Page 35 of Billionaire’s Heartbreak

Or leaving it behind.

* * *

7

June

I opened my eyes to a splitting headache. Not just pain—pressure. Heavy and pulsing, like something was clawing its way out of my skull.

For a moment, I didn’t move. Then I realized I was lying in a bed. A hospital bed. White sheets. Sterile walls. Soft lighting.

The smell hit me next.

Bennet Hospital Group’s signature blend, designed by me to make patients feel safe the moment they walked through the doors.

A cold chill ran down my spine. I knew exactly where I was. New York.

But I didn’t remember getting here. What happened after we got on the plane? The memory stopped there, like someone had erased everything after.

I pushed myself up too quickly. The room tilted, and my headache intensified. I ignored it.

“Easy, honey.” The voice was soft and familiar.

Wendy. She was sitting by the window, a book resting in her hands.

“Where is Dannie?”

The question left my mouth before I realized Wendy probably wouldn’t give me a straight answer.

“Hello to you too.” She leaned forward and set the book aside before getting to her feet.

“I’m sorry.” I pressed my fingers against my temple. “Can you just tell me where Dannie is?”

“Relax. Dannie is fine,” she said calmly.

Fine? The word didn’t reassure me. Not even close.

“Can I see him?” I stepped forward, grabbing her sweatshirt.

Wendy gripped my arms and gave me a small shake. “Hey. Look at me. You need to calm down. Take a breath.”

“Please,” I said, my voice breaking. “I need to know.”

The door swung open, and my brother Lincoln walked in.

“Lincoln,” I said immediately.

He stepped inside, Chloe right behind him.

“It’s okay,” Lincoln told Wendy. “You can let go of her.”

Wendy released me. Only then did I realize how tightly she’d been holding me. My arms ached, but I barely noticed.

“Tell me everything.”

This was his plan. I remembered that much. The restaurant. The chaos. The escape. Then nothing.