19 A Suspiciously Luxurious Ride
The nurse’s expression shifted from professional to concerned in an instant.
“Sleeping pills?” she asked, her brows furrowing. “When did you take them?”
I kept my face blank, enjoying the mounting tension in the room.
“About an hour ago. Two pills. I was feeling anxious,” I explained calmly.
The nurse immediately set down the needle and stepped back.
“I’m sorry, but we can’t take your blood if you’ve taken medication recently. It could compromise the transfusion and harm the recipient.”
Tanya’s face contorted with rage. “You’re lying!”
I reached into my purse and pulled out the prescription bottle, dangling it between my fingers.
“Check my prescription if you’d like. Doctor Reynolds prescribed them for my insomnia last
month.”
Alistair’s face drained of color. “Hazel, what have you done?”
I fixed him with a cold stare. “Nothing. I simply took medication prescribed to me. How was I supposed to know Ivy would suddenly need my blood?”
The nurse turned to the doctor who had been witnessing our family drama. “Dr. Mitchell, I can’t proceed with the donation.”
My father stepped forward, his face a mixture of desperation and fury. “There must be something we can do!”
Dr. Mitchell sighed heavily. “The medication needs at least 24 hours to clear her system before she can safely donate.”
“She did this on purpose!” Tanya shrieked, pointing an accusing finger at me. “She’s trying to kill my daughter!”
I raised an eyebrow. “You mean our daughter? Since apparently my father is Ivy’s biological
father too.”
My words sliced through the room like a knife. The nurse and doctor exchanged uncomfortable glances.
“I’ll check if we have matching donors in our database, the doctor said quickly, eager to escape the family tension. “In the meantime, perhaps family members with compatible blood types
could donate?”
“I’ve already checked, the nurse replied. “Mr. Shaw and Mr. Everett both appear to be
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compatible, We’ll need to run tests to confirm”
I couldn’t hide my surprise. “Alistair is compatible?”
Something flickered across Alistair’s face–guilt, perhaps? He’d never mentioned being compatible with Ivy’s blood type before.
“Yes,” the doctor confirmed. “If their blood types match, both gentlemen could donate”
Alistair straightened his shoulders. “I’ll do it immediately”
My father nodded stiffly. “Me too”
As they followed the nurse to get tested, I gathered my things. There was no reason for me to stay anymore. The contracts we’d signed were void since I couldn’t fulfill my end of the bargain -not that I had ever intended to,
Theaded for the exit, my steps light despite the exhaustion creeping through my body. The sleeping pills were really starting to kick in.
“Hazel!” Tanya’s sharp voice cut through the hospital corridor. I turned to see her marching toward me, her designer heels clicking aggressively against the linoleum floor.
“You’re not going anywhere,” she hissed, grabbing my wrist. “Those contracts you made us sign -they’re still valid.”
I yanked my arm away. “No, they’re not. I can’t donate blood today, which was the condition”
“You’ll stay until you can,” she insisted. “Tomorrow, when the medication clears your system, you’ll donate. Your father has already signed over your mother’s shares.”
My head felt heavy, the sleeping pills dragging me toward unconsciousness. I didn’t have the energy to fight.
“Fine,” I mumbled, “But I’m not sitting in that waiting room all night.”
Tanya’s lips curled into a smug smile. “As long as you don’t leave the hospital.
I didn’t respond, simply turning and walking away. I found a bench in a quiet hallway far from Ivy’s room and collapsed onto it. The vinyl was cold and uncomfortable, but I was too tired to care. Within minutes, I was asleep.
I woke to the sound of hushed voices and the first rays of morning light streaming through the hospital windows. My neck was stiff, my mouth dry. Checking my phone, I saw it was just past 7 AM.
A nurse I hadn’t seen before approached me.
“Are you Ms. Shaw?” she asked.
I nodded, slowly sitting up.
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“Your sister is stable now. Mr. Everett and your father’s donations were successful.”
Relief washed over me, not for Ivy’s sake, but because this meant I was free to go. The contracts might still be an issue, but I’d deal with that later. Right now, I just wanted to get home, shower, and sleep in my own bed.
“Thank you,” I said, standing up and gathering my things.
I made my way to the hospital exit without bothering to check on Ivy or speak to my family. They had what they wanted–Ivy was stable. I had what I wanted–freedom to leave.
The morning air was crisp as I stepped outside. I pulled my jacket tighter around me and headed toward the street to hail a cab. My apartment was on the other side of the city, and after spending the night on a hospital bench, all I wanted was to get home as quickly as possible.
As I raised my hand to flag down an approaching taxi, a sleek black Porsche Cayenne pulled up to the curb in front of me. The driver’s window rolled down, revealing a stunning young woman with perfectly styled hair and designer sunglasses.
“Need a ride?” she asked with a friendly smile.
I hesitated. “I’m waiting for a cab.”
“I’m heading downtown anyway,” she offered. “Hop in.”
I studied the luxury vehicle suspiciously. “You’re a ride–share driver? In a Porsche?”
The woman laughed, the sound light and musical. “I know, it’s a bit much. It’s my dad’s car, actually. I’m just trying to earn some extra spending money while I’m in grad school.”
Something about her story didn’t add up, but the thought of waiting for a cab when I was this
exhausted was unbearable.
“Are you sure it’s not out of your way?” I asked.
“Not at all!” she insisted. “I’m Sarah, by the way.”
“Hazel,” I replied, still hesitating.
Sarah gestured to the passenger seat. “Come on, you look like you’ve had a rough night. Let me help you out.”
Against my better judgment, I opened the door and slid into the Porsche’s luxurious leather interior. The car smelled new and expensive, nothing like any ride–share I’d ever taken.
“Where to?” she asked brightly as I buckled my seatbelt.
“1470 Maple Avenue, in Brighton Heights,” I replied.
“Perfect! I’m heading right past there.”
As we pulled away from the hospital, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.
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What kind of grad student drives a brand–new Porsche as a ride–share? And why would she stop specifically for me?
I glanced at her profile as she navigated through morning traffic. She looked vaguely familiar, though I couldn’t place where I might have seen her before.
“So,” she said conversationally, “rough night at the hospital?”
I tensed. I hadn’t mentioned I was at the hospital.
“How did you know I was at the hospital?” I asked cautiously.
Sarah laughed again, but this time it sounded rehearsed. “Well, I picked you up there, didn’t I?”
Right. Of course. The sleeping pills were still making me paranoid.
“Yeah,” I mumbled. “Family drama.”
“The worst kind,” she agreed sympathetically.
As we turned onto the freeway instead of taking the direct route to my apartment, my suspicions grew stronger.
“This isn’t the way to Brighton Heights,” I said, sitting up straighter.
Sarah smiled, her eyes hidden behind her sunglasses. “Just avoiding some construction. Trust me, this is faster.”
I didn’t trust her at all. Who was this woman, and where was she really taking me?
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