Chapter 2
I whipped around.[]
Grayson was already driving off with Mirena in his arms.]
I frantically called his phone.[]
After what felt like forever, he picked up.[]
“What now? Can’t you see I’m taking care of Mirena?“]]
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Looking down at my mother lying motionless on the ground, I screamed desperately, “Grayson, please send the doctors to save-”
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“Would you stop being so damn dramatic!“]
He cut me off mid–sentence.[]
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“Mirena’s hurt. The doctors are with her right now. What’s wrong with you, trying to pull them away from her?“]
“I left people to help dig your mom out, didn’t I? She got hit by some debris. How bad could it be? Stop making this harder than it needs to be!“]
I tried to beg him again, but he’d already hung up.
Mr. Beckett snorted beside me, his voice dripping with condescending pity.
“Well, Mrs. Langford, since you can’t get the family medical team, I guess we’ll just have to wait for the public ambulance.“[]
I collapsed to the ground.[]
Mom seemed like she was trying to comfort me, struggling to lift her hand.[]
The next second, her arm dropped completely.[]
“Mom!”
I screamed, holding her limp body against me.]
The ambulance sirens wailed from somewhere far, far away.
I broke down sobbing.]
Before I passed out completely, I heard Mr. Beckett’s cruel words.[]
“If you’d just left earlier, none of this would’ve happened.“[]
“Everyone knows Mr. Langford only cares about Miss Voss, but you had to stick around anyway. This is karma…”
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Chapter 2
Mr. Beckett had always looked down on me. He was a total kiss–ass who sucked up to whoever had power.]
Since he knew Grayson favored Mirena, he’d bend over backward to please her.[]
He’d been cold and nasty to me countless times, all for Mirena’s sake.[]
Truth was, nobody in the Langford household respected me. Not the family, not the staff, not even the damn housekeeper.[]
I woke up two days later.[]
All I could see was the hospital’s stark white ceiling.
A nurse was adjusting my IV.]]
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When she saw me awake, she smiled. “Oh good, you’re finally up!“]
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I tried to speak, but my throat was so raw I could only make hoarse, croaking sounds.[]
The nurse checked on me and left.[]
Right after she walked out, the door opened again.]]
Grayson walked in with Mirena leaning against him]]
All she had was a scraped leg, but she was acting like she’d barely survived major surgery.[]
She was clutching a raggedy old stuffed animal against her chest.[]
“Sera, this is what my mom left me. Thank God it didn’t burn.“]]
Mirena’s voice was full of smug relief.]
Grayson had his arm around her, his eyes full of tenderness.]]
I stared at that damn stuffed animal in her arms.]
My mother died for that toy.[]
Mirena seemed scared by my stare and hid behind Grayson.[]
“Sera, are you mad at me?“]
Grayson’s face darkened immediately.
“Sera!”
I suddenly started laughing.]
The laughter turned to tears.[]
”
Chapter 2
That stuffed animal was like bloody evidence, constantly reminding me that my mom was gone.[]
“A doll,” I croaked. “A stuffed doll. Just a stupid stuffed doll!“]
My voice sounded like a broken machine.]
Maybe Mr. Beckett was right. I should’ve left a long time ago.]
From the moment Grayson brought Mirena home, claiming she was some benefactor’s daughter who needed care.]
From all the times he stood me up for Mirena.[]
From when he started giving her gifts that should’ve been mine…
Grayson frowned deeper seeing me like this.]]
I ripped out my IV needle. Blood dripped down my hand.]
“Are you even human? You let my mother die for a stuffed animal?“]
Grayson’s eyes flickered. He looked away.]
He sighed. “You know how fragile Mirena is. She can’t lose that doll.“]
Right on cue, Mirena’s shoulders trembled as tears hit the floor.]
“Sera, please don’t fight with Grayson because of me. I’ll just… I’ll just leave.“]
That was all it took to set Grayson off.
Lage
His eyes blazed with fury. “Sera, stop being so selfish! Mirena lost her mother when she was nine years old. That doll is the only thing keeping her alive!“[]
“What about me?” My voice shook uncontrollably. “So I’m fucking deserved to lose my mom?”
