Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 137144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
“And do you care about her happiness?” he asked as he pulled into a driveway with a large electric gate. The gate slowly opened as they waited.
“Of course I do.”
“Then why did you start dating Rick after he dumped Clem?”
Lily winced as the words hit hard. She knew what other people must think of her. That she’d slept with Rick behind Clem’s back. That she’d betrayed her sister.
But she’d never wanted Rick. The guy was a complete dick. However, it was what her mother wanted.
And what her mother wanted, she got.
Rick hadn’t wanted Clem after learning about her cancer. Lily had heard him say that he didn’t want his children infected by her disease.
“Rick is such a dick,” she muttered.
“Yes, he is. What did you see in him, Lily? Why were you marrying him? Was it just to make your mother happy?” Harvey started down the driveway.
Lily blinked as she stared at him, but didn’t answer. Harvey was a perceptive guy. He was smart.
A lawyer.
She’d always wondered why he was friends with Rick. At least, she used to wonder that. Back when she used to think more.
You’re thinking now.
Harvey pulled up in front of a small wooden cabin. What was this place? She was certain this wasn’t his house. Hadn’t Rick told her that he lived in Back Bay? One of the most affluent neighborhoods in Boston.
This was so far out of her comfort zone. There was nothing but trees surrounding them. No other people, no other houses. No shops or cafés. Not that she’d gone anywhere recently unless it was something to do with the wedding.
Had . . . had the wedding been called off?
Worry started to hammer at her. How much time had she lost? Where were her memories? Why were there these big gaps? Was it because she hadn’t taken her pills in a while?
“Where’s my handbag?”
“Back at your mother’s house,” Harvey told her.
Shit.
Getting angry wouldn’t help. It never did. It only made things worse. And what was the point of anger anyway?
“I need it,” she said. “My pills are in it. I need my pills.”
“No, you don’t,” he replied firmly.
He’d stopped the car in front of the cabin and turned it off. Why had he brought her here? What was going on?
Fear started to hit her. This feeling was harder to squash. She hated being afraid. Sometimes it felt like all she’d ever been was afraid and angry.
Until the numb had come.
“I do need them. I’m sick.”
“Who told you that?” Harvey asked.
“The doctor, of course. Mother took me. I’m sick. I need the pills.”
“What illness do you have, Lily?”
“I don’t remember,” she said, feeling ashamed. How could she not remember what was wrong with her?
She should know that, right?
“You don’t remember why you take those pills?” Harvey asked. “Or what they are?”
“No, but I know I need them.”
“But why do you need them? What symptoms do you have, Lily?”
She couldn’t remember . . . wait, no. Yes, she did know.
“I suffer from anxiety, and I get easily stressed. When that happens, I have blowouts. Oh, it’s my central nervous system! It gets overloaded.”
There. That was the problem.
He stared at me thoughtfully. “Blowouts? What kind of blowouts? Why does your central nervous system get overloaded?”
Why did he keep asking so many questions? And why was her memory so patchy? She rubbed her forehead before smacking it with the palm of her hand. Frustration filled her, and she started to feel out of control, her heart racing, her palms sweating.
“Hey, Lily. Lily, stop that. You’re going to hurt yourself. Stop!”
Harvey’s voice was firm, all command, but she couldn’t stop herself. Frustration flowed through her, and the numb receded slightly.
No, she couldn’t do this. She needed the numb to control herself. And to have the numb, she needed those pills.
Why had he taken her?
Why did you let him?
It was scary that she hadn’t even put up a protest. She just let him take her. What did he intend to do with her? What if he hurt her?
No one even knew where she was. And if they did, would they care?
Part of her hoped that Clem would, but that wasn’t really fair. No doubt Clem hated her.
Hated her for her weakness. God knew Lily hated herself for it.
“I need my pills,” she cried. “I’m not well, I need them. Please!”
“Lily, you’re fine. You don’t need your pills. Stop hurting yourself.”
He tried to grab hold of her hands, and she cried out, flinching away from him.
Did he have a needle? Was he going to hurt her?
“Please don’t. Please don’t,” she cried. “I don’t want it. I don’t want it.”
“Don’t want what?” Harvey asked. “Lily, what is going on? What do you think I’m going to do to you?”
“I don’t want to go to sleep. I don’t want to. No needle. No needle. I want to stay awake. Don’t hurt me. Don’t. Don’t.”