Chapter 97

Charisse didn't feel nearly as calm as her voice made her sound. Truth was, she was a complete mess inside—heart pounding, stomach in knots, pain squeezing her chest every second. She hurt for her dad, and was furious with herself. Why did he always end up suffering because of her? Why couldn't she protect him, even once? But she knew—she couldn't afford to show one crack. Victoria wasn't just out to see her breakdown. She wanted to crush her completely. If Charisse really dropped her pride and begged for her father's life, Victoria wouldn't hesitate to do the unthinkable. She'd kill him. No doubt about it. That woman played dirty. Always had. So the colder she acted, the more she pretended nothing mattered, maybe even threw in some threats of her own—that's what might get through to her. And look, wasn't it working? While trading words with Victoria, Charisse had already stepped into the rehab center and silently gave the nurse on duty a "shhh" signal. She scribbled Elliot and Sophia'