The Year I Died Was When He Loved Me Most

Under the dim lighting, Ethan and I both had red-rimmed eyes.

"Nina, you're really something. We'll see about that."

If I'd already gotten Mom settled somewhere safe, I wouldn't have made it through that night.

Early the next morning, a message from an unknown number lit up my phone.

Your mom is at Twilight Bar. Want to come find her?

My heart seized. Without thinking, I rushed straight to Twilight—the bar where I used to sing for money.

When I entered the private room, Alex Pruitt was waiting inside with a few junior managers from the company.

"Nina, you finally came."

I kept my guard up. "Where's my mom?"

Alex swirled her wine glass, smiling. "Don't rush. Since you're here, have a drink with us first."

One of the older managers swept his eyes over my body, his gaze making my skin crawl. "Such a temper. No wonder Mr. Yates doesn't want you anymore. I'd behave if I were you—unless you want irreversible consequences."

I clenched my fists, grabbed the drink already waiting for me on the table, and downed it in one gulp. "Enough? Where's my mom?"

Alex's smile widened. "This is just the beginning. Play nice, and I'll tell you everything. Resist too much, and I can't make any guarantees."

My nose stung.

Was this Ethan's "we'll see about that"?

Ruthless enough.

Alex lined up a row of hard liquor and looked at me with disdain. "Drink. All of it."

Without a word, I chugged one glass after another. The alcohol hit my tumor like acid, and my whole body screamed with needle-sharp pain. Before long, the room started to spin.

Several men caught Alex's signal and swarmed me, hands pawing everywhere. From across the room, she snapped photos, her lips curling.

"Don't rush, baby. Mommy's about to find you a new daddy."

At the last moment before everything went dark, a figure appeared and pulled me out of the bar.

"Nina, are you okay?"

The pain was blinding. "My mom..."

I passed out before I could finish.

When I woke up, Alex Matthews was sitting by my bed.

"Nina, your body can't take this kind of abuse. A few more times and you won't last three days." His voice was tight. "For him—is it worth it?"

I laughed bitterly. "It's not for him. I just finally understand how much he hates me."

His phone rang. After answering, his expression darkened.

"Nina. Your mom had an accident."

I didn't care how weak I was. We rushed to the hospital together.

At the operating room doors, a nurse stopped me. "Your mother has high levels of sedatives in her system, along with pesticide residue in her stomach. The drugs kicked in after she went out, causing the accident."

My breath came faster, my head buzzing. "Doctor, please—save my mom. Please."

"Nina, I'm here." Alex gripped my shoulders. "I'll do everything I can. Wait for me."

He turned and disappeared through the operating room doors.

The second they closed, Ethan's voice came from behind me.

"You still know to show up? Had fun drinking with those old men?" His words dripped with contempt. "Nina, if your mom dies, blame her slutty daughter. Shameless."

Hatred flooded my eyes.

Was this his revenge?

First he had me attacked. Then he waited for his chance to go after Mom.