<b>Chapter </b><b>6 </b>


    In the ER, I borrowed a nurse’s phone to call <b>my </b>brother.]


    He rushed over immediately.]


    The second I saw him, I broke downpletely<b>, </b>sobbing <b>in </b>his arms.]


    After I cried myself out, the <b>doctor </b>in the white coat pulled my brother aside with a frown.<b>[</b><b>] </b>


    “Tell your sister to stay away from sketchy ces like that.“]


    “She was given a heavy dose of drugs. We have an antidote, but one wrong move and it could’ve caused permanent neurological damage.“]


    After the doctor left, my brother pulled up a chair beside my bed.[]


    Looking at all my injuries, he asked gently, “Sutton, what happened? Weren’t you supposed to be hanging out with Garrett?“]]


    “How did you end up like this?“]


    I told him everything, start to finish.


    When I finished, my brother instantly punched the wall: <b>“</b>I thought Garrett seemed decent–good–looking, responsible. How could he pull this kind of sick shit?!<b>” </b>


    I hesitated before asking “Should we call the cops?<b>“</b>]”


    My brother leaned against the wall, quiet for a long time before answering.


    “Sutton, the police won’t solve the real problem here.“]


    “You threw the first punch, and Garrett and that girl are hurt worse than you. If we report it<b>, </b>they’ll call it mutualbat, and you might even be held primarily responsible.”


    <b>“</b>As for the drugging, if Garrett ims it was some kinky couple thing, there’s nothing we can do.“]


    <b>He </b>was right.]


    <b>I’d </b>been thinking the same thing–the cops wouldn’t give them the punishment they deserved.]


    My brother is usually calm andposed, but his <b>voice </b>was tight with barely <b>courage</b><b>: </b><b>“</b>Nobody has ever <b>disrespected </b>


    the Marshall family like this!”


    “And something about this whole thing <b>feels </b>off. I’m gonna have some people look into


    I nodded.


    hatever


    r you think is <b>best</b>.<b>” </b>


    <b>“</b>Focus on healing up. In a few <b>days</b>, I’m sending you overseas,” he said, standin things<b>.</b><b>” </b>


    I <b>nodded</b><b>, </b>but <b>tears started </b>falling <b>again</b>.]] <ol><li>up<b>. </b><b>“</b>Don’t worry <b>about </b>the business <b>side </b><b>of </b></li></ol>


    My personal drama was one thing, but my brother had been negotiating with the ckwells for months. Corporate deals involve massive amounts of money, countless nning sessions, so much invested time and energy.


    Now, because of me, all of that was getting scrapped.[]


    “I’m sorry…” I whispered.]]


    But my brother just touched my head: “Sutton, what’s to be sorry about? Better that he showed his true colors before you married him. If he’d waited until after the wedding to pull this shit, we’d have been screwed.“]


    “Getting out then would’ve been a hell of a lot harder.“<b>[] </b>


    My brother left, but he stationed two bodyguards at the hospital to watch over me.


    I woke up the next day around noon.]]


    The summer sun was zing through the hospital window.]] <ol><li>e<b>. </b></li></ol>


    The drugs hadpletely left my system, but I still felt weak all over, my arms and legs aching.


    My brother had someone bring me a new phone.[]


    I’d just turned it on when it started buzzing like crazy.]


    Messages from Garrett.]]


    [Sutton, where are you?]]


    [Your phone’s been going straight to voicemail. I’m freaking out.]]]


    [Have you eaten anything?]]


    For real?


    Acting likest night never happened?]]


    I couldn’t believe the mental gymnastics it took to pretend everything was fine.[]


    [Sutton, are you okay?]]]


    [Yesterday, Tiana was literally just joking around.] Now he was downying everything.]]


    [You beat the hell out of her, and me too. I needed stitches on my head and stomach.]


    [Just apologize to her, please? <b>If </b>you apologize, we can put this behind us.]]


    I didn’t block him.


    Because this wasn’t over.


    Forget apologizing–even if Tiana got on her knees and begged for forgiveness, I’d never let this go.]


    <b>Pure </b><b>artistup</b><b>? </b>Then <b>why’s </b>The Baby 1957 Enjoy Tour Cells, Soumates!


    <b>70.2</b>%


    “Put it behind us?“]]


    Hell no.


    I typed back coldly.


    [Garrett,


    I think this is just gonna blow over? What the fuck is wide with your brain?]]