Chapter 42. Nicholas stood under the shower letting the water beat down on his shoulders after making sure it was hot enough to sting.He tilted his head back and let it run over his face with his eyes closed.But the heat wasn't hot enough to wash away the tension that was coiling tight in his chest.Melanie finds out about his secret. The hospital bills, agnes not picking up her call and …the message.The message. He exhaled sharply and pressed both his hands against the tile wall.Did he manage to crack her wall? Or did enough figure out what he knew? Which he doubted because she wasn't exactly the brightest of the bunch and might definitely not understand the clues he had dropped. Nicholas turned off the water and stepped out, grabbing a towel on his way. He dried off quickly And pulled on a fresh shirt and jeans, ran a hand through his damp hair, and grabbed his phone from the counter.The message was still there and he still didn't respond. She had tk earn his response.

Chapter 44."Nicholas, wait…" Agnes said, making him pause for a second before responding. "It's nothing," Nicholas said quickly. "I have to go.""Are you sure? Because you don't sound…”“I really am,” Nicholas insisted, his jaw clenching. “I know we've barely known each other for a week but I can tell you're…something is up-” "I'm fine," he interrupted, his tone sharper than he meant it to be. "Really, it is. I'll talk to you later,okay?"He didn't wait for her to respond as he ended the call and lowered the phone. He stared at the blank screen for a long while. A whole Four hundred thousand dollars and no way to get it.No loophole. No shortcut.Nothing.Nicholas leaned back against the wall, his head tilting up toward the ceiling.He stayed there for a while, his breathing slow, as he tried to push the weight in his chest back down.He could feel his eyes stinging as he kept his gaze unblinking. He couldn't go back into that room like this, Not when Mikey was in there and he

Chapter 46.Clara still hadn't responded.No messages. No calls. Still Nothing.And now Nicholas had two days left.Two days to get five thousand dollars to Devon.Two days to somehow pull four hundred thousand dollars out of thin air for the hospital bills. Two days to decide on Professor Beckham's offer too. But the money wasn't coming.No matter how many times he checked his phone, refreshed his accounts, or stared at the numbers on the screen, nothing changed.He was broke.Completely and utterly broke. Nicholas spent the rest of the week by Rebecca's bedside.He didn't go to most of his classes. Didn't answer Mikey's texts asking where he was either. Didn't even speak to Agnes. He just sat there, watching her breathe and listening to the steady beep of the monitors.It was the only place that felt remotely safe to him. The only place where the world slowed down enough for him to think.But thinking didn't help either.Because every thought led back to the same place.He had

Nicholas arrived at the hospital in a daze.His body moved on autopilot…through the entrance, past the reception desk, toward the elevator.But his mind was somewhere else entirely.Still in that parking lot.Still seeing Devon on the ground.Still hearing the system's voice.Task complete.The elevator doors opened, and Nicholas stepped out onto the fourth floor.His feet carried him down the familiar hallway, past the nurses' station, toward Rebecca's room.But before he reached it, a voice stopped him."Mr. Keiser."Nicholas turned.Doctor Burke stood in the hallway, his expression unreadable, his white coat crisp and clean."Doctor," Nicholas said quietly."I need to see you in my office," Doctor Burke said. "Now please." He added. Nicholas's stomach dropped, of course he'd want to see him. He followed the doctor down the hall, his legs heavy, his chest tightening with every step.Doctor Burke's office was small and sterile, the walls lined with medical charts and certificates.

Chapter 50.Nicholas walked straight to Doctor Burke's office.His steps were quick, purposeful with his phone still clutched in his hand.He knocked once on the door."Come in," Doctor Burke's voice called from inside.Nicholas pushed the door open and stepped in.Doctor Burke looked up from his desk, his expression cautious."Nicholas," he said. "I thought you'd left.""I need the total," Nicholas said, his voice steady. "For everything. All of Rebecca's treatment. The surgery. Everything."Doctor Burke's brow furrowed. "Nicholas, I told you you had…”"I have the money," Nicholas cut him off.The doctor's eyes widened slightly.He leaned back in his chair, studying Nicholas for a moment.Then he turned to his computer, his fingers moving across the keyboard.The printer hummed to life, spitting out a sheet of paper.Doctor Burke took it and handed it across the desk.Nicholas took it, his eyes scanning the numbers.Total Cost: nine hundred thousand dollars. Nicholas's chest tighten