盘b气/bb:/b65b%/b童

    The woman was rocking a ck fur coat, big sunsses, and a bright red handbag. She was nicely curvy, probably in her forties.

    Olivia didn’t recognize her, so she shifted to the side, nning to just walk past her.

    The woman was on the phone and, whether it was on purpose or not, brushed right into Olivia as she passed by.

    The woman said, “Don’t worry. That brat’s not gonnast much longer. She’s got brain cancer–what’s the point in even trying to save her? The hospital said she’d be lucky to survive another three days.

    “Once things quiet down tonight, we’ll bsend /bsomeone to finish her off–so none of that dirtyundry gets aired, and Natalie’s future stays clean.

    “A little orphan nobody wanted–she should’ve died ages ago. Once she’s gone, I’m cashing in big time.”

    Olivia’s brow furrowed, her fists tightening. Her gut told her this woman was talking about Juliet.

    If Juliet’s surgery weren’t about to start–and Olivia weren’t desperate to see her–she would’ve made the woman pay. She seared that face into memory.

    Thanks to the room number Lucas gave her, Olivia found Juliet in no time.

    It had been years since they’dst met, and while Juliet hadn’t changed much, she’d lost a lot of weight–her illness leaving her face gaunt.

    Juliety there, eyes half–closedb, /bpropped weakly against the pillows. The hospital gown hung loose on her frail frame. Her face was ghostly pale, and she absently ran her tongue over dry, cracked lips.

    A stic water cup trembled in her grip, beads of sweat on her forehead–she was in agony.

    In Olivia’s bmemory/b, Juliet had always been the girl whoughed easily, her smile as soft and warm as ba /bspring breezeb. /b

    In only a few short byears/b, billness /bhad reduced her to someone so frail that even a gentle breeze might carry her off. The old Juliet was nevering back.

    Seeing her friend suffering like this, Olivia felt a sharp ache in her chest–she couldn’t keep it inside any longer. She sat down by the bed, gently brushed the hair off Juliet’s face, and wiped the sweat from her foreheadb. /b

    08:31 Tue, b9 /bSept

    She said softly. “Juliet, I’m here.”

    65%自

    Still drowsy, Juliet stirred at Olivia’s touch, her eyes slowly fluttering open, clouded with confusion. When she realized it was Olivia, a flicker of recognition shed in her dull eyes, and her breathing quickened.

    She forced herself upright and reached out to hold Olivia’s hand. She called out, “Olivia.”

    Juliet’s hand was rough and covered in calluses, the texture almost like the bark of a tree.

    Olivia was shocked. She thought, ‘How did things end up like this? Wasn’t she adopted by a rich family?‘

    Juliet was so weak that she couldn’t even speak. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.

    Olivia quickly slipped her left arm under Juliet to steady her. She asked, “Juliet, what are you trying to say?”

    Before Juliet could say anything, a sharp, angry voice cut through the air.

    A woman snapped, “Who are you? Why are you here? What are you trying to do to my daughter?”

    Olivia turned to see the woman from earlier–the one on the phone–storming into the room.

    Olivia nced at the woman, all dressed to the nines, then at Juliet, who looked so thin and sickly- and it didn’t take a genius to figure out what was going on.

    She scoffed inwardly. ‘So this is Juliet’s adoptive mother. Rolling in money and stuffing her face, while. Juliet looks like a stiff breeze could snap her in two.”

    “Who I am is none of your business,” Olivia replied, her tone steady, carrying a quiet, natural

    authority.

    She narrowed her eyes as she sized up the woman coldly. She then shot back, “But you? Maybel should report you for abusing your adopted daughter. Ever wonder how many years you’d get for that?”

    “YC