Sandy wouldn''t dream of letting Tavon and Mckenzie have a conversation alone, but she couldn''t be too obvious about it, or Tavon would start asking questions.


    Trying to hide her nerves, Sandy offered Mckenzie a friendly warning disguised as concern. "Mckenzie, be sure to get plenty of rest, don''t eat anything you''re not supposed to, and follow the doctor''s orders. Hope you feel better soon."


    That "don''t eat anything you''re not supposed to" was her way of saying: don''t say anything you''re not supposed to, either.


    Only Mckenzie knew that Sandy had been home the night Ashley had her ident. "Thank you, Ms. Sandy," Mckenzie replied quietly.


    Sandy forced a polite smile, then turned and left the room. But as soon as she stepped into the hallway, her face hardened. She didn''t go anywhere—she just hovered outside the door, shamelessly eavesdropping. She had to make sure Mckenzie kept her mouth shut.


    No sooner had Sandy left than Tavon sat down beside Mckenzie''s bed. "Mckenzie, there''s something I''ve been meaning to ask. What really happened the night Ashley got hurt? I wanted to talk to you before you left, but never got the chance."


    Out in the hall, Sandy''s heart was pounding so loud she could barely hear. Her fingers curled into tight fists, and she strained to catch every word from inside.


    “Tavon, I wasn''t feeling well that night, so I went to bed early. I didn''t know what happened to Mrs. Moore-didn''t notice anything," Mckenzie said, her voice heavy with guilt. "It''s my fault for not keeping an eye on her. I''m really sorry, Tavon."


    “That''s not on you," Tavon said, but he pressed on, "Where was Sandy that night? Do you remember when she got home?"


    Mckenzie''s mind shed back to that night. She really had gone to bed early, but she''d heard Sandy''s car and peeked out the window-she was sure Sandy came home that night.


    But she didn''t know what Sandy might have told Tavon, and she definitely didn''t want to get caught in the middle. So she shook her head, ying it safe. "I''d taken some medicine and slept pretty hard. I honestly don''t remember. I only found out about everything when the police showed up."


    "That''s odd," Tavon said, sharp as ever. "The police told me you were the first one to find Ashley after she fell. Why did you say you only found out when they arrived?"


    Sandy almost burst back into the room to stop the conversation right there.


    But Mckenzie was quick on her feet. “Oh—yes, that''s right, I was the one who found her. My head''s been all over the cetely. I called the police when I saw Mrs. Moore outside and realized she wasn''t breathing. But I didn''t see Ms. Sandy untilter-she must havee back after that."


    The story was full of holes, and Tavon could tell Mckenzie was covering something up. He''d already had his doubts, and her hesitation only confirmed them.


    "Mckenzie, just focus on getting better. We''ll need you back at the house soon,” Tavon said, letting it drop for now.


    As he spoke, he nced at the door. Through the narrow crack, he could see the corner of Sandy''s purse she was still there, listening.


    He knew exactly why.


    Tavon waited until he heard Sandy finally leave before he walked out of the hospital himself.


    That day, Willowbrook felt colder than ever.


    Standing on the sidewalk, Tavon felt the wind cut right through him—cold to the bone, with a chill that came from deep inside.


    What had he done in his life to deserve a daughter like this?


    A daughter who could poison her own father, hurt her own mother... What else was she capable of?


    Tavon wiped his face with one hand and sat down on the edge of a nter. For once, he truly didn''t know where to go.


    He could go back home to a house with a venomous daughter, a wife who couldn''t


    speak, and a son who was always sick and never stood up for himself.


    Or he could go to Riverdale-but the thought made him feel worthless.


    Anastasia and her mother had married into wealth; now, what right did he have to lean on them, broken and disgraced as he was?


    He''d been selfish his whole life,


    always putting himself first. But


    after everything that had happened, he finally felt a twinge of


    conscience. He didn''t want,


    trouble Anastasia anymore.


    Tavon sat there for a long time before finally calling his daughter. Forcing a bit of cheer into his voice he said, "Ana, hey... You don''t need to have Jamese treat Ashley anymore. We''ve found a better doctor, so you don''t have to worry. By the way, how''s your mom? Still helping Cynthia eut? Tell her not to work so hard she deserves a break, deserves to enjoy life. She''s had it tough. Promise me you''ll take good care of her, okay?"