Chapter 4

When I pushed the door open, Cynthia rushed over, looking totally panicked.

"Evelyn, I just said a couple of words to Mrs. Stone, and she called me a homewrecker and tried to hit my belly!" she cried.

I brushed past her, desperate to get to my mom.

"That's impossible! Someone with pancreatic cancer is in so much pain. They can't lift a hand, let alone hit or yell at anyone!" I shot back.

Cynthia collapsed to the floor, clutching her stomach, her face ghostly pale.

Before I could say anything, a sharp pain exploded across my cheek.

Caleb's voice was icy.

"You couldn't keep the kid you got from messing around, and now you want to hurt my baby, too?" he snapped.

I was passing by her and didn't even touch her.

Was it always my fault whenever it was about Cynthia?

The EKG monitor let out a shrill beep. Fear gripped me so hard that my body froze.

I stood there, watching helplessly as Caleb picked Cynthia up off the floor and ordered all the doctors out.

Then, I stepped in front of Caleb, blocking his way.

"My mom's still fighting for her life! Don't you dare forget. She's been your unpaid maid, taking care of you every single day!

"Even if you wanted soup at two in the morning, she'd drag herself out of bed to cook it for you!" I yelled.

Caleb glanced at the hospital bed, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of emotion in his eyes.

Cynthia, still in his arms, cried out in pain. "Will I lose the baby?"

Caleb shot a look at one of the doctors.

"Evelyn, your mom's cooking is awful, and I don't need her to fuss over me. If she raised a daughter as slutty as you, no wonder she's sick," he spat.

I was completely stunned.

Those words crashed into me, leaving me dizzy and seeing stars.

While the doctors were trying to save my mom, the nurse suddenly pulled them away.

Any lingering hope I had for Caleb vanished right then and there.

I'd thought, at the very least, he'd appreciate how much my mom did for him.

The EKG monitor flatlined.

I couldn't tell if I was numb or in pain anymore.

My back wouldn't straighten, and my legs gave out.

My hands were shaking.

I pulled the match from my pocket.

But every time I tried to strike it, my tears kept snuffing out the flame.

Finally, I managed to get it lit.

Someone grabbed my hair and yanked hard, pain shooting through my scalp.

"Miss Grant almost lost her baby. Mr. Hart sent us here to teach you a lesson!" one of them sneered.

I didn't resist, feeling numb and defeated. I stared at the match still burning on the floor.

A cold chill swept over my skin.

Cynthia's shameless, teasing voice echoed from the room next door.

"The doctor said the baby's stable now, so we can finally have some fun. Darling, I want you. Isn't it kind of thrilling, knowing Evelyn and Mrs. Stone are right next door, listening to us?" she said.

My blood boiled, rage exploding in my head. I kicked the guys in front of me hard.

I grabbed whatever was within reach and hurled it at them. Why were Caleb and Cynthia still trying to humiliate Mom and me?

The commotion drew Caleb in. His shirt was unbuttoned, revealing a chest marked with hickeys.

Cynthia covered her mouth, feigning shock.

"Evelyn, don't tell me you brought guys into the hospital room and had a wild party, ending up pissing off your mom to death, huh?" she sneered.

I snatched up the fruit knife from the table.

A bitter smile twisted across my face as I summoned every last bit of strength in my body. In a flash, I launched myself at Cynthia.

Caleb instinctively threw himself in front of her.

The knife buried itself deep in his chest.

As Cynthia screamed, the match flame went out.

"Caleb, I'm the one who can go back in time.

"This time, let's return to the night when we planned to run off after the SATs," I said.