Page 96 of Her Wicked Plan

“Did I wake you?”

“I was taking a little catnap, but the alarm was due to go off at any moment,” she explains. I’ve never seen my mother take a nap before she was always go, go, go. “I was working out in the garden because the weather is nice. Is the sun shining by you?”

“It is,” I inform her. “I haven’t had much time to get outside myself, though. How is the garden looking?”

“Oh, it’s coming along wonderfully! Your father has been fixing up the greenhouse when he has time after work.”

“Is that the project he has been working on?” I recall her telling me he had been starting a project the last time we spoke.

“Yes.” She sighs. “He wants to get it in pristine condition before the summer months. Really, his deadline is my birthday, so we will see if it’s finished by then.”

“I’m sure he could have it done by next week.” We both laugh because it’s true. Once Dad has his mind set on something and goes into work mode, nothing stops him from getting it done. “Speaking of your birthday, I talked to Chloe the other day, and she mentioned a get-together.”

“Her and Carter will be coming over to celebrate.”

“I’m going to see if I can get some time off. I want to be there to celebrate with you guys.”

“That would be lovely, Leo, but if you can’t, that’s okay. With it being a new job and all...”

“I’ve been here for two months; I think I’ve earned some time off,” I state. “I’ll let Chloe know for sure, though. After I speak with my boss.”

“Okay.” Her sleepy voice has now been pumped full of life. “And don’t you dare get me a present. If you show up, that is the only gift I need.”

If. The word punctures me like a knife.

“If you say so.” I’ll still be getting her a present.

The sound of the front door closing filters through the phone. “Your father just got home, and he’s heading out to the greenhouse. I have to move some plants around for him.”

“Go enjoy the nice day, Mom,” I say. “I’ll call you in a couple of days.”

“Alright, sweetie. We hope to see you at the end of the month. I love you more than all the stars in the universe.”

“I love you too.”

CHAPTER 27

Veronica

SOLITARY CONFINEMENT: DAY?

Time is a shitty concept when submerged in silence and darkness.

Time blends together in the absence of light. There is no window to show me the time of day or let me attempt to guess what time it was because we are underground. This might as well be a grave they threw me into.

The only thing that somewhat helped me tell time was the meals. Well, that was if I was awake to witness the guard sliding it under the door.

Although I’ve spent most of my time sleeping, I forced food into my mouth at some point. I’d be only bones if I didn’t have at least two meals, and I didn’t want to come out looking like I couldn’t hold myself in a fight. The patients can’t see me as fragile.

Leo can’t see me like that.

I’m aware that Leo thinks that I’m pretty, but if he were to see me as skin and bones because of my lack of food intake here, he might not find me attractive. That is a big must for getting him to fall in love with me.

Don’t let men fool you when they say, “Looks aren’t everything.” It’s bullshit. That’s all a man ever wants.

Given that Leo is a doctor, I’d like to believe he wants more. He wants personality, deep conversations, and good looks. Now that I’m thinking about it, seeing me frail might be a win for me. He’ll want to take care of me, help me get better, and maybe even wait on me by hand and foot.

Yeah, that sounds good.