I closed my eyes and let my head loll to the side, mimicking sleep.

I needed them to think I believed every word.

I needed them to think the sedative was still clouding my mind.

Under the sheet, my fingers squeezed into tight fists.

I would find the truth.

I would find out what was in that tea.

Jared’s phone, left on the bedside table, suddenly buzzed.

The screen lit up with an incoming email from the chief of pathology.

Jared reached for the phone.

The blue light of the screen illuminated his sharp jawline.

He swiped the screen, his eyes scanning the text quickly.

“Is there a problem?” Courtney asked, her voice dropping to a quiet whisper.

“No,” Jared said, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Just the preliminary pathology report from Dr. Sterling. It is exactly what we discussed.”

“So it’s official?” Courtney asked.

“Yes,” Jared said. “According to the official record, Shelby’s system was overloaded with unprescribed toxins. The medical narrative is locked in.”

I kept my breathing slow, letting my ribcage rise and fall in a lazy, heavy rhythm.