That night, Harper never came back.

Right after midnight, I mumbled a "happy birthday" to myself.

Before I got dumped at Bendora, she'd gone with me for a checkup. Doctor said my stomach was healing fine, and Harper lit up.

"You'll be all better by your birthday," she'd said. "We'll celebrate big."

Yeah. She did celebrate—just not with me. She blasted fireworks across the city... for Jeremy's fake little science trophy.

At dawn, Kenny showed up with this tiny palm-sized cake.

"I remember you said today's your birthday, but your leg..." He trailed off, awkward, then lit the candle anyway.

If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have made it through those hellish days.

I closed my eyes, ready to make a wish—then the door creaked open.

Harper.

Her brows twitched like she just realized what day it was. "Oh. It's your birthday."

She started digging through her coat, clearly scrambling for a fake gift.

Too bad karma has a sense of humor—she yanked out a half-used box of condoms.

Red-faced, she shoved it back. "Someone must've put that there as a joke. I'll get you something later."

I blew out the candle hard. "Don't bother."

Her face darkened fast, hands shoved deep in her pockets.

"All this over a gift? I paid for your dad's treatment when he was dying. Now you're giving me attitude over a birthday? Seriously?"

I clenched my jaw and let her go off.

Because yeah—she wasn't wrong. She did save my family.

That kind of debt? Can't exactly be erased.

Kenny, still next to me, finally stood. As he walked out, his shoulder clipped hers—on purpose.

She stumbled, face icing over.

Shot me a look like I was the villain, then turned—only to almost smack into Jeremy, rolling in with his lab coat.

Faint red marks peeked out under his collar.

Harper's rage? Poof. She floated to him, all soft-voiced concern. "I told you to rest at home. Why'd you come back?"

Jeremy sneezed, shrugged. "You stripped to keep me warm last night. I'm good now."

Then he noticed me, dialed back the puppy eyes, and gave me a smile.

"I'm here for an important experiment. Need Zach's cooperation."

My heart tanked. I looked right at Harper, shaking my head, silently begging her—don't.

She just smiled at Jeremy like I wasn't even there. "It's fine. He's not doing anything anyway."

I was about to go through that nightmare again. All because of her.

Jeremy's smirk kicked in. "This might sting a little, Zach, but hang tight. You've handled worse."

Dread crawled up my spine like ice water.

Harper blew a fortune getting Jeremy's lab off the ground.

She let him test his DIY drugs on actual people. Even backed his creepy electric shock "therapy."

Every time it blew up in his face, she swooped in and fixed it. Like she was proud of it.

What I didn't see coming? Her letting him do all that to me.

I didn't fight. I owed her. Or thought I did.

Maybe once this freak show ended, my tab would finally be cleared.

Jeremy broke the silence with a few loud slaps. Doctors stormed in with their gear.

Once everything was set, Jeremy slid his arm around Harper's.

"Harper, what if this flops?" he whined.

Harper's eyes wavered. She squeezed his hand, voice barely a whisper. "It won't. Let's go. They'll send the results later."

Inside, I was flat on a cold metal bed, staring at the ceiling while they strapped me down.

The lights smeared together. My thoughts started slipping away.

As the current cranked up, my body went dead, but my brain flickered back on in flashes.

Through the fog came the sound of chaos—metal clanging, people yelling.

"Shoot, you can't even control the voltage?"

Then the convulsions hit—sharp, brutal, unstoppable. Someone shouted, "Get him to emergency! We might still save him!"

I didn't fight. It felt like getting smashed over the head before everything went dark.

When I opened my eyes, I was somewhere new. Sterile, quiet—totally unfamiliar.

Before I could say a word, Jeremy's voice cut in from the side.

"You really made it, Zach. Here's your bonus for the effort."

He smirked, pulled out a crumpled bill, and dropped it next to my pillow.

Then he turned—and smacked right into Harper walking in. His smirk vanished. Head down, all fake remorse.

"It was my fault. I messed up. Zach blacked out. I already apologized."

Harper barely glanced at me before brushing her fingers along his cheek. "You didn't mean to. No need to say sorry."

Then she turned to me, a little too sweet. "The doctor said there's something wrong with your leg. Why didn't you tell me?"

I stayed silent.

While she was out watching fireworks with Jeremy, I'd blown up her phone with messages. Not a single reply.

Kenny tried to speak up, but Jeremy threw him a look and jumped in.

"My fault. Something went sideways during the experiment. I got swamped and forgot to mention Zach's leg."

Harper just smiled.

"How could I blame you? He's fine now, anyway."

I hadn't said a word, and she was already brushing it off like it didn't matter.

To shut Kenny up, Jeremy shoved him out the door.

Harper turned back with this fake-guilty smile.

"You've been stuck inside forever. Let's go out tonight. Celebrate a little."

Didn't ask if I wanted to. Just hauled me to some boutique and slapped a suit on the counter.

When she caught sight of the bruises on my back, her hand stopped midair.

She didn't say a word—just mumbled something and waited outside.

'What, feeling guilty now? Please. Everything I am now is because of her.'

At dinner, she barely looked up from her phone.

Halfway through, she hit the restroom—and vanished for over twenty minutes.

When she finally returned, she flagged down the waiter and jabbed a finger at the menu without even looking.

The guy froze. She'd pointed at the restaurant's address.

I grabbed the menu and quietly ordered for myself.

Right after the food hit the table, she shot up, grabbing her coat.

"Jeremy's getting harassed at a party. I've gotta go."

Harper paused at the door, voice flat. "Come with me. Roads are clear anyway."

She barely said a word on the drive. Just stared at her phone like it held her next breath.

We rushed into the club Jeremy had dropped his location at. Laughter spilled out of the VIP room.

He spotted me and froze—then slapped on that fake regret. "Didn't know you were bringing Zach. It was just a dare, that's why I texted you."

Harper was still winded, but totally chill. "Relax. It's just dinner."

Cue everyone turning to gawk at me.

I looked down, hands in fists. "If that's all, I'll go home."

But Jeremy just had to run his mouth. "Zach, we're not done. You're not ready to leave. You belong at Bendora."

Then some random voice piped up, loud enough for the whole room. "So THIS is Jeremy's lab rat? No wonder he's a mess."

Another added, "I don't mind scars, but a cripple in designer? Yikes."

I turned my back to them, holding it in with everything I had.

Harper didn't flinch. Still riding Team Jeremy.

"He's right. You shouldn't quit now. Just go back."

I clenched my jaw. Stayed quiet. Then—my phone buzzed.

"Mr. Zimmer, your father's condition has worsened. You should come say goodbye."

My mind blanked.

I moved for the door. Two bodyguards stepped in, blocking me.

I shoved back, then turned to Harper. My eyes burned, but I didn't say a word. Just looked at her—one last shot.

She didn't flinch. "Jeremy's worked so hard for this. Do you HAVE to ruin it now?"

I stayed quiet. She took that as a yes.

"You're going back to Bendora tonight."

Something in me cracked. "My dad's dying. I need to see him!"

Her face twitched, but Jeremy tugged her sleeve like a lost puppy.

Her voice turned ice-cold. "His hospital account's full. What's the point? Jeremy's getting his award soon—can't handle seeing him win?"

My stomach dropped. Blood froze in my veins.

Harper huffed and raised her hand. Two bodyguards grabbed me and tossed me into Bendora's car like I was trash.

The ride dragged forever.

Then it was back to the dark, freezing room. Locked up. Again.

Then the hospital update hit—my dad was gone.

For a second, everything just stopped. Frozen solid.

After that, I didn't fight. Not when Jeremy tested new torture tricks, not when the shocks came. I just... existed. Hollow.

On the last day, Harper was all dolled up next to Jeremy at the Research Awards Gala. Flashbulbs, smiles.

And me? I was finally out.

Kenny scored me a plane ticket. I brought back my dad's ashes, a busted body, and whatever was left of me.

As soon as I landed, my phone blew up—missed calls. All Harper.

I stared at the screen, then typed:

[Harper Reed, let's get divorced.]

Blocked her. Gone.

Back in my old apartment, I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding.

Halfway through unpacking, Kenny called.

"Dude, the news is blowing up..."