Jessica stared at the blood pouring from Timothy''s wound, her eyes reflecting the vivid scarlet, as if the color had seeped into her soul.


    More than once, she nearly reached into her purse for a handkerchief, wanting to press it against his bleeding neck.


    But she forced herself to stay back.


    Eleven years of love-how could anyone expect a heart to reset in a matter of hours? Even a car racing at full speed can''t stop on a dime; it has to surge forward a few more yards beforeing to rest.


    Her fingers trembling, Jessica fumbled for her phone, but lost her grip. It hit the hardwood floor with a sharp crack.


    "Timothy? Jessica? What on earth is going on in here?" She''s voice cut through the silence as she burst into the bedroom. Her eyes widened at the sight of Timothy''s blood-soaked cor and the crimson trail snaking down his neck. In a panic, she rushed forward, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket and pressing it firmly to his wound.


    She''s voice shook, on the verge of tears. "Timothy, what happened? Come on, I''m taking you to the hospital."


    Timothy''s gaze, cold and unfathomable, lingered on Jessica for a long moment. "Don''t go wandering off," he said quietly. "I''ll be back after they patch me up."


    With that, he followed She out.


    He could feel the blood running down his neck, warm and insistent. There was no time to waste-he needed a doctor.


    Jessica bent to retrieve her phone. A thin crack had splintered across the screen. Timothy and She had barely reached the driveway when headlights shed in front of them—another car pulled up, blocking their exit.


    She leaned on the horn, exasperated. Just then, Vince stepped out from his car, carrying a small case. He crossed the driveway and tapped on Timothy''s window. Timothy rolled the window down.


    Vince''s eyes narrowed at the sight of blood. "You''re hurt?"


    "Yeah."


    "Then you''d better get to the ER. I''m just here to see Jessica-it won''t take a second."


    He turned, intending to move his car, but Timothy stopped him. "Wait."


    Vince nced back. "You''re losing a lot of blood. Hospital first." "What do you need with Jessica?"


    Earlier that night at the Red House, Timothy had whisked Jessica away before he''d had a chance to ask why she and Vince had arranged to meet there.


    Vince held up the case, grinning. "Just bought something from her. Came to drop off the cash."


    The handkerchief at Timothy''s neck was soaked through, and his lips had lost all color. She urged, "Vince, hurry up and move. I need to get Timothy to the hospital now!"


    Timothy''s vision blurred as he fought to stay conscious. "Give me the case-I''ll make sure she gets it."


    He''d ask about the restter.


    Vince, remembering Timothy''s outburst earlier when Kane had called Jessica a mute, figured he must care about her a great deal. "Alright, you hand it over for


    me."


    He passed the case through the window, then drove off into the night.


    She wasted no time pulling away from the house, her knuckles white on the wheel.


    Timothy set the case on hisp and opened it with one hand.


    Inside, bundles of cash-easily two, maybe three million.


    He clenched his jaw, fists tightening around the case.


    Through the rearview mirror, She caught a glimpse of the money, her frown deepening. "What on earth did Jessica sell to Vince for that kind of money?"


    Timothy shut the case, his face turning even paler, eyes darkening with anger. He didn''t answer.


    By the time they reached the hospital, Timothy''s strength gave out. He lost consciousness as soon as the car stopped.


    She shouted for help. Paramedics rushed out, pulled Timothy onto a stretcher, and wheeled him inside.


    She spared a quick nce at the case left on the passenger seat, then hurried after them into the hospital''s bright, sterile corridors.