Chapter 40

Olivia's face was deathly pale. From her esophagus down to her stomach, waves of burning pain surged again and again, searing all the way to her throat. Outside the window, the explosion of fireworks lit up nearly half of Vaulton. She was hiding here, yet she still couldn't escape Jasper and Sage's reach. The light was too harsh, so blinding that it brought tears to her eyes. She raised a hand to wipe them away, but the tears seemed endless. In the end, Olivia gave up. Cutting away rotten flesh was always painful. She had accepted that. She would remember this feeling for the rest of her life. She was just starting to steady the storm of emotions inside her when her phone rang. It was Oliver. "Dad," she answered. "Olivia, didn't Charlotte tell you? I've asked Jasper, and he's free tomorrow. Clear your schedule for tomorrow." Oliver didn't notice anything off with her voice. His tone was final as always. The fact that he had asked Jasper first was a silent acknowledgment of how un