Chapter 149

• Late-stage stomach cancer. Home shattered. Treated like a blow-up doll, humiliated by strangers. She was living like a ghost, barely human—and someone actually envied her?
• Zayla Steele hated interviews. Flashbulbs freaked her out. Her already pale face turned almost translucent under the lights. She squinted and ducked behind Joaquin Latham. When that was posted online, it looked like a shy little flinch.
• Joaquin fielded the reporters while sneaking a glance at the hand clutching his arm. Tight. Zay almost never grabbed him like that. She was shaking with how hard she held on.