y. The hot water flowed along my skin, but it did not soothe me. It just made me remember that I had turned so weak. I bathed, dried myself and wore my nightgown. I was trembling and opene

will not spend money on a person who has less than three years to live. He made it sound so bad, as though I were a bad investment that he should have regretted making. I kept my eyes closed and wished that I would fall asleep and close the rest of the world. I eventually fell asleep after a long time. But sleep didn't last. I was rudely awakened by a bang on my door. Bang. Bang. Bang. I sat up with a jump, and my heart leaped in my chest. "Ariana!" my father shouted. "Open this door right now!" My hands shook as I rose out of bed. I opened the door slowly. There was Richard Hale, flushed and angry, in his evening clothes. His tie was loose at his neck, and his eyes were wild as he had been seeking everywhere. "Where is your sister?" he yelled. My voice was low and coarse. "I don't know." He stepped closer. "Do not play games with me to-night. Where is Alina?" "I said I don't know." My throat felt tight." I have not seen her since morning when she had breakfast before i went to the hospital!" He banged his hand on the frame of the door, and I jumped. "It is not the moment to be stupid, Ariana! It is tomorrow morning, the wedding! Is! Tomorrow!" He was pointing a finger at me." Your sister is missing , her phone is switched off, her location is switched off, and even her man does not know where she is. So tell me the truth. Where the hell did you go hide your sister! Where is she?" "I am telling you the truth," I said hastily. "I don't know where she is. I had no idea that she was missing. I was in my room." He shook his head as though he did not believe a word. "You