Page 185 of Beautiful Lies

“I’m afraid so. Your mother’s heart has been under strain for years. She has severe coronary artery disease—multiple blockages that have been progressing quietly. Over time, that kind of stress weakens the heart and the surrounding arteries. Yesterday, one of the arteries connected to her aorta tore from the pressure. It caused the cardiac arrest. She needs emergency surgery.”

“Oh my God. When can you do it?”

“We can prep her within the hour. But…” He pauses, hesitating before he adds, “The procedure is expensive. Her insurance won’t cover this type of corrective operation, nor the hospital stay or the treatments she’ll need afterward.”

Those words twist the knife in my soul. “How much will it cost?”

“Four hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars.”

Jesus.

My knees nearly give out. It feels like being punched.

Four hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars.

“Oh God. I… I don’t…” My throat closes. “I can’t pay that. Is there anything else that can be done?”

His face softens. “No. Nothing else will help. Surgery is the only option, and we’ll need at least a fifty percent deposit, plusconfirmation you can cover the balance, before we can take her in.”

The only time I’d ever think to use Knox’s credit card is now. But with a hundred grand spending limit, not even that will save me. I need more money than I’ve ever needed in my life.

“Four hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars. I…”

The walls blur.

The floor tilts.

I stumble back, trembling as everything closes in on me.

My legs give, but then an arm slips around me, strong and steady, stopping me from falling.

I look up and find myself staring into Knox’s bright blue eyes.

“I’ve got you,” he says, pulling me closer. Then he looks at Dr. Blakely. “I’ll pay for everything. Just save her. Please.”

Dr. Blakely’s shoulders ease. “I’ll get the paperwork.”

“Thank you,” Knox tells him.

The doctor nods and heads back through the doors.

I’m stunned and weak in equal parts, like my body was ripped to shreds and stitched back together in the span of a single heartbeat.

Knox keeps his arm wrapped around me, holding me upright, my only anchor in this sea of chaos.

He touches my cheek, his thumb brushing beneath my eye, catching a tear I didn’t feel fall.

“Breathe,” he murmurs. “I’m here now.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much,” I rasp.

“You don’t have to thank me for anything.”

“I owe you everything.” I don’t know if I fall into him or if he pulls me closer, but suddenly, my forehead is pressed to his chest and his hand is in my hair, grounding me.

All the angst from losing the restaurant feels like nothing compared to this.

And here Knox is… saving me.