Author’s note: This part of the story is flashback of the past after Riley’s accident.

The doctor that had been talking with Nick entered her small office to find Jane Carter sitting on in one of the chairs inside the room. “Did he buy it?” she asked monotonously

“Your son’s heart has been torn into a thousand pieces, he loved that girl, shouldn’t you be consoling him?” the doctor said while removing her white overcoat and settling herself in the leather chair behind her desk. “Good mothers look out for their son’s well-being!”

“Lynn, I am looking after my son!” she said, “what do you think I’m doing all of this for?”

“Out of spite, perhaps? Or maybe jealousy!” Lynn said ingenuously

“On what account?” Jane asked spitefully

“Your son found someone that will take care of him, hence, he no longer needs his own mother to turn to”

“How about you keep your opinion to yourself and just do what you’ve been hired to do?” Jane said irritated at the sound of the truth being said aloud. “Where’s Riley? Is she awake?”

“She’s resting”

“Well bring me to her so I can finally get this done and over with and that little tramp off my back!” Jane demanded rudely.

Lynn led Jane to another corridor of the hospital and eventually into a small room where Riley was put. Lynn Hudson was one of the best doctors in Florida and she was able to revive Riley and keep her heartbeat stabilizing through the use of expensive technology: all of which was paid for by Jane Carter herself.

Unbeknownst to Nick, Jane had hired the lady that ‘accidentally’ ran Riley over. It was all a part of her master plan. Phase one was to get Riley hurt enough that she will ultimately fight for her own life. The next phase was her agreement with Lynn Hudson.

Jane promised Lynn that she would pay her a large sum of money if she would convince Nick that Riley had died, which was done successfully.

The next phase was to plan out an agreement between her and Riley.

“Leave us alone,” Jane demanded as Lynn left the room so that Jane can have her moment with Riley.

Jane moved closer to get a better look at Riley, whom laid immobile on the hospital bed, bandaged in some places, while other spots in her body revealed bruises. “Riley,” she called out her name monotonously.

Riley slowly moved in response to the sound she had heard, hoping it would be Nick that she had heard. She opened her eyes as the hopes that were overfilling her eyes vanished at the sight of Jane.

“You and I need to have a little talk,” Jane said, keeping the monotone of her voice.

“What do you want?” Riley said weakly.

“You see Riley, I now have the upper hand in this little situation here. At the snap of my finger, you could either be breathing and better than new in no time; I’ll pay for all of your medical bills, and even be nice enough to give you plastic surgery to remove that god-awful scar you have on your face, make you beautiful, or…ooh…I don’t know…be dead?” she chuckled.

Riley looked at her in confusion, as her entire body begin to throb, the medication she had been put under was wearing off and she was beginning to feel every pain that was going on in her entire body. “In other words?” she managed to let out, however short breath she was.

“You leave my son alone and out of his life forever and you walk away better than ever”

“And if I don’t?”

“See this little tube right here?” Jane grimaced wickedly. “It’s your choice, my dear!”

“Where’s Nick?” she demanded

“Probably at home bawling his eyes out. You see, Riley, he thinks that you’re…” before she finished her sentence, she moved her lips closer to Riley’s ears then whispered, “dead!”

Riley gasped at what Jane had just told her, as tears filled her eyes, “No,” she whispered in disbelief. “How could you?”

“So what will it be?” Jane grabbed hold of her usual upright posture while crossing her arms and raising one of her eyebrows. “You better make your mind up soon, my dear Riley, I’ve got other business to take care of!”

“You’re a snivelling snake!” Riley said disgustingly

“A snivelling snake? Such nasty words from such a precious lady,” Jane said pretending to be heartbroken, and then followed it up by a small chuckle. “Shouldn’t I be your fairy godmother? I mean, I’m giving you the chance to let me save your life…so what will it be? This is starting to annoy me! Now come on, after the surgery, you’ll be so beautiful no man can ever resist you, you don’t need Nick!”

“What other choices do I have?” Riley sighed as she closed her eyes, as she felt her desperation overtake her sense of being, “fine, I’ll do it,” as she finalized her deal with the she-devil.

“Great,” Jane clasped her hands together while feeling exhilarated that everything was going according to plan.