Chapter 307: Emma Pushed Open the Hospital Room Door to Find Paige Applying Lipstick

Emma pushed open the hospital room door to find Paige applying lipstick in front of the mirror.

"Paige?" she called tentatively.

The reflection whipped around, leaving a scarlet streak across her cheek.

"What are you doing here?" Paige snapped her compact shut, eyes narrowing.

Emma set the fruit basket on the bedside table. "I heard you were hospitalized—"

"Heard?" Paige's laugh was brittle. "From who? Everyone gossiping about my abortion?"

Emma froze. "I only knew you were unwell—"

"Stop pretending!" Paige flung the blanket aside. "Just admit you came to gloat!"

The IV needle jerked, sending blood snaking up the tube.

Emma rushed forward. "Calm down—"

"Get out!" Paige slapped her hand away. "You were always the fake nice girl in our dorm, whispering behind my back!"

"I never—"

"Come to kick me while I'm down?" Paige's voice turned shrill. "Newsflash—I'll always be better than some subway-riding pauper like you!"

Emma's face drained of color.

The readmission forms in her bag suddenly felt foolish.

"My mistake." She grabbed her purse. "May you get... exactly what you deserve."

"Wait!" Paige hurled a pillow. "Who do you think you are? Lecturing me?"

The thud echoed as Emma walked out.

Collapsing onto the bed, Paige dug her nails into her palms.

The ringing phone made her lunge for it. "Grant?"

"Useless girl!" Her mother's voice screeched over mahjong tiles. "Send money now!"

Paige's fingers trembled. "Mom—"

"Don't lie! Your brother said you're sleeping with some tycoon in Boston!"

"I'm not—"

"Liar!" Donna Russo shrieked. "After all I've done, you owe me!"

Paige bit her lip until copper bloomed, mingling with smeared lipstick.

"No money." She suddenly smiled. "Unless... you want to collect my corpse?"

Silence.

Then came the eruption of curses.

Paige ended the call and smashed the phone against the wall.

The screen shattered like her life.