Daisy followed Rosita''s instructions and returned from the pharmacy with a small bag of first aid supplies.


    Rosita showed her how to clean the wound and wrap the bandage, her hands steady despite the pain. Once Daisy finished bandaging her up, she hesitated, ncing at Rosita as if she wanted to say something but couldn''t quite find the words.


    Rosita saw right through her and sighed. "I have depression," she admitted quietly.


    Daisy pressed her lips together, unsurprised. She''d suspected as much.


    "Please, just keep this between us, okay?" Rosita''s voice was earnest, her eyes searching Daisy''s. "No one else can know about my condition. I''m on medication, and it hardly ever gets this bad anymore."


    Daisy looked at her, concern etched into her face. "Rosita, you really should see a doctor."


    "I am." Rosita gave a weary, lopsided smile. "You see me most days, don''t you? I seem fine. It''s just... my mother won''t leave me alone."


    Daisy knew Lauren had been hounding Rosita for money againtelyrge sums, every single time.


    With a sigh, Daisy couldn''t hold back her curiosity any longer. "Rosita, what exactly does Ms. Lynn have on you? Why does she have this kind of hold?"


    She genuinely wanted to help, to share the burden if she could.


    But the moment the words left her mouth, Rosita''s expression darkened.


    "Did you overhear something?" Rosita''s stare was intense, almost frightening. Daisy froze, startled by the sudden shift. "I—I just heard Ms. Lynn mention something about a secret from when you were seventeen, that day I left the basement media room at Lunar Heights."


    Rosita''s breathing quickened. "That''s all?"


    Daisy nodded.


    Rosita finally exhaled, closing her eyes for a moment. "Honestly, I dropped out of school when I was seventeen."


    "What?" Daisy was shocked. "But your resume says you graduated from a top university!"


    "I did, eventually. Stewart helped me get there." Rosita''s tone was quiet. "My mom married into the Lockwood family, but they saw me as baggage. They treated me


    terribly, wouldn''t pay for myeb


    education, and my mother never defended me. So at seventeen, I quit school and started working to pay my own way. Luckily, Stewart came along, and thanks to him, I was able to study abroad."


    Daisy shook her head in disbelief. "Ms. Lynn is unbelievable."


    "She''s always med me for ruining her chances at marrying into an even wealthier family. Saul was abusive, and she med all her misery on me-as if my existence alone held her back."


    "This is just you shouldn''t keep giving her money, Rosita. She treats you like an


    ATM!" Daisy''s voice trembled with anger.


    "What can do?" Rosita buried her


    face in her hands, sounding exhausted. "She''ll say anything for money. Right now, with my career on the line, I can''t risk her spreading rumors."


    Daisy fell silent, unsure what to say.


    After a moment, Rosita sighed again. "Anyway, she''s been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and she''s HIV positive. No matter how awful she''s been, she doesn''t have long."


    "HIV?" Daisy''s eyes widened. "How did Ms. Lynn get that....."


    Rosita shook her head. "She''s always lived recklessly. I tried to warn her, but she never listened."


    Daisy could only murmur, "I guess that''s karma."


    Rosita stared at the floor, a cold glint in her eyes.


    Lauren, if you''re so eager to ruin me, you''d better hope you live long enough to


    try.


    After that, Briony enjoyed a few peaceful days.


    That weekend, she and James nned to take Little Nina camping. The night before they left, Briony thought it over and decided to call Carol.


    When Carol heard they were taking Little Nina camping, she immediately wanted to bring Little Mario along too.


    So, on Saturday morning, Carol showed up bright and early, with Little Mario in tow, ready for their weekend adventure.