rehearsal. He watched from a distance as Kortney was whisked away for compatibility testing. Danielle and Ji

th startling speed. Kort

bility is confirmed. We can proceed, but we need you to sign

he pen and signed her name with a flourish. "Just s

determined sacrifice. As she was wheeled towar

unstable. We're running low on his blood type. Your friends'

shed their own donations and were look

from us," D

Jinnie added. "Ju

both already given the maximum recommended am

le snapped, her voice lea

om, their devotion a terrifying, beauti

ow numbness. He was witnessing the real-time replay of his first life. This was how they died for Jeb. Not with a bang,

b, because Jeb wasn't a rival. He was a religion.

d he fig

ould

was lucky. In this life, he had chosen to walk away

ating theater went off. The surgeon e

ant took. Mr. Clayton will make a full recovery." He then looked at the two women. "And yo

lief, their faces s

epped out of the shadows. "And you must be Mr. Pittm

ty smile. "They are. But

weight of a final judgment. Danielle and Jinn

u mean?" Da

aid, his voice devoid of all emotion. "You should call your

ned to

nd groggy, called from a recovery gurn

op. He didn'

t, he overheard two nurses

ses, willing to die for that guy. And her fiancé, M

they really love. That poor fia

al entrance. He saw his reflection: pale, tired

e thought. The

e cool night air, leaving the drama, the sacrif

hat anchored him to the present. His parents were

happened?" his mother c

m her touch. "It's fine. The doctors took care of it." He wa

l," his father said, his expression grim. "T

," Dona

re waiting for an explanation, for so

ect and handing him a heavy, platinum cufflink shaped like a stylized '

n said, taking

his father added. "They want to know when you'll be making you

platinum cufflink in his hand. It felt solid. Real. A promise of

s the Masons, Petersons, and Pierces had sent as their marriage proposals. He attached a simple, typewrit

urier to deliver the

ing for him in the drawing-room. They looked pale and exhausted, but they were dressed i

nted to apologize. We were... out of line at the hospital.

eir grand plan to protect Jeb depended on one of them becoming his wife. He coul

longer interested i