CHAPTER 11
Nina was turning to leave, already on the verge of fleeing, when Lynn stopped her with a question.
“Do you live nearby?” There was not only wariness in her voice now, but curiosity as well.
Nina froze.
“I haven’t seen you around before. Are you our new neighbor?”
She nodded faintly.
“Yes.” Her voice sounded quiet and calm, but everything inside her was shaking. “I just moved in.”
She was lying. But what choice did she have? Tell her who she really was? Confess that she was the woman who had abandoned her the moment she was born? Everything inside her clenched painfully. She couldn’t tell her the truth.
“I should go,” she forced out, turning away.
Lynn didn’t answer.
Nina didn’t know if she was watching her as she walked off—but she felt like she was.
She almost ran to the car, yanked the door open, and slid behind the wheel. Only when she reversed sharply and sped off that cursed street did she realize how badly her hands were shaking.
She never should’ve done this. Never.
How was she supposed to live with it now? With the knowledge that she had thrown her daughter away like that kitten?
And Jasper…
He had found her. He had taken her. He had raised her. He had protected her. Given her a home. Given her a father. A family.
Nina had abandoned her. And he had taken her in.
So which of them was really heartless?
She had no idea where she was driving. The road swam before her. She missed turns, followed no route. She was running from the meeting, from Lynn’s eyes, from her own betrayal that now crushed her with triple force.
She hadn’t been ready for this.
When she finally braked, killed the engine, and realized where she was, everything inside her collapsed.
She was home.
Shock constricted her throat. She didn’t remember how she’d gotten there. Didn’t remember choosing this route. But she was here.
Nina climbed the steps, opened the door, and stepped inside—only to meet Frank’s surprised stare.
He stood in the hallway, unfastening his watch, but when he saw her, he froze.
“Nina?” Confusion edged his voice. “I thought you were at Daphne’s.”
She didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know how to explain why she was here. Why she was standing in front of him now, barely able to breathe, torn apart by pain.
“I didn’t feel well,” she said quietly, slipping off her shoes by the door. Her voice came out flat and hollow, like she was speaking on autopilot. “So I came back early.”
Frank studied her closely. Nina knew that look. He was analyzing her. Dissecting what was wrong.
“What do you mean, ‘didn’t feel well’?” His voice softened, the way it used to. That was what frightened her most. “Your head? Your heart? Or is it one of your—”
She cut him off.
“I’m just exhausted, Frank.”
He nodded, unbuttoned his cuffs, and rolled up his sleeves. He looked calm. Relaxed. As if everything between them was perfectly normal. As if he wasn’t the man quietly trying to strip her of everything she owned.
Seeing him was unbearable.
She passed him without looking into his eyes and headed for the bathroom. She needed silence. Just a moment to pull herself together.
“You sure you’re okay?” Frank asked softly, following her. “Maybe I should call a doctor?”
“No,” she snapped.
But he followed her anyway, as if he sensed something was wrong.
Nina flipped on the bathroom light and yanked open the medicine cabinet. Blister packs and pill bottles were scattered inside. She searched frantically, her hands shaking.
She had to calm down. Had to get a grip.
Before she could grab the package, Frank snatched it from her hand.
“Give it back.” She spun on him sharply, her breath hitching with anger.
Frank stood in front of her, his face unreadable.
“Give them to me, Frank.”
He didn’t move. Just tightened his grip on it and looked at her in a way that made her skin crawl.
“Are you having another episode?” His gaze moved over her face, assessing every tiny detail.
“You’re exaggerating,” she huffed, stepping toward him, trying to take the pills—but he stepped back easily.
She was too raw, too furious to play his games, but he wouldn’t let her near them.
“You’re pale,” he said quietly. “You’re shaking. I’m not going to stand by and watch you destroy yourself like this. Let me take you to a clinic. They’ll put you on an IV, adjust your treatment—”
“No.” She shook her head sharply, her voice coming out too loud.
“Nina…” He paused, leaned in slightly. “You’re not okay.”
“I’m just stressed,” she said, too sharply, too hysterically.
“Stressed because of what?”
Her jaw tightened. He was watching too closely. She couldn’t let him see what was really happening. Not yet.
She took a step forward and this time looked him straight in the eyes.
“Frank, please. Just give them back to me and leave the bathroom.”
He studied her for another second, then nodded.
He put the pills back on the shelf, closed the cabinet, and without another word, walked out.
Nina waited until the sound of his footsteps faded down the hall. Then she sagged against the sink, closed her eyes, and forced herself to breathe.
***
Nina lay in the dark, pulling the blanket up to her chin, pretending to sleep. But that didn’t stop Frank. A soft knock came at the door, and a strip of dim hallway light spilled into the room.
She squeezed her eyes shut tighter, but she could feel his stare on her.
“Nina, I called a doctor. He’s going to take a look at you.”
She flinched, snapped her eyes open, and pushed herself upright.
“Are you out of your mind?” she snapped. “Did I ask you to do that? For once, can you just leave me alone? Don’t you have anything better to do today?”
Her voice shook with anger, but Frank stayed calm. He stood at the foot of the bed with his arms crossed, looking at her with that cold certainty she used to mistake for care.
“You need a doctor,” he said flatly. “I’m not letting you spiral like this again.”
Her chest tightened painfully.
“I don’t need any doctor,” she hissed, her fingers curling into fists. The only thing she needed was for him to leave her alone.
“You’re having another breakdown, Nina. You need treatment.”
“You…” Her hands were trembling now, rage pounding in her temples. “You do realize this is all because of you?”
She couldn’t hold it in anymore. She was about to throw everything in his face right then and there. Frank slowly exhaled—but before she could say another word, a second figure appeared in the doorway.
A tall man with glasses stepped in behind Frank, a medical case in his hand.
That was it. She was done.
Nina swallowed her irritation. Making a scene in front of a stranger was humiliating. She decided to stay silent.
“Good evening,” the doctor said evenly. “Don’t worry, I’ll just examine you and prescribe some vitamins.”
She nodded, her fists clenched in the sheets. He opened his case, checked her blood pressure and pulse. Routine procedures—but right now every second of it grated on her nerves. Then he took out a syringe and an ampule. Nina frowned.
“Just a light vitamin injection to ease the tension,” he explained, showing her the label.
She didn’t argue. She just wanted them gone.
The doctor carefully inserted the needle into her arm. She barely felt the prick—but a few seconds later, something went wrong.
The room began to spin. Her pulse slowed. The air felt thick, as if the air were closing in around her. She tried to focus on Frank’s face, but her eyelids grew impossibly heavy.
“What…” Her voice came out dull and sluggish. She could barely move her tongue.
She slowly slumped back as everything in her head began to fade.
“What’s happening?”
She felt hands on her. Someone laid her back and pulled the blanket up.
“It’s alright, Nina,” Frank’s voice sounded distant, blurred. “Just get some rest. You’ll feel better in the morning.”
She tried to lift her hand, but it wouldn’t respond.
“I… don’t feel so good…” she whispered.
And then darkness swallowed her whole.