Soaked and shivering from the cold night air, Zoe came down with a fever that knocked her out for three days.

Right as she started to bounce back, the nurse texted—

[Mr. Pierre Hertbert was awake.]

Her dad, finally out of that coma.

Zoe didn't know how to feel. The guy had cheated on her mom while she was pregnant, dragged Vicky—the other daughter—into their lives, and basically shattered everything. Her mom never recovered.

Yeah, Zoe would never forgive him for that.

Still, after her mom died, Pierre had sent Vicky away like he was trying to make things right. He kept her out of Zoe's world for years, and during that time? He spoiled Zoe like crazy.

Now, with her bags almost packed and Southport in the rearview, she figured she owed him one last visit.

***

The hospital room was quiet—but not empty.

Vicky stood by the bed, smirking down at Pierre like she owned the place. "Waiting for Zoe? Sucks for you. Pretty sure she's done wasting time on you."

Pierre, strapped to a ventilator, glared back, eyes burning. Couldn't speak. Couldn't stop her.

Vicky's voice went cold. "Your perfect little angel? She's been crawling after Connor like a total simp.

"Too bad. Even throwing herself at him didn't work."

She grinned. "We're getting married in two days. Bet Zoe's off crying her eyes out somewhere."

Then came the dagger. "Oh—Connor shoved her into a pool the other day. And she's terrified of water. No clue if anyone fished her out. She could already be dead."

Pierre's eyes went wide. He slammed his fists against the bed, the sound echoing off the walls.

The heart monitor screamed.

Didn't matter. Vicky had made sure no doctors were around.

She watched in silence, lips curled in victory, as Pierre's eyes slowly drifted shut.

Bang!

The door flew open. Zoe stormed in, breathless, and rushed to the bed.

One look at Pierre—not breathing—and her face crumpled.

She grabbed Vicky by the collar. "What did you do?! What did you say to him?! The nurse said he was fine this morning!"

Her voice cracked. Tears poured down her cheeks.

Vicky didn't flinch. The sweet-girl act she wore around Connor? Gone. All that was left was this eerie calm.

"You're crying over him?" Her voice was flat, almost confused. "He killed your mom. Did that not matter to you? What are you even crying for?"

"Shut up! You don't get to talk about my mom!" Zoe shouted. "No matter what he did, he was still my last family. And if he killed her, you're just as guilty! You helped him! Wasn't he your dad too? How could you—"

Vicky cut in, voice shaking. "He doesn't deserve to be called a father."

Her face twisted, and the words came out broken. "He forced himself on my mom. Got her pregnant, then made her keep it... When his wife died, he blamed us for everything.

"What did I do wrong? I didn't ask to be born!"

Zoe froze, everything spinning.

Zoe opened her mouth to say something, but Vicky's gaze slid past her.

In a flash, that hollow pain vanished—replaced by her usual helpless little act.

Behind her, Connor's voice cut through the room, low and cold. "Didn't I tell you to stay away from Vicky?"

Zoe swayed, her knees almost giving out. She hadn't even processed her dad's death before Vicky's words crushed her all over again.

Her face went pale.

Connor caught the look and, for a split second, something twisted in his chest.

Zoe lifted a shaky finger at Vicky. Her voice was flat, but her hands trembled.

"She's the one who killed him.

"The nurse said he was fine this morning. Then she shows up, and he's dead?

"She did it—she pushed him too far on purpose."

Vicky broke into sobs, lips trembling as she clung to Connor. "How could I... Connor, he was my dad too. Why would I ever...?"

Whatever flicker of concern Connor felt vanished.

He pulled Vicky close, steadying her. "Zoe, seriously? You sound insane.

"You really gonna make up crap like this just to stop our wedding?

"Instead of blaming her, maybe look in a mirror. You look like a ghost. How are you even supposed to stand next to her as a bridesmaid like this?"

And just like that, he turned his back on her—leading Vicky out of the room.

Zoe sank to the floor, clutching her face, knees pressed to the cold tile beside Pierre's bed.

The rest of the day blurred by as she handled the funeral. Her face didn't change once—like she was hollow inside.

Connor kept trying to reach her. She blocked every number.

Thankfully, he chalked it up to her being dramatic and didn't bother showing up.

At this point, Zoe felt nothing for him.

Even the memories—their so-called childhood bond—just made her sick.

So when Lucian called, she didn't even pause.

Cradling Pierre's urn, she got in the car and left Southport for good.

***

At the wedding venue, Connor was pacing.

"Where is Zoe? She's not seriously pulling this crap today. It's Vicky's big moment—call her again!"

But Zoe ghosted.

He tried calling—blocked everywhere.

The chatter around him buzzed, but it all felt...empty. Like something real was just gone.

Shaking it off, he pulled out a sapphire bracelet he'd had custom-made.

It was meant to mean something to Vicky—though she probably forgot.

Whatever. He'd tell her the story himself before popping the question.

Connor was wiping it down, making sure it sparkled—

When a confused voice behind him sliced through the noise.

"Isn't that Zoe's bracelet?" Eleanor stared, brows drawn.

Connor froze.

He turned, slow.

"What do you mean, Zoe's?"