Sophie Evans
Three days. The doctors told me that was all the time left before Lucas’s transplant. Three days before he’d finally get a chance to live again.
I should have been relieved. I should have felt lighter knowing the bills were sorted, the money was in the bank, and everything was going according to plan. Instead, an uneasy feeling had settled deep in my stomach, refusing to go away.
Shaking off the nerves, I walked out of the cafeteria next to the hospital, balancing a tray of food in my hands. I had just finished checking on Lucas and figured I should eat something before heading back to his room.
But as I stepped outside, my eyes caught sight of a familiar figure near the hospital entrance.
It was Benita. She was standing by the parking lot, speaking to a man I didn’t recognize. His back was turned to me, but something about the way he loomed over her felt off.
Suddenly, he slapped her. It happened so fast. I wasn't expecting it.
I gasped, my body tensing as I saw Benita’s head snap to the side. My grip on the tray faltered. My heart pounded as anger surged through me. I had to do something. No way was I going to let some man hit her like that.
I took a step forward, ready to pull her away from him.
Then, I heard her speak.
"He is not going to live."
I froze. Benita's voice was eerily calm. Cold.
"As soon as I get my hands on the money, I’m going to kill him myself," she continued, her tone dripping with malice. "So what’s the rush?"
My breath hitched. My mind raced, trying to process her words, but she wasn’t done.
"Hit me one more time, and I’ll call the cops on you," she hissed. "And you know what that means. I’ll be the only one to take all the money."
My stomach dropped.
No. No, this couldn’t be real.
I peered from behind a nearby car, my hands trembling as I tried to make sense of what I was hearing. Benita, the woman who had been by Lucas’s side day and night, who had cried for him, who had held his hand through everything—she wanted him dead. And she wanted the money.
I pressed a hand over my mouth to stop myself from gasping out loud. My vision blurred as a tear escaped down my cheek.
"Be fast about it, bitch," the man snarled. "Or I’ll have to kill you too so you both can go to hell and continue your affair there."
Benita sniffled, wiping at her eyes, but I could see it now, the difference. The sweet, caring woman I thought I knew was gone. In her place stood someone dangerous. Someone who had been playing a role all this time.
And I had trusted her.
My legs felt like they would give out beneath me. The betrayal, the anger, the fear, it all crashed over me at once.
I had told her everything. Well, almost everything. I had told her about the money. I had told her about Liam, how he used to be friends with Lucas. How we used to like each other.
She had pushed me toward Liam ever since. Pushing me to ask him for money since he was Lucas’s friend. Now I know why. She didn’t care about Lucas. She cared about getting rid of him.
And then I felt someone touch my shoulder, I nearly jumped out of my skin.
"Miss Sophie?" he whispered.
I turned sharply, my body still trembling, only to find James behind me. He is Liam’s right-hand man or chauffeur. My pulse raced. Had he heard anything? Had he seen Benita?
He nodded at me, oblivious to my state. "Boss asked me to come pick you up."
I stared at him, my mind struggling to focus. It was only seven in the morning. Why was Liam summoning me this early? And more importantly, how did he even know where I was?
Panic shot through me as I glanced back toward the hospital entrance. Benita was gone.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. Without thinking, I turned and ran into the hospital.
"Miss Sophie!" James called after me, but I didn’t stop.
I needed to see Lucas. I needed to get him away from her.