Chapter 7

I woke up in a hospital bed again. The first thing I saw was Adrian, standing by the window. He was looking at me with a strange, complicated expression.

"You climbed a mountain on your knees," he said, his voice flat. "All for a pair of cufflinks. You must really love me."

His arrogance was breathtaking. I was about to tell him exactly who the cufflinks were for when the door burst open.

Cassie rushed in, her face a mask of concern. "Oh, Ellery! I heard what happened! I'm so sorry, I was just joking! I never thought you'd actually do it!"

She turned to Adrian. "It's all my fault. I'll stay and take care of her."

Adrian nodded, his expression softening as he looked at her. "That's good of you, Cassie."

He left. Leaving me alone with my tormentor.

The next few days were a living hell. Cassie "took care" of me by spilling hot soup on my bandages, "accidentally" knocking over my water when I was thirsty, and reading me negative comments about myself from the internet, all with a sweet smile on her face.

I finally broke. I called Adrian and begged him to make her leave.

"Stop being so dramatic, Ellery," he'd said, his voice full of annoyance. "Cassie is being kind to you. You should be grateful."

I gave up. I just endured it, counting the hours until I could leave.

The day I was discharged, Cassie insisted on pushing my wheelchair. As we were leaving the hospital, a black van screeched to a halt in front of us.

Masked men jumped out. They grabbed both of us, stuffing gags in our mouths. One of them hit Cassie on the back of the head, and she went limp.

I woke up on the edge of a cliff. The wind whipped my hair around my face. Cassie was unconscious beside me.

The leader of the men pulled off his mask. It was Forrest McIntosh, a business rival Adrian had ruthlessly bankrupted years ago.

"Payback's a bitch, isn't it?" he sneered.

Just then, a car roared up the winding road. It was Adrian.

Forrest laughed. "Right on time."

"What do you want, Forrest?" Adrian asked, getting out of the car.

"What do you think I want? I want you to suffer like I did," Forrest said. He dragged me and the unconscious Cassie to the very edge of the cliff. "You have to choose, Adrian. Your precious first love, or your pathetic little girlfriend. You can only save one. The other goes over the edge."

Adrian's face was pale. "Don't be ridiculous. I'll pay you whatever you want. Just let them both go."

"No money," Forrest said, his eyes wild. "Just a choice. I'll even give you a countdown. Ten... nine..."

My heart pounded in my chest. I looked at Adrian. His face was a canvas of agony. He was torn.

"...three... two..."

"Cassie!" Adrian screamed. "I choose Cassie!"

Forrest grinned, a terrible, triumphant smile. He shoved me backward.

The world turned upside down. I was falling.

The last thing I saw before I hit the rocks below was Adrian, rushing to Cassie's side, gathering her into his arms, safe.

The last thing I heard was the sickening crunch of my own bones breaking.

Then, darkness.