ELIANA'S POV
Eliana couldn't sleep because someone had built a website counting down to her destruction.
ScholarshipExpulsion dot com
The homepage featured her school photo—the one from sophomore year where her glasses sat crooked and her smile looked forced. Beneath it, a timer: Days until Eliana Grant gets what she deserves: 14.
Fourteen days until what? Her birthday? Winter break? The end of the world?
The comments section provided answers:
14 days until CPS investigation results
Taking bets on how fast she gets arrested
Countdown to Carter realizing he's dating trash
Eliana closed her laptop at 11:47 PM and admitted defeat. Sleep wasn't happening tonight.
She wandered downstairs in pajamas and bare feet, heading for the kitchen and the leftover mac and cheese that might quiet the anxious churning in her stomach.
A sound stopped her halfway down the stairs.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Rhythmic. Violent. Coming from the home gym off the main hallway.
Eliana changed direction.
The gym door stood open, lights blazing. Inside, Carter attacked a punching bag like it had personally offended him. No gloves. No technique. Just raw fury translated into movement.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
His knuckles were bleeding.
Rough day? Eliana asked from the doorway.
Carter didn't stop punching. Can't sleep either?
Someone made a website about me. You?
Thud. Doctor called.
Something in his voice made Eliana's stomach drop. What did they say?
Thud. Lily's latest scans came back. Thud. The tumors are growing. Thud. Despite chemo. Thud. Despite everything.
His next punch missed the bag entirely. He stumbled, caught himself, and hit it again harder.
They want to try experimental treatment, Carter continued, voice flat with exhaustion. New drug trial. Sixty percent success rate in early studies. It could save her.
That's good news—
My parents won't approve it. Thud. Too expensive. Thud. Not FDA approved yet. Thud. Too risky for the family reputation if something goes wrong.
They said that? About their own daughter?
Not in those exact words. But yeah. Carter's next punch split his knuckle open. Blood splattered across the bag. They're in Paris. Attending some gala. Couldn't be bothered to call back until tomorrow to 'discuss options.'
Carter, stop—
Thud. Thud. THUD.
My sister is dying, he said, voice cracking. And they're at a party.
Eliana crossed the gym in four strides and grabbed his hands—forcing them still, pulling them away from the bag before he could destroy them completely.
Stop, she said firmly. You're bleeding.
Carter looked down at his knuckles like he'd forgotten they were attached to his body. Blood dripped onto the gym floor. Oh.
Come on. First aid kit.
She led him to the bench press, made him sit, then found the massive first aid kit mounted on the wall. Of course it was massive—rich people probably had gold-plated band-aids or something.
She knelt in front of him and cleaned his knuckles with antiseptic. He didn't flinch even though it had to sting.
Your parents are wrong, Eliana said quietly. About the treatment. About Lily being too risky. About all of it.
Doesn't matter. I can't override their medical decisions. I'm seventeen.
Then we make them change their minds.
Carter laughed bitterly. How? They don't listen to me.
We fight back with facts. Eliana wrapped gauze around his right hand. I'm really good at research. Give me the treatment name, the trial information, everything. We'll build a case they can't ignore.
You'd do that?
For Lily? Of course.
Something shifted in Carter's expression. Not for me?
Eliana's hands stilled on the gauze. I'm not doing this for you.
Liar. But his voice was gentle, almost teasing. You're doing it a little bit for me.
Don't flatter yourself.
Too late. Already flattered.
Despite everything—the website, the CPS threat, the tumor news—Eliana almost smiled.
They moved to Carter's room where he kept all of Lily's medical files organized in color-coded binders. Of course he had a system. Of course he'd documented everything.
You really do love her, Eliana said, paging through notes written in Carter's messy handwriting. Research articles. Treatment timelines. Hope measured in percentages and drug names.
She's the only family I have that actually matters. Carter pulled up the experimental trial information on his laptop. My parents check in once a week. Send money. Show up for holidays if it fits their schedule. But Lily? She's real.
They worked side by side on his bedroom floor, surrounded by medical journals and empty coffee mugs. Carter explained the trial—a new immunotherapy approach that taught the body's immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Eliana researched success rates, compiled data, found testimonials from families whose children had responded to similar treatments.
At 2 AM, Carter ordered pizza using an app that delivered to mansions at ungodly hours.
Perks of being rich, he said when Eliana raised an eyebrow.
They ate cold pepperoni pizza and kept working.
Somewhere around 3 AM, exhaustion made them honest.
Can I ask you something? Carter said. Why'd you really take this job? The real reason.
Eliana was quiet for a moment. My parents needed the money. The bakery was failing because of the review-bombing. Ten thousand dollars meant survival.
That's it? Just money?
No. She pulled her knees to her chest. I needed to matter. To someone. Anyone. I'd spent so long being invisible that I'd started to believe I actually was. Then Lily looked at me like I was important, and I— Her voice cracked. I couldn't walk away from that.
Carter set down his pizza. You matter. To Lily. To— He stopped himself.
To who?
To me. The admission came out rough. You matter to me, Eliana.
The room suddenly felt smaller. More intimate. They sat close enough that their shoulders almost touched.
We're employer and employee, Eliana said, but her voice wavered. That's all.
Is it?
Carter—
Because I'm pretty sure employees don't stay up until 3 AM researching experimental cancer treatments. They don't hold my hands when I'm having panic attacks. They don't make my sister laugh like you do.
I'm just doing my job.
You're doing so much more than that. Carter turned to face her fully. You're saving us. Both of us. And I don't know how to thank you except to say—
His laptop beeped. Email notification.
They both looked at the screen.
From: Dr. Patricia Morrison, Oncology
Subject: URGENT - Lily Ashford Treatment Update
Carter opened it with shaking hands.
Eliana read over his shoulder:
Mr. Ashford - Lily's latest blood work shows accelerated tumor markers. We need to make treatment decisions immediately. The experimental trial has an opening THIS WEEK, but we need parental consent by tomorrow at noon or the spot goes to another patient. Please contact me ASAP. Time is critical. - Dr. Morrison
Tomorrow at noon.
Twelve hours.
Call your parents, Eliana said immediately. Right now.
It's 3 AM. They won't answer.
Then keep calling until they do!
Carter grabbed his phone. Dialed. It rang six times before going to voicemail.
He tried his mother. Voicemail.
His father. Voicemail.
They're not answering, Carter said, voice hollow. They're at some gala and they're not answering.
Eliana's mind raced. Then we go over their heads. You said you have access to household accounts?
For basic expenses. Not for fifty-thousand-dollar experimental treatments.
What about your trust fund? College savings?
Locked until I'm eighteen. Carter dropped his phone. There's no way. We have twelve hours and no way to get approval.
Lily's monitor beeped down the hall—the regular check-in beep that meant she was sleeping peacefully.
Sleeping peacefully while tumors grew inside her small body.
While her parents partied in Paris.
While time ran out.
There has to be something, Eliana said desperately. Some loophole. Some—
Carter's phone rang.
Unknown number. 3:17 AM.
He answered on speaker: Hello?
Mr. Ashford? A woman's professional voice. This is Linda Chen from Child Protective Services. I'm calling regarding a complaint filed about the minor in your care, Lily Ashford. We'll be conducting a home visit tomorrow at 2 PM. Please ensure all household members are present.
The line went dead.
Carter and Eliana stared at each other.
Tomorrow at 2 PM. Two hours after the experimental treatment deadline.
Sienna's revenge was perfectly timed.
If CPS showed up and found Eliana living there without credentials, they could remove Lily from Carter's custody. Send her to a facility. Take away any chance of getting her into the trial.
I have to leave, Eliana whispered. Before 2 PM. I have to—
No. Carter grabbed her hands. Please. Don't leave us. We'll figure this out. I'll—
Lily's monitor alarm screamed.
Not the regular beep.
The emergency alert.
They ran.