part 4
PART 4
Hannah arrived twenty-nine minutes later wearing pajama pants, no makeup, and the kind of fear that makes a person look ten years older.
She pushed through the ER doors so fast a nurse had to stop her.
“I’m her sister.”
Her voice broke.
“I’m Olivia’s sister.”
I heard her before I saw her.
My whole body reacted.
Not with fear.
With shame.
That was what Grant had done best.
He made rescue feel humiliating.
Hannah entered the trauma bay and stopped at the sight of me.
Her hand covered her mouth.
For a second, neither of us spoke.
Then she came to the bedside and reached for me, but stopped herself.
“Can I hug you?”
That question broke me.
I nodded.
She bent over the rail and held me carefully.
Her body shook.
“I knew something was wrong.”
“I’m sorry.”
I started crying then.
Not pretty crying.
Not quiet.
A grief I had stored for years tore through me so hard the monitor beeped faster.
Doctor Reed stepped back to give us space.
Hannah brushed wet hair from my forehead.
“He told me you didn’t want me calling.”
I nodded against her shoulder.
“He told me you were jealous.”
“He told me you thought I was weak.”
Her face hardened.
“I never thought that.”
I wanted to believe her.
Some part of me already did.
Officer Elena Ruiz arrived while Hannah was still holding my hand.
She was calm, direct, and careful not to stand over me.
She asked if I wanted to make a statement.
Grant shouted from the hallway again.
“Olivia!”
My hand tightened around Hannah’s.
Officer Ruiz looked at the door.
“Is that him?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want him removed from this area?”
I hesitated.
That old fear again.
If he was angry now, what would happen later?
Then I remembered Doctor Reed’s words.
Safe right now.
“Yes.”
Officer Ruiz stepped outside.
Her voice changed.
Sharp.
Official.
Grant argued.
Then cursed.
Then lowered his voice when he realized lowering it would no longer help.
Hannah leaned close.
“What did he mean by ‘you lose everything’?”
My mouth went dry.
“The house.”
“The studio.”
“My accounts.”
“He has passwords.”
“He moved money.”
Hannah looked toward the hallway.
“He what?”
A nurse entered with my personal items in a plastic bag.
Inside were the wet clothes Grant had brought, my wedding ring, and a small flash drive I had hidden in my bra before he took my phone.
I stared at it.
Hannah followed my eyes.
“What is that?”
My voice came out barely above a whisper.
May you like
“Proof.”
Read the full story 👉 I had hidden one flash drive before Grant took my phone, and what was on it would turn the assault case into financial fraud.
