Chapter 4

The door swung open. It was Daniel.

A heavy mix of expensive cigar smoke and cloying tuberose hit my nose, drowning out the hospital antiseptic.

He stopped by the bedside. His cool fingers brushed my burning forehead with practiced tenderness, letting out a soft, pitying sigh.

"Burning up like this... you always find a way to make me worry."

Behind closed eyes, my nails dug into my palms. I lay there in the dark, letting his hand stroke my hair, swallowing down his lies and every shred of evidence.

By 8:00 AM, the VIP room was the stage for a…