Chapter 4

Zara's POV

I woke up in the emergency room. Dr. Morrison was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes.

"Mrs. Wilson, this is the second alarm in less than a week." Dr. Morrison stood next to my bed with his arms crossed, his face tight with anger and worry. "Your incision tore open again. The artificial liver system is barely holding on. You need to be admitted immediately."

"I can't stay. I need to go home."

"You nearly died in a theme park parking lot! Your husband left you bleeding in a car!" His voice got louder. "What could possibly be more important than staying alive?"

Finding the truth. Proving I didn't cause the accident. Making them see what really happened.

"I have to keep looking for evidence," I said. "I need to prove my innocence."

Dr. Morrison sat down heavily in the chair next to me. "Mrs. Wilson. Zara. Listen to me very carefully. Your liver function is critically compromised. The system is doing all the work your body should be doing. If you keep pushing yourself like this, the device will fail completely and you will die. Do you understand me? You will die."

"I understand."

"Then why won't you stay?"

Because in their eyes, my life isn't worth anything anymore. Because if I can't prove the truth, what's the point of surviving?

"Just give me more time," I whispered. "Please. Just a little more time."

He stared at me for a long moment, then stood up and started writing prescriptions with angry, jerky movements. "Fine. I'm giving you the strongest pain medication I can without putting you in a coma. And these are for your liver. You need to take them exactly as directed. And you come back here for monitoring every single week. Not negotiable."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me. I'm watching you kill yourself and I can't stop you." He handed me the prescriptions and walked out without looking back.

I called a cab from the hospital. It was almost midnight by the time I got home and every light in the house was off. Marcus's car wasn't in the driveway. They were still at the theme park enjoying their perfect family day.

I took my pills and went to bed, but I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about that dash cam.

The police said a family member picked it up. That had to be Jade. She was the first one at the hospital and controlled everything while we were all unconscious. She must have taken it before Marcus even woke up.

But where would she keep it? Not here, it's too risky. She'd hide it somewhere Marcus would never look.

I heard their car pull into the driveway around two in the morning. Iris's voice was high and excited, talking about the princess castle she'd seen. Marcus laughed at something Jade said and their footsteps went upstairs before doors closed.

I waited until three AM, then crept downstairs to Marcus's study again.

The door was unlocked. I slipped inside and closed it quietly behind me, my hands shaking as I turned on the small desk lamp.

Last time I'd searched the desk and filing cabinets. This time I went straight for what I'd missed before. I moved the large painting on the wall behind Marcus's desk and there it was, a wall safe built into the concrete.

Of course. Why didn't I think of this before?

My fingers trembled as I tried the first combination. The safe stayed locked.

Our wedding anniversary. Nothing.

Marcus's birthday. Still nothing.

His mother's birthday. The safe didn't budge.

Think, Zara. Think. What matters most to him?

I tried our wedding date and was halfway through entering the numbers when I heard footsteps in the hallway.

The study door flew open and Marcus stood there in his pajamas with fury written all over his face. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Marcus, I can explain—"

"You're robbing my safe?" His voice got dangerously quiet. "You're actually trying to steal from me now? Or are you destroying evidence?"

"No! I'm looking for the dash cam from the accident! The police said family took it but I can't find it anywhere in the house and I think Jade—"

"Jade? You're blaming Jade now?" He grabbed my arm and yanked me away from the safe. "She's the only person who's actually helped this family! She was there for us when you weren't!"

"Please just listen to me! The dash cam will prove I wasn't driving! It will show everything that really happened!"

"You're insane. You know that? You're actually insane." He dragged me toward the door.

"Marcus, please!" I tried to pull back but I was too weak. "Just let me explain! The police report has mistakes! The witness address doesn't exist! The timing is all wrong!"

He wasn't listening. He pulled me through the house toward the garage door.

"You want to snoop around? Fine. You can do it in here." He shoved me into the garage so hard I stumbled and fell, my knees hitting the concrete as pain shot through my stomach.

"Marcus, don't—"

He slammed the door and I heard the lock turn.

I got up and pounded on the door. "Marcus! Please! Just listen to me! Marcus!"

I tried the door handle but it wouldn't budge. I looked around the garage desperately for another way out, but the only exit was the main garage door and it needed the remote to open from inside.

He'll let me out in the morning. He's just angry. He'll cool down and let me out.

Then I heard Jade's voice from outside the door, quiet and cold.

"Did you really think you'd find anything, Zara? I'm not stupid. The dash cam isn't in this house. It's safe. Somewhere you'll never reach it."

"Jade, please. Just tell Marcus the truth. Tell him what really happened."

She laughed softly. "Why would I do that? This is working out perfectly. You keep digging yourself deeper. You keep making yourself look more and more unstable. Soon Marcus won't even remember why he married you in the first place."

"Please. I'm begging you. Just tell the truth."

"Sleep well, sister." Her footsteps walked away.

I sank down against the door and hugged my knees. The garage was cold and dark, and the smell of old motor oil and gasoline was everywhere. I could see paint cans stacked in the corner and cleaning supplies on the shelves. Everything smelled sharp and chemical and wrong.

He'll let me out in the morning. Just get through tonight.