On the drive to the hospital, Sandy did her best to dissuade Tavon from visiting Mckenzie, but he wouldn''t budge.


    A flutter of nerves twisted in Sandy''s stomach.


    Not long after, they pulled up at the hospital. While Sandy went off to find parking, Tavon was already halfway to the nurses'' station, eager to find out which room Mckenzie was in.


    Sandy hurried after him, catching up only as Tavon reached the door to Mckenzie''s


    room.


    He pushed the door open. There, on the hospital bed,y a woman so frail and thin


    it was hard to believe she was the same person-an IV line taped to the back of her hand.


    "Mckenzie? Is that really you?" Tavon''s voice was thick with disbelief.


    Mckenzie looked nothing like her old self; her cheeks were hollow, her eyes sunken and ssy.


    At the sound of Tavon''s voice, her dazed expression sharpened into focus. When she realized who it was, surprise flickered in her eyes. “T-Tavon.”


    "It is you," Tavon murmured, shocked and saddened. "What happened to you? You''ve wasted away."


    Mckenzie flushed with embarrassment, just about to reply when she spotted Sandy standing at the threshold.


    Immediately, Mckenzie stiffened, her voice respectful. “Miss Sandy."


    She''d once quit in a hurry to get away from the Mortons, desperate to avoid trouble. Who would''ve thought all her running would end up with her right back in Riverdale? Mckenzie still didn''t know Sandy had been behind her being lured to Myanmar. She med herself for being greedy and unlucky enough to fall for the trap.


    Those days in Myanmar had been a living nightmare. The pain she''d endured was beyond description.


    Sandy, keeping up her air of superiority, asked offhandedly, "So, Mckenzie, are you doing alright?"


    "...I''m fine. Really." Mckenzie swallowed her bitterness; she wouldn''t dare say otherwise.


    After all, she''d been the one so eager to leave, and Sandy had even paid her three months'' extra wages.


    Sandy went on, "Well, take care of yourself and go back home when you''re better. Your family must be worried sick." There was a pointed edge to her words. "Didn''t you say your dad''s getting up there in years? Needs you to look after him?"


    "Yes. Yes, that''s right." Mckenzie caught her meaning right away, nodding quickly. "Once I''m well, I''ll go home."


    But Tavon cut in, "Mckenzie, if you''re willing, why not stay in Riverdale? Come back and work for us. What do you think?"


    He wanted her back to help care for Ashley. Mckenzie had worked for the Mortons for years—she knew the ropes, and they trusted her.


    Mckenzie''s eyes flicked to Sandy. Without Sandy''s approval, she wouldn''t dare stay. Even if Sandy gave her blessing, she still didn''t feel safe...


    "Dad, look at her-Mckenzie''s not well enough to work at the house," Sandy objected right away.


    "Why not?" Tavon shot back. "She''s worked for us all these years, knows the family. Once she''s back on her feet, she can help out. Your mom can''t move around now, and don''t need looking after. It''s easy


    work-just keep your mompany, help turn her imbed, give her a wipe-down every now and then."


    Then he turned to Mckenzie. "How about it? If you go home, you won''t make anywhere near what you''d get here. I''ll pay you $2,200 a month."


    To Mckenzie, Tavon''s offer was both a trap and a lifeline.


    In her current state, she''d be useless back home-let alone earn that kind of money.


    The offer was tempting, but she hesitated.


    Sandy, sensing things slipping away, jumped in, "No, Dad, we don''t even know if Mckenzie caught anything she was in Myanmar-she


    while


    have something contagious..."


    "Sandy, that''s enough," Tavon scolded. “It''s settled."


    He made the


    ecall,


    his tone leaving no


    room for argument. "Mckenzie,


    you''ve got two weeks. Can you


    handful


    ow she needs more care


    How about $3,200?"


    "...Thank you, Tavon. Thank you for giving me another chance.”


    In the end, Mckenzie epted. Who could turn down pay like that?


    But really, what made her say yes was Sandy''s attitude the way she''d treated her


    like she was diseased. Mckenzie agreed out of spite, her pride stung.


    Everyone has their dignity. Sandy''s words had cut hers to the bone.


    Sandy was fuming inside but tried not to let it show.


    Tavon nced at his daughter. “Sandy, don''t you have other things to do? Go ahead. I want to talk to Mckenzie for a bit. I''lle backter on my own."