke free.

Penelope leaned in close and whispered in my ear, "But there's something you need to know right now. Lisa is a problem. She and Phyllis had a huge fight about a week before Phyllis died."

I jerked my head up. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is..." Penelope narrowed her eyes. "Your husband might be obsessed with a killer."

The nurse wheeled out the hospital bed, and Callie's pale face was almost lost among all those wires and tubes.

The moment Hadley chose to save the dog instead of Callie, it was as if he'd already sentenced her to death.

Now, I couldn't shake the suspicion that he was getting ready to murder her a second time.

The ICU window reflected the exhaustion on my face.

Callie lay inside, looking just like a waxen doll—her frail body hooked to countless tubes. The steady rhythm of the ventilator was the only sign that she was still clinging to life.

The nurse murmured, "Her blood pressure's stable, but she's still not out of the woods yet."

I nodded, leaning my forehead against the freezing glass. Three sleepless nights had left my eyes so dry they stung.

High heels clicked behind me. I didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.

"Harmony, I brought Priscilla to see Callie," Lisa said, her voice syrupy sweet.

I turned and saw her cradling the Pomeranian, a brand-new Hermès collar around its neck. Hadley trailed behind her, carrying some coffee.

I said, fixing my gaze on Hadley, "No pets are allowed in the ICU. You know that."

He wouldn't meet my eyes. "Lisa just wants Callie to feel a bit of Priscilla's life force."

My nails bit into my palms. "Callie's in a coma."

"Dogs can be so healing," Lisa chimed in, fluttering her fake lashes. "When Phyllis was sick, Priscilla was with her every single day..."

"Get out," I said, my voice shaking.

Hadley finally looked at me. "Come on, she means well."

I snapped, pointing straight at the dog, "You call that kindness? Is this fluffball seriously more important than Callie now? And you're still trying to bring it to the ICU?"

Lisa's eyes went red in an instant, her voice trembling. "Hadley, I just wanted to help..."

Hadley stepped over and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "We know you meant well."

The whole scene made my stomach twist. I couldn't stand it anymore. I turned to Hadley and said, "The doctor needs to talk about Callie's treatment. Go handle it."

He paused for a second, then handed Lisa the coffee. "Go home and get some rest, okay?"

Lisa nodded, giving me a look I couldn't quite read before heading out.

Once Hadley was inside the doctor's office, I hurried after Lisa. As the elevator doors began to slide shut, I slammed the button and caught them just in time.

"What do you really want?" I stared her down, refusing to look away.

She just tilted her head, fingers running over the dog's fancy collar. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Stay away from my daughter," I bit out, each word cold and clear.

Lisa smirked, her expression dripping with superiority. "You know, Phyllis said almost the exact same thing before she died."

The elevator doors opened for someone else to enter. Lisa leaned in, her whisper brushing right against my ear. "She said, 'Stay away from Hadley.'"

I just stood there, frozen, watching her sashay out of the elevator like she owned the place.

Inside the doctor's office, Hadley was staring at Callie's latest brain scans.

The doctor said, pointing to a dark spot on the image, "The brain bleeding's basically under control, but check out this spot. There's still a blood clot—could break loose any second."

Hadley's brow furrowed, a tense edge to his voice. "How dangerous would surgery be?"