Chapter 4

"The number you have dialed is not available..."

Tammy called over twenty times. Every single time, the same dead, hopeless automated message.

Her sister-in-law rushed over to soothe her.

"Tammy, don't panic. Even if Kip doesn't make it, it's still fine. That woman's son, Beckett, he's still in Europe, right? The flight alone is over ten hours. There's no way he gets here in time."

Tammy exhaled half her panic.

That's when a manager burst into the room, his face frantic.

"Ma'am. Directors. Someone just reported seeing Mr. Beckett Harrington getting into a car headed for the hospital. He'll be here in under fifteen minutes."

The words hit like a thunderclap.

"Impossible!"

Every drop of color drained from Tammy's face.

"He's in Europe! How can he be here this fast?"

In the middle of the chaos, I stood perfectly still at the edge of the crowd. A spark of satisfaction flickered inside me.

Beckett had actually been nearby tonight. He was attending a business gala Kip had refused to go to. When he got the message, he was two blocks from the hospital.

In my past life, Tammy deliberately delayed the news to stop him from grabbing the inheritance.

Beckett had raced back, but he was half an hour too late.

This life, the second I opened my eyes, I sent the message straight to Beckett.

"The amusement park! Get to the park!"

Tammy completely lost it. She grabbed a fistful of my hair.

"You worthless piece of trash! You're coming with me! We're dragging Kip back here!"

Pain ripped across my scalp. I didn't fight it. I let her haul me to the car.

At the park entrance, Tammy and her pack of feral relatives scrambled out. They lunged for the gates, ready to tear the place apart.

A dozen huge men in black blocked the entrance.

Standing right at the front, radiating smugness, was Zander.

"Are you blind? Mr. Harrington booked the whole park tonight. Not even a fly gets in."

Tammy was beyond reason. She charged forward and grabbed Zander by the collar.

"I am your Mr. Harrington's mother! Let me in right now! Tell Kip the inheritance is about to be stolen by that bastard!"

Zander shoved her. Hard. No hesitation.

Tammy was in four-inch heels. Her ankle twisted. She crashed onto her ass, a complete mess.

"Listen, old lady. Are you addicted to this theater act or something?"

Zander loomed over her, his face twisted with mockery and disgust.

"First Skyler calls, pretending to be some lawyer. Now you show up here in person playing the victim? You two will seriously stop at nothing to ruin Kip's night with my sister."

"Kip's orders. Even if his own mother shows up, she waits outside like a good little dog."

Tammy's rage got stuck in her throat. Her whole body shook.

She rallied her relatives, and they tried to force their way past. They got about two steps before they were beaten bloody and sent stumbling back, howling.

Tammy was a cornered animal now. She screamed curses. She clawed at the iron gate.

She scrambled up and aimed one trembling, diamond-heavy finger at Zander. Her voice turned deadly cold with sheer fury and terror.

"Zander, is it? I am calling my lawyer and the *New York Post* gossip desk right now. You and your whore sister are looking at unlawful imprisonment and commercial fraud. When Kip loses thirty billion dollars because of you two morons, I swear on my life, every paper in America will know you destroyed him with your cheap, filthy schemes. You won't make enough in three lifetimes of scrubbing toilets to cover my legal bills!"

Zander stumbled back a step, rattled by the sheer force of it. Then his face twisted with wounded pride and fury.

"Lawyers? Gossip columns? You think you scare anyone? Once Kip claims the inheritance, all you parasites are out on the street!"

I leaned against the Escalade, watching the circus. A smile finally tugged at the corner of my mouth.

Back at Mount Sinai, the media had already swarmed the place. They'd caught the scent of blood.

A wall of cameras was aimed at the hospital room door, live-streaming everywhere.

The line on the heart monitor was flattening.

Then the hallway went quiet.

A tall, broad-shouldered figure stepped through the door.

The second he crossed the threshold, the monitor flatlined.

Attorney Carter took a deep breath. Facing the dozens of cameras, his voice was solemn.

"In accordance with the will, Mr. Beckett Harrington has arrived at the final moment. Effective immediately, Mr. Beckett Harrington is the sole heir to Harrington Group!"

Outside the amusement park gates, Tammy heard the live broadcast from my phone. She deflated like a Black Friday doorbuster dropped at checkout when you realize you forgot your wallet. Her eyes rolled back. She blacked out cold on the cement.

At the same moment, I slowly lifted my head.

The Ferris wheel had finished its final rotation.

Beneath the fading debris of fireworks, Kip held Ella's hand, both of them laughing. Blissful. Climbing out of the gondola without a care in the world.