10:12
Chapter 4
Aiden spun around, his eyes suddenly full of concern. “Eliza, what’s going on?”
Eliza’s heart skipped a beat. She’d been so wrapped up in catching the thief that she’d forgotten about the luggage she’d left in the living room.-
Her hand, tucked away in her sleeve, tightened a bit before she flashed a calm smile. “I saw you guys prepping for a trip and thought a little getaway sounded nice. So, I packed my bags, all set to head out once I pick a
spot.”
Greg and Thea’s faces fell. “Getaway? Have I not told you to stay put unless you get the okay?”
“Yeah, what if Margot needs a blood transfusion, and you’re not around? You know why you’re here, right? Pack your bags back up. You’re not going anywhere without our permission!”
Seeing her steady expression, Aiden relaxed a bit. “Next time you want to go somewhere, just join us. It’s not safe to go alone, you know?”
Eliza chuckled to herself. The place she had in mind was somewhere they’d never go.
A few days later, both Margot and Eliza had their birthdays.
Though they were three years apart, they shared the same birthday. Every year, there was always just one cake and one set of candles.
In the past, she believed her parents when they said two cakes weren’t necessary for one day.
Their family was well–off; a cake was nothing to them. They simply didn’t care about her feelings, and didn’t want her birthday to steal the spotlight from Margot’s.
The party decor was all in Margot’s favorite pink–pink roses, pink balloons, pink cake.
All the gifts were for Margot alone. She stood in the spotlight, soaking up all the birthday wishes.
“Happy birthday, Margot!”
Margot unwrapped her presents, her eyes sparkling like diamonds, stealing the show. Eliza stood in the corner, feeling like she didn’t belong.
“Hey, Aiden, why are there two boxes for your gift?” Margot asked, surprised, waving a gift box in front of him.
Everyone’s eyes turned to Aiden, curious. He handed one of the boxes to Eliza. “This one’s for you.”
Margot’s face fell but brightened again after opening the gifts. Aiden had given her an exclusive necklace designed by a top designer, priceless and one–of–a–kind.
Eliza’s gift, on the other hand, was a little trinket that came with the necklace as a promotion.
Everyone chuckled.
“A freebie, huh? Fits her just fine.”
Yeah, she was just an afterthought to Margot, so the gift seemed fitting.
Eliza stayed silent, quietly tossing her gift into the trash where no one could see.
After the party, Margot suddenly had the urge to drive everyone home with her new license.
She dashed to the garage. Greg, Thea and Evan were eager to indulge her, and waited at the door for her to bring the car around.
Eliza stood at the back, staring at her shoes, lost in thoughts about buying an island and how soon she could get away. She didn’t notice the car approaching.
With a screech of brakes, she was thrown to the ground.
10:12
Chapter 4
As her consciousness faded, she heard Margot’s fake panicked cries before slipping into darkness.
When she came to, she was in the hospital. The adrenaline wore off, and the pain hit hard. She struggled to open her eyes, finding herself on a hospital bed.
Her body felt light, like she was about to float away. Is this what dying feels like, she wondered as the sensation of floating took over.
It hurts, Eliza thought, closing her eyes as darkness swallowed her view.
Just beyond a wall, doctors were discussing with the Newell family.
“You need to decide quickly. She’s losing a lot of blood and needs a transfusion now. Our blood bank’s low, but your other daughter has a matching blood type. Why not let her donate?”
The Newell family almost shouted in unison. “No! Margot can’t donate!”
As her awareness slipped away, Eliza’s hearing dimmed.
In her final moment of consciousness, she heard Aiden’s voice, clear and firm, cutting through the fog.
“Yeah, Margot can’t donate blood!”
