Chapter 16

"Crash—"

Shards of glass exploded as the wine bottle in Andrew Lucas's hand shattered against Mr. Ferber's skull. Blood snaked down the man's greasy face, glistening eerily under the lights.

The private room fell deathly silent.

Susan Thompson curled into the sofa corner, her stomach churning violently. She bit her lip hard, nails digging into her palms to keep from vomiting.

"Mr. Lucas, what are you—" someone dared to speak.

Andrew didn't even glance their way. He yanked Susan up and dragged her out. She stumbled behind him like a ragdoll.

The sports car tore through the night.

Susan clutched her stomach, sweat soaking her back. Warm liquid rose in her throat—she forced it back down.

In the Willow Lane bedroom, Andrew threw her onto the bed.

"Andy..." Her trembling fingers reached for the pill bottle on the nightstand. "Please—"

He slapped the painkillers from her hand.

"Morning-after pills?" Andrew sneered. "That eager?"

"No..." Her vision blurred with pain. "Pain medication..."

"Stop lying!" He gripped her chin. "You seemed to enjoy yourself with Mr. Ferber."

Neon lights flickered outside. Susan's mind drifted to a winter night four years ago—a boy handing her hot cocoa, whispering, "Susan, someday we'll have our own light among all these."

The lights remained. Their home didn't.

"Tell me!" Andrew pinned her against the wall. "How many men have you been with?"

"Only you..." Her voice was a thread.

"Liar!" He ripped her collar open.

Amidst the agony, fabric tore. Susan gasped like a beached fish, unable to draw air.

Afterwards, she collapsed, vomiting blood-streaked bile.

"Disgusting." Andrew recoiled.

Susan curled into herself. "I'm sick..."

"Sick?" He laughed coldly. "You mean addicted to men?"

He dragged her by the hair toward the sofa. Darkness swallowed Susan's vision as she coughed up blood.

"Susan!"

Andrew's voice cracked. Lifting her frighteningly light body, he realized she'd wasted to bones.

The ER lights glared.

"Drinking with terminal stomach cancer?" The doctor removed his mask. "Prepare for the end."

Andrew stood frozen, thunderstruck. "Who... did you say?"