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across the room to the bathroom where she plucked a

towel off the towel rack and came back to throw it

over the mess.

"You've got to call an ambulance and get me to

the hospital," I said.

She stared down at me and shook her head. "Everything has to be dramatic with vou,

doesn't it? Everything has to be an Academy Award

performance. You always have to be the center of

attention. Even today, even today you have to do

this." "What? Today? What are you saying?" Wasn't she back to being herself? How was I

ever to tell just looking at her? What was she talking

about now?

"You know this is a big day for me. I might

have put together the biggest deal our company ever

had. How proud Father will be. You're afraid I'll steal

your limelight, is that it?"

"Aunt Victoria, stop and look at me. It's Rain.

I'm ill. I think... I think I might be pregnant," I

admitted, expecting her to go into a tirade about

Austin, the fortune hunter, and how he had

deliberately made me pregnant to get to my money. She raised her head and squeezed her lips into

her cheeks. Her eyes seemed to darken and then

lighten as if some tiny bulbs behind them were turned

down and then up,

"Really?" she asked dryly, her voice devoid of

emotion or sympathy. "Why doesn't that surprise me.

I wonder? Why doesn't it surprise me that your own

personal pleasures were once again put before any

responsibility or any concern for your family and your

family's reputation? Why aren't I shocked, Megan?" "You're not listening to me. Please. listen," I pleaded. "I'm your niece, not your sister. It's very serious for me to be pregnant. I need medical attention. You've got to call for an ambulance and call