The silence pressed down so heavily even the heart monitor sounded louder.
Ryan slowly released my hand—not out of fear, but calculation.
“Who let you in?” he asked.
“The same staff who already spoke to the police,” Ms. Parker replied calmly.
My only ally.
My only protection.
And still, I was trapped inside my own body—unable to warn her.
Because the real danger wasn’t Ryan.
It was Claire.
She didn’t sound scared.
She sounded irritated.
“This is nonsense,” she said. “Emily had an accident.”
“Interesting accident,” Ms. Parker replied. “The brakes weren’t faulty. They were cut.”
Claire leaned close to my ear.
“That proves nothing,” she whispered.
But her hand trembled.
For the first time—
she was afraid.
“Not everyone knew she’d take that road,” Ms. Parker said. “And not everyone benefits from her death.”
Ryan forced a laugh. “Benefit? My wife is in a coma.”
