But the very next moment, Mabel appeared with a group of people carrying several half-used packets of poison and sedatives, along with a recording.

"These were all found in Amber's bedroom and her mother's room. Their fingerprints are on the packages, and this recording proves Amber is the one who poisoned him."

My voice came through the recording, clear as day: "How come he didn't die in that kidnapping? Mom told the kidnappers to kill him. This time, I'll make sure he's dead for good!"

Max lay on the gurney, his face whiter than the sheets beneath him.

He looked at me, and something behind his eyes shattered completely.

"Amber Fox..." His voice was raw, scraped hollow. "I traded my life for yours. And you wanted me dead this whole time?"

"So during that kidnapping, your mother already wanted me gone." A cold, broken laugh left his lips.

"Max, it wasn't me! The recording is fake!"

"Get out."

He closed his eyes and refused to look at me again.

"From now on, you and your mother are nothing to me."

From that day forward, I went from being the sister he'd risked his life to protect to the person he despised most in the world.

The shards of that memory were still lodged in my throat when Max's voice cut through, cold as a slab of ice.

"Amber, Mabel's health still hasn't recovered. And since your mother doesn't have long to live anyway, we might as well use her heart to continue Mabel's treatment."

"What?!"

I looked up at Max, stunned. "You've lost your mind!"

"This is my final gift to you. Did you like it? All I had to do was tell him I wasn't feeling well, and your dear brother immediately suggested sacrificing your daughter for the treatment. That's the wonderful brother you've got."

Mabel leaned in close to my ear, her voice soft and dripping with satisfaction.

"Just think about it. Your child, your mother, all gone. Would that break you?"

I stared at her, my voice shaking. "What do you want from me?"

"Don't test me. I could arrange for your mother to have a little accident right here in this hospital."

The word accident hit me like a spark landing in hot oil.

"Mabel!"

My hand flew before I could think, connecting hard with her face.

Crack.

Mabel stumbled back two steps, clutching her cheek as she crumpled into Guy's arms, eyes glistening with perfectly manufactured tears.

"I was only asking about your mother's health, and you hit me! How could you, Amber?"