Cassie’s POV
"No—"
I rushed toward them, blood already spreading fast from Alex’s stomach.
"Call an ambulance!" I ripped the gun from Damien’s hand before he could even react. He just stood there, frozen, staring off into nothing like he was the one who’d been shot.
"Are you okay?" I shook his arm, trying to get some kind of response, anything.
A few minutes later the rooftop was swarming with police, and for the first time in what felt like hours, I actually let myself breathe — watching them load Alex onto a stretcher and carry him out.
Damien’s fine. Kate’s alive. I managed a small smile at that thought, right before everything went black.
—
"Cassie." His voice reached me from somewhere far off, somewhere underneath consciousness, as I was rushed into an ambulance on a stretcher.
Kate was somewhere nearby, caught between sobbing and screaming — she genuinely needed her own bed at this point, what was she even doing following alongside me?
Then their voices faded entirely, and I was wheeled into surgery — the clatter of instruments, murmured voices between nurses and doctors, and then nothing at all.
I opened my eyes slowly, vision still swimming, and caught sight of someone beside me, visibly panicking the second they noticed me stirring. A doctor stepped into view shortly after.
"How many fingers am I holding up?" He raised four.
"Four," I managed.
"Good. Let us know immediately if anything feels off." He said it briskly, then left us alone.
"How are you feeling?" Kate asked instantly, not even waiting a beat.
"Okay, I guess. My head is killing me."
"You’ve been out for a week. I’m so glad you’re finally awake."
"How are you doing?" I managed to ask.
"I’m fine, Cass. I was terrified for you — I’m just so relieved you finally opened your eyes."
"Where’s Damien?"
She hesitated before answering. "He left not long ago — something urgent at work. He said he’d be back as soon as he could."
That should’ve made me smile. My whole face hurt too much to try.
"Cass, I actually found you a job. The pay’s really good — you could finally leave that whole family situation behind you for good."
"Really?" The relief hit instantly. "Thank you so much. That means more than you know."
She smiled at me. "You’d do the same for me."
(Ding.)
Her phone lit up with a message.
How are you? I’m at the hospital with Dylan right now, we’re coming to see you.
"Oh my god, Cass — my dad’s on his way, and he’s bringing Dylan with him. I’m so dead."
I looked at her, already spiraling — thinking about how I might get arrested straight from a hospital bed, or shipped off somewhere far away, all because I’d impersonated Kate again.
Before I could finish the thought, she’d already bolted toward her own ward, leaving me alone with the growing weight of exactly how much trouble I’d gotten myself into.
Kate’s POV
I rushed into my ward and collapsed onto the bed, trying to think of any way to get through whatever was about to happen.
I heard my dad’s voice at the entrance, Dylan’s right behind him. I yanked the blanket over my head instantly and turned toward the wall.
Footsteps approached my bed. "Kate, sweetheart, Daddy’s here."
I squeezed my eyes shut, silently praying I wouldn’t get caught. Just hold on a little longer.
"Katie..." Dylan called out gently.
Still nothing from me. This might actually work.
"She’s asleep. I think I should come back later," Dylan said.
I could picture my father’s expression perfectly — that particular blend of disappointment he reserved just for me. He genuinely wanted this relationship to work, and I couldn’t let him find out Dylan hadn’t even technically met the real me yet.
"Alright. We’ll come back."
Just as they turned to leave, my phone started ringing loudly. Who the hell is calling right now? I’d been so close to getting them out of the room.
"Kate," my father said, turning back toward the bed. "I think she’s actually awake."
He walked closer, standing beside Dylan, both of them waiting for me to finally turn around.
"Kate." He said it firmer this time.
Right then, Dylan’s phone rang too, and he excused himself to take the call. My father immediately launched into a quiet lecture about not understanding what my problem was.
"I know you’re avoiding him." He kept going. "Are you embarrassed for him to see you vulnerable, is that it?"
I still couldn’t force out a single word.
"He left his own office, in the middle of the day, just to come see you. And this is what he gets?"
"Men like him don’t come around often, Kate. There’s nothing to be ashamed of." He was trying so hard to convince me, completely unaware of how disappointed he’d actually be if he ever learned the real reason behind any of this.
"I have to head out, something important came up, but I’ll be back once she’s awake." Dylan said, stepping out and leaving me alone with my father.
"I hope you’re happy now." He said, watching as I slowly turned to finally face him.
"I’m sorry, I just didn’t want him seeing me like this. You know how I get." The lie slid out easily. "You know how much I hate looking weak in front of people."
He reached out and touched my head gently. "But Dylan isn’t just anyone. He could become family one day, and he genuinely cares about you. I know you care about him too."
"...I do." I muttered. "I promise I’ll do better. Just — don’t let him see me like this today. I’ll go on a date with him the second I’m discharged, I promise."
I gave him the look I knew he could never say no to.
"Fine. But you’re calling him yourself, later."
"I promise."
"After everything that happened, I’ve made a decision — you’re getting a security guard, full time, following you wherever you go. I can’t risk losing you." He continued, voice hardening. "And that man responsible for all of this — I promise you, he will rot in prison for the rest of his life for ever putting his hands on you."
"Dad, I really don’t need a guard trailing me everywhere. I’m fine. He’s in jail now, I’m safe."
"I’ve already decided. He didn’t even know you, and he was still obsessed enough to do this. Do you understand what kind of men are out there? Either you accept the guard, or you move back in with me."
I had nothing left to argue with — my father always got exactly what he wanted, and this was clearly one of those times.
"Mr. Winswood."
A voice called out from the doorway. I froze instantly.
What is he doing back here? It was too late to hide my face. He’d already seen me.
I knew, in that exact moment, that it was over — for me, and especially for Cassie.