The liquid slid down my throat, and burning pain flared through my stomach.
One glass. Two. Three…
By the fifth, my stomach spasmed.
I covered my mouth and rushed to the restroom.
I threw up until the world spun. By the end, it was nothing but bright red blood.
I wiped the blood from my mouth and stared at the ghost in the mirror.
Outside, men's laughter drifted in. "Seeing her so pathetic, begging like that—damn, that felt good."
I stayed in the stall for a long time, until my phone buzzed nonstop.
The hospital.
"Miss Sullivan, your brother developed sudden complications and needs emergency surgery. Please pay $50,000 immediately, or the procedure can't proceed."
Fifty thousand.
To the old me, that was just the price of a handbag.
To the current me, it was a life.
I rushed out. Anthony was at the jewelry counter, helping Audrey pick out a diamond ring.
I ran over and grabbed his sleeve. "Mr. Vance, please—give me $50,000. Right now. My brother is being resuscitated!"
Anthony frowned and shook off my hand. "What are you doing, making a scene in a place like this?"