L

Rosé was a sobbing mess. As mean as she was my heart broke for her. She was still my little sister and she had been done wrong. By both her parents. I had tried all my life to be the one person she could count on but I hadn't been enough. She needed to feel loved and accepted by one of her lousy excuses for parents.

"She hates me," Rosé sniffed and hiccupped. "Right there in front of Kiro she made me look like a fool. She didn't even care that I'm trying to find a way to get him to want me."

I was sure that Rosé had pushed Jennie to say the things that she did but I didn't point that out. I was jut now, after an hour, getting Rosé to calm down enough to talk to me. She needed someone right now and I was pretty sure I was the only person on the planet who cared about her problems.

"I know you love her but she's mean. She's cold and mean. You remember when she pointed that gun at me," Rosé sniffled and wiped at her tear soaked face.

"That was a little different. Mom and Abe had just ripped her world out from under her. She was upset and you were taunting her."

Rosé let out a hard laugh. "You will always take up for her. Even if she made fun of me and my need to have a parent who wants me right there in front of everyone. In front of Tzuyu. Dean. Kiro. She doesn't care about my feelings."

Jennie was pregnant and her emotions were harder for her to control. However, I needed to talk to her about just being quiet around Rosé. The sooner I got her and Kiro on good terms the sooner we could leave. I didn't like having to juggle Jennie and my sister. It was too much.

"She shouldn't have said what she did. Although you shouldn't have said anything to her either."

"I was just reminding her that you loved me too. She was glaring at me so hatefully."

Jennie had many reasons to hate Rosé. I knew that. I just wished she'd learn to let that all go. When she had insisted we come here I'd thought it was her way of forgiving Rosé. Looked like I was wrong.

"I'll deal with Jennie. This won't happen again. But you need to start finding ways to let go of this bitterness Rosé. I can't help you if you keep acting like this in front of Kiro. He is used to dealing with Tzuyu. Not you. Tzuyu is quiet and keeps to herself. That's all Kiro will put up with and I am sure as a child she figured that out fast. You need to realize Kiro won't accept you for you. He is spoiled and selfish. He's a legend. People adore him and he thrives on it."

"I hate my life. I... I think sometimes that it would be easier on everyone if I just ended it."

I felt a sharp ache in my chest and I reached over and pulled her into my arms. "You can't do that because I love you. I want you around. You need a chance to find happiness, Rosé. Don't do this to yourself. And don't ever, and I mean EVER, say something like that again."

She nodded against my chest and began to cry softly. I wondered if my wounded sister would ever be healed.

It was several hours later before I got back to the house. Rosé was at her hotel. She refused to stay in the house with Kiro and Tzuyu. I had texted Jennie twice and I'd heard nothing from her. I was worried. I kept telling myself that she was asleep.

I hurried up to our room and opened the door to find her curled up on the bed asleep. She was still wearing her dress and she looked cold. I walked over to her and started to undress her gently. I didn't want to wake her but I also didn't want her uncomfortable while she slept.

Once I had her undressed I pulled back the covers and tucked her in. I couldn't believe she'd said something hurtful to Rosé. But then Rosé had been adamant that Jennie had lashed out at her. It was probably the pregnancy hormones. I bent down and kissed Jennie's head before standing up and heading to go get a shower. We'd not even been here one day and I was already stressed and ready to leave.

The banging on the door started just after my head hit the pillow. Or at least it felt like it. Jennie stirred in my arms and I noticed the sun pouring in through the windows. Maybe I had gotten some sleep.

"Who's that?" Jennie asked in a sleepy whisper.

I wasn't sure but I hadn't wanted Jennie woken up like this. I knew she'd sat up late waiting on me. "Not sure. Stay here," I replied and kissed her head before getting out of the bed and pulling on my discarded jeans.

I jerked open the bedroom door to find my dad looking hung over and pissed. "You got shit to deal with. Whatever the fuck you said to Rosé last night didn't help. Her ass is moving in," Dean snarled.

That was a step in the right direction. She needed a chance to get used to Kiro. This would be good for them. "Then my talk did help. It's time Kiro accepts her and makes up for lost time."

Dean let out a hard laugh. "That won't happen, Lisa. You're blowing smoke up her ass if that's what you're telling her. Kiro is Kiro. He ain't a fucking daddy figure and that is what she wants."

Maybe. But I had to at least help her try.

"Just get downstairs and help before all hell breaks loose," Dean said before turning and stalking off.

I closed the door before turning back to Jennie. She was sitting up in bed with her hair messy from sleep and the sheet pulled up to her bare chest. What I really wanted was to crawl back in bed with her and forget this bullshit with Rosé.

"I'm sorry," I told her as I walked back over to the bed.

She frowned. "When did you get back last night?"

"Late. Rosé was difficult."

Jennie nodded stiffly then dropped her gaze from mine. I went over to her side of the bed and sat down beside her then slipped a finger under her chin and tilted her head up to look at me. "Hey, what's wrong?"

She let out a weary sigh. "You could have called. I waited for you to call. I fell asleep worried about you."

"I did call," I assured her. "You didn't answer."

Jennie reached for her phone and looked down at it. "You called me after eleven. I had fallen asleep by that time. I meant you could have called sooner than that."

She was right. I should have. Damn Rosé and Kiro. I was not going to put Jennie second to anyone else again. I had sworn she came first and I meant it. Yet last night I'd let her down.


J

I was trying very hard not to sound like a baby but I was upset.

"I should have called you sooner. I'm sorry. Rosé started threatening to off herself and I panicked. I was in big sister mode."

She was always in big sister mode with Rosé. Coming here I knew I was in for a lot of Rosé but it was harder than I'd imagined. Especially after the way she'd treated me last night. I didn't believe for a minute that she'd kill herself.

"She's manipulating you. I hate to see her do that."

Lisa stood up and ran her hand through her hair and walked over to the window. She didn't agree with me. I could tell by the stiff way she was holding her shoulders. She looked defensive. "She's upset and hurt. I know she's been a bitch to you in the past but right now I need you. For me, could you not say hurtful things to her? I'm really worried about her mental stability at the moment."

Hurtful things? I hadn't said anything to Rosé. Did she think I was going to? "I was the one who said we should come. I understand she needs your help. Why would you think that I would say hurtful things to her?" I asked, standing up.

Lisa let her head fall back and she closed her eyes tightly like she really didn't want to be having this conversation. Something was wrong.

"I know what you said to her last night at the table. She told me. And yeah, you have every right to say those things to her but right now I just need you not to. The sooner I can fix this the sooner we head back to Rosemary and leave this nightmare."

"What did I say to her last night at the table? I'm not following you," I replied feeling a sick knot in my stomach. Was Rosé lying about me? She was the one who had said hurtful things at the table. Not me.

"She feels like you made fun of her. Just ... it's probably best if you just don't talk to her."

I sat back down on the bed and let last night's conversations run through my head. How did she feel like I'd made fun of her? She'd attacked me.

A soft knock on the door interrupted what I was about to say and Lisa let out a frustrated growl before stalking over to open it.

"Sorry. I don't want to disturb y'all but Rosé is demanding to know what room is Daddy's. She doesn't need to wake him up. That would be bad," Tzuyu's soft-spoken voice sounded anxious.

"Shit," Lisa muttered. She glanced back at me. "I'm sorry. I'll be back in a few minutes. Just go back to bed and get some rest. I won't let anyone else disturb you."

Once the door was closed I let the tears fall. When I'd told her to come deal with Rosé I'd thought this would be easier. I had hoped after her accident and her comment about being a part of the baby's life that she'd be more manageable. I was wrong. Coming here had been a bad idea.

My stomach cramped and I froze. I sat still and waited on the baby to kick and reassure me everything was okay. Nothing happened. I put both my hands on my stomach and the cramp came again. Wincing I tried to calm my heart as it started to race. Something was wrong. A wave of nausea hit me and I laid back and closed my eyes. Maybe I'd gotten up too quick this morning. I needed to start being more careful. All the high-strung tension in this house was getting to me.

I closed my eyes and took slow deep breaths. No more cramps came and I felt a soft kick against my hand. With that little bit of reassurance I drifted off to sleep.

When I opened my eyes the sun had moved and was shinning brightly through the windows. It had to be after lunch. I reached for my phone and checked the time. It was one. I must have been more tired than I thought.

I rolled over to get up and a tray of food was sitting on a small table beside the bed. I wrapped the sheet around me and went over to it. I smiled as I picked up the small note with Lisa's familiar scrawl on it.

I'm sorry about this morning. You were exhausted and I unloaded on you. None of this is your fault. I just want to get it all over with and get you back home. Eat something. I'm going to go see if I can talk to Kiro.

I love you more than life,

Lisa.

I picked up the silver cover that had been protecting my plate to find fresh strawberries and cream, salmon, and a slice of toast. My stomach still wasn't feeling that great so I decided to stay away from the salmon but I took a strawberry and dipped it into the cream before taking a bite. The sweet taste hit my tongue and I felt better. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I finished all the strawberries and toast before getting up and going to get a shower.


L

It was abnormally warm for the end of November. I had put on shorts and a tee shirt and come outside to enjoy the heat of the California sunshine.

Jennie still hadn't come out of the room. If she wasn't up soon I was going to get her a new plate of food and go feed her myself. I was glad she was getting sleep but she needed to eat too. Tzuyu had said she didn't think Jennie ate much at dinner last night. I should have stayed with her and gone after Rosé once I had Jennie tucked away in bed.

If my overly dramatic sister wasn't so damn volatile I wouldn't be trying to help her. I just wouldn't be able to live with myself if I ignored her and something happened to her. As much of a pain in the ass as she was, she was still my sister. I still saw the little girl with pigtails smiling up at me with a toothless grin. She'd been mine when we were growing up. No one else took care of her. It was hard for me to forget that.

"Where's that girl of yours?" Kiro asked as he sauntered out to the back patio where I'd decided to hide from Rosé.

"She's sleeping," I replied, glad to see Kiro was outside smoking instead of inside.

"She's a sweet thing. Reminds me of my Tzuyu," he said before sticking the cigarette he was holding back between his lips.

"Yeah. She's pretty damn perfect," I agreed.

"You need to protect her a little more from Rosé. She was spilling venom all over her last night. Your girl handled it well. I was damn impressed. But you need to take better care of her," he drawled then flicked ashes from his cigarette before turning and walking back to the house.

I started to ask him what he was talking about when Rosé came barreling out of the door wearing a bikini and a pair of stilettos.

"What're you doing, girl?" Kiro asked her in an annoyed tone.

"Going to get some sun. Why? You want to join me? Maybe talk to me?" Rosé spat out hatefully. I wanted to shake her and ask her why she had to be so damn difficult.

"No. I wanna know when you're gonna move your ass outta my house. You keep stirring up drama. Tzuyu won't even come out of her damn room. It's time you go harass your momma for awhile and leave me in peace." I winced at the sight of the pain in Rosé's eyes. Damn, Kiro was heartless.

"Why am I even trying? You don't want to know me. You don't care to know me. You have Tzuyu and that's all you want. I'm nothing to you," Rosé screamed.

"Tzuyu isn't a mean bitch, Rosé. Try being a normal human and I just might want to get to know you. I didn't stay with your momma for a reason girl. Guess what the reason was," he snarled and pushed past her and into the house.

Rosé's eyes looked empty as she stood there staring at the door. Dammit. I stood up and went over to her. She noticed me and shook her head. "No. I don't want you either. You hate me too. You picked her. Everyone picks someone else. No one wants me," Rosé cried and spun around and took off running back into the house.

I stopped at the door and listened as her heels clicked loudly on the floor until they faded away. I would have to go get her and talk to her but I was going to give her time to calm down. She needed some alone time.

"That didn't sound good," Jennie said, breaking into my thoughts. I turned to see her walking down the stairs. Her long hair was pulled up and she was wearing a light blue swimsuit with a white see through cover up that hung off her shoulder and hit at mid thigh. Her eyes looked rested but what she'd just heard had caused a worried frown.

"Yeah, it was brutal," I replied, closing the distance between us and pulling her to me before I kissed those pink full lips. I didn't like seeing her frown so much. She slipped her arms around my waist and opened her mouth to me. I tasted the minty flavor of her toothpaste and enjoyed the silky warmth of her mouth.

She moved her lips over mine and a soft moan escaped her mouth. Taking her back upstairs to the bedroom was sounding good. She started to pull back and I gazed down into her heavy lidded eyes. She was smiling contentedly. "Tzuyu said it was warm today. I thought I'd come get some sunshine. I've been inside too much," she said.

She needed fresh air. "I think that's a good idea. Why don't you go lay down in one of the lounge chairs and I'll rub your feet."

Her eyes twinkled with excitement and I almost laughed. She loved having her feet rubbed lately. I knew it was because she was carrying more weight with the baby and she wasn't used to it. "That sounds wonderful," she agreed and hurried over to settle in the closest lounge chair.

My phone rang in my pocket and I started to ignore it. Jennie looked up at me as I stood over her. "Aren't you gonna answer it?" she asked.

I slipped my hand into my pocket and saw Rosé's number flashing on the screen. I should ignore it. This couldn't be good. I wanted time with Jennie. I wanted to rub her feet and watch the sexy little faces she made while I did it.

"Just answer it, Lisa. If you don't you'll worry," she said.

Muttering a curse, I clicked answer and held it to my ear. Before I could say hello Rosé's loud sobs greeted me.

"Don't come after me. I told you last night I wanted to end it and I do. This is it. Everyone hates me and I'm done. Goodbye, Lisa," she cried into the phone before ending the call.

"Fuck," I growled, stuffing my phone back into my pocket. I had to go after her. I wanted to believe Jennie was right and Rosé wouldn't hurt herself but I couldn't just assume this.

"She's threatening to kill herself again," I said, looking down at Jennie and the disappointed look on her face. I was letting her down. I hated this. I wish we'd never come but then I also would never be able to forgive myself if something happened to Rosé.

"Go on. It's okay. She needs you so she's acting out to get your attention," Jennie replied. Her words made sense. She was probably right.

"We don't know that she's not really going to try something. I can't just believe this is an empty threat."

"I know that."

"I'm all she has, Jennie," I snapped, not meaning to. I wasn't mad at her. I was mad that she was so damn understanding and she didn't have to be. I was mad that she kept being put on hold for my family. I hated that she just let me go every time without making me feel guilty. I hated all of this.

"I know," she replied again. This time I could hear the hurt in her voice and I hated myself for putting it there.

"I'm sorry, I just—"

"You just need to go check on your sister. I understand," Jennie finished for me. The hard tone in her voice worried me but we didn't have time to deal with this right now. The longer I stood here the worse this was going to get. I'd make this up to her later today. I was also going to threaten to check Rosé into a mental hospital until she stopped threatening to off herself. Then we were going back to Rosemary. I wanted my life back.


J

Over the next few days things went from tense to bad to worse. Lisa hardly stayed at the mansion. When she did it was short lived. Rosé and Kiro always fought and she went off running. Lisa was right behind her.

I knew this was the reason we had come here but I hadn't expected this. Rosé was really more of an immature child than I realized. Kiro was an ass. Tzuyu saw it and she dealt with it. She wasn't storming around the house yelling about being unloved. She mostly stayed tucked away in her room and read. Every once in a while she would come outside with me when it was warm enough.

I missed Lisa. I missed seeing her smile. She wasn't doing much of that anymore. I had mentioned last night that maybe she needed to give Rosé some room to pitch a fit and let her see that Lisa wasn't going to come running. See how she handled it. Lisa'd gotten frustrated with me. "She's threatening to kill herself, Jennie. I can't ignore that. I don't believe she'd do it either but I still can't ignore it. Someone has to give a shit. That someone is me. No one else does."

I hadn't said anything more after that. Lisa didn't want to listen to me and I didn't want her to snap at me. It was wearing on me. The whole situation was.

I was beginning to understand why Tzuyu hid away. Twice now I'd walked in on Kiro screwing some girl who looked my age. Not a mental picture I wanted. He just did it wherever he pleased. I'd learned to stay the heck away from the game room. That pool table was not used for pool.

A knock on my door broke into my thoughts and for once I was glad. I didn't want to think about the distance between me and Lisa right now. It made me tense. Tzuyu stuck her head in the room. "Want to go out to the pool with me? Dad isn't home so no sexcapades are going on out there," she said with a shy smile.

We had also walked out on Kiro naked in the pool with not one but two girls. That had been awkward. He'd laughed so loudly I was sure his neighbors could hear him. Instead of being embarrassed or ashamed of his behavior he thought it was hilarious.

"Sounds good. I'll get on my swimsuit and meet you out there," I told her. Tzuyu was the only good thing about this place. I was ready to go back to Rosemary and I was ready to have my Lisa back instead of this angry uptight one that had taken her place. But I was going to miss Tzuyu.

I quickly changed into my swimsuit and pulled on my cover-up on before heading down to the pool. It was an elaborate piece of work. The waterfalls and water fountain in the middle were just the icing. The detail and thought that had been put into this pool made it truly look like something out of an exotic rainforest somewhere. It was soothing just to look at.

Tzuyu was sitting on a lounger reading from her ereader when I got down there. I took the seat beside her and stretched out my legs. Today was the warmest day we had had so far. It was eighty degrees. Crazy considering it was two days until December.

I started to ask Tzuyu about how they celebrated the holidays when something stopped me.

The cramping was back. I pulled my knees up and cradled my stomach trying real hard not to cry. I had wanted to tell Lisa about this after the last time but before I'd had a chance she'd left with Rosé again.

"Jennie? Are you okay?" Tzuyu asked from beside me.

"I'm not sure," I replied honestly. A tear slipped through and I hated that she was about to see me like this. I wanted to go home.

Tzuyu moved over to sit on the edge of my lounger and studied me. "Are you hurting?" she asked.

I just nodded. Tzuyu frowned and glanced around. "Where is Lisa?"

"Gone to check on Rosé," I replied as my stomach cramped up again and I winced.

Tzuyu stood up. "I don't think pregnant women are supposed to wince and cry from pain. We need to go have you checked on. I can drive you to my doctor. He's a real big fan of Daddy's so he'll see you without an appointment. I'll call his office on our way."

I didn't want to be the one overreacting. So having Tzuyu do it for me made the decision easier. I nodded and let her take my hand and help me up. "I need to go change clothes first," I said looking down at the swimsuit and cover up I had just put on.

"You go change and I will too. Then I'll go pull my car around to the front entrance. I can call my doctor on our way."

"Thank you," I replied before heading inside and up to Lisa's room. I thought about calling her but changed my mind. She already had one female needing her. This might be nothing more than gas for all I knew. I would call her if the doctor thought I should. No reason to put more stress on her.

The little voice in my head whispered what I didn't want to admit to myself. "You're afraid you and the baby won't come first. You don't want her to have to choose."

I pushed the thought away. Changing my bikini bottoms for a pair of panties, I then pulled a sundress on before quickly heading back downstairs. I would feel better after a doctor told me I was okay. Just as I reached the bottom step another pain hit me and I had to grab the railing to hold myself up. The cramping made me whimper.

"You okay?" the concerned tone of Dean's voice surprised me.

I forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just going to get checked out at Tzuyu's OB/GYN. I'll be back soon. Tell Lisa I'll call her if I need to."

"Where's Lisa at?" Dean called out after me as I made my way to the door.

"With Rosé," I replied, then opened the door and went to get in Tzuyu's Audi convertible.

Tzuyu hadn't been wrong when she said that her doctor would see me right away. We had arrived and the nurse had ushered me back without asking me to fill out paperwork or even sign in.

"I'll wait out here," she told me.

I was glad she wasn't going to come back with me. I liked her but we weren't close enough for her to accompany me to an examination room just yet.

"Go ahead and take off your bottoms. You can leave your top on. And cover up with the blanket on the table. The doctor will be in in just a moment," the lady informed me. I nodded and thanked her. Once the door was closed behind her I went into the changing room and slipped my bottoms off.

The red streak in my panties made me pause and take a deep breath. The terror slowly starting to invade my thoughts made breathing difficult. I stood there staring down at my panties wondering if this was normal. If this could be okay. I should have called Lisa. I took a moment to pray. I didn't do it often but right now I needed someone to protect my baby.

After my silent plea, I stepped out of the dressing room, went over to the table and covered up my bare bottom half. A swift knock on the door then a pause before it opened made me feel marginally better. I was going to have help. This doctor would know what to do. I hoped. A much younger than I expected man walked in followed by the nurse who had brought me to the room.

"Miss Kim, I'm Doctor Sheridan. Tzuyu told me that you're experiencing cramps and you're a long way from your doctor in Florida."

I nodded. "Yes, sir. I'm also bleeding a little." The words came out in a choked sob I hadn't been expecting.

"There now, this could be something as simple as dehydration. Don't worry it won't help things," he said as he took his seat and had me slip my feet up into the stirrups. "What are you doing so far away from home?" he asked as he started to examine me.

"My fiancé and I are here visiting her father," I explained and left it at that. No reason to tell the man the real reason we were here.

"How do you know Tzuyu?" he asked.

"My fiancé's father is Dean Finlay," I said figuring if the man was a fan of Kiro he'd be able to figure that out easy enough.

He paused. "Really? So this baby we're checking on in here is Dean Finlay's grandchild?"

I nodded and wished he'd stop asking so many questions and get on with the exam. I needed to know my baby was okay. He seemed to get more serious about his examination.

"I don't want to alarm you Miss Kim but we need to do an ultrasound to check the baby. After that, I want to monitor you and the baby for a couple of hours here in the office. This happens often. I am just taking precautions and making sure all is well. I also want you to drink some fluids for me. Melanie will bring you something to drink once we get finished with the ultrasound. We have a room in the back just for this. It has a comfortable bed. Melanie will dim the lights and play relaxing music while you rest.

He wasn't admitting me to the hospital. This was a good thing... right? I managed to nod again.

"I'll have Melanie go tell Tzuyu what we're doing in case she wants to go do something else until you call her. Is that alright with you?" he asked.

I had forgotten about Tzuyu. "Yes, of course. Tell her I said to leave. I'll let her know when to come back. I don't want her sitting here all that time."

The doctor nodded and headed out the door. The nurse who I was assuming was Melanie, helped me up. "Go get your bottoms back on and then I'll take you to get the ultrasound."


L

By the time I got to Rosé's hotel room, I was pissed. I had left Jennie upset and it was all Rosé's fucking fault. If she weren't so damn selfish, I wouldn't even be here. I needed to tell her that she had to grow up and deal. I was done. I couldn't keep on doing this. She had to figure this out. I was her crutch.

I knocked on the door to her hotel room and waited. I'd checked with the doorman and Rosé had returned about fifteen minutes ago so I knew she was here. I waited a few minutes then knocked again and got nothing. More damn games. I started pounding on the door harder. "Roseanne, open this door," I called out.

A bellman paused when he saw me beating on Rosé's door. "My sister's in here and she isn't answering. I'm worried about her," I lied. "Could you open the door?"

The man still didn't look too sure about me. I could tell by the look on his face he was close to calling security. Rosé would love that. I reached in my back pocket and pulled out my wallet. "Check my license. I'm Lisa Manoban. My sister Roseanne is in that room. Having me escorted out is a really bad idea."

"Yes ma'am," the bellman replied. He had recognized my last name. In LA that happened a hell of a lot more than it did in Florida.

He had the door opened and I was stalking inside the suite getting ready to yell at Rosé for being a child when I saw her crumpled body on the sofa. She was lying there in an unnatural position. I ran over to her and felt for a pulse to find a weak one against my fingers. I wanted to weep from relief. "I need paramedics, NOW," I roared as the bellman stood at the door gaping at Rosé.

"Yes, ma'am," he replied and took the phone from his waist and started telling whoever was on the other end exactly what was going on.

"What did you do, Rosé?" I asked as my heart slammed painfully against my chest. My throat was tight and I couldn't get a deep breath. I hadn't believed her. I had thought she was trying to get attention. I'd become like everyone else in her life. I had ignored her. I was a horrible sister. I held her against my chest as my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out, saw Tzuyu's name on the screen and tossed it aside. I wasn't in the mood to talk to Tzuyu. She was part of what tormented Rosé. I didn't have anything to say to her at the moment.

I rocked her in my arms gently. This was Kiro's fault. He'd pay for this. If something happened to her he'd pay for this. "I have you Rosé. I won't leave you but you can't leave me," I whispered as we waited for help.

It felt like forever before I heard feet pounding down the hall and the doorman say, "In here."

Three paramedics came rushing into the room and I handed Rosé over to them. They began checking her vitals as I stood there and watched helplessly. I heard my phone ring from where I'd tossed it on the floor. I should get it.

"She's taken something. Do you know what it is?" one of the men asked me.

"No, I just got here," I replied, numb. She'd overdosed. Holy shit. I ran to the bathroom and found two empty prescription bottles in the sink. Too many pain killers. "FUCK!" I roared. A paramedic was beside me taking the bottles from me.

"We need to get her stomach pumped. Are you family?" he asked.

"sister," I managed to get out.

"You'll do. Let's get her out of here. You can ride in the ambulance," he replied.

I watched in a daze of disbelief as they put Rosé's unresponsive body on a stretcher and began carrying her out of the room. I followed. My phone rang in the distance but I left it. Right now I had to save my sister.

Six hours later I sat beside Rosé's hospital bed. She hadn't woken up yet but the doctors said they thought she'd have a full recovery. Apparently, I'd found her in time. She'd just passed out from the pills when I'd arrived.

I didn't have my phone and I needed to call Jennie. She'd be worried about me by now. I hadn't been ready to talk to her just yet. This wasn't Jennie's fault but I had been too sensitive to talk to anyone. I had needed them to tell me Rosé would live before I could think about anyone or anything else. Now, I felt guilty for not calling Jennie.

Leaving my phone at Rosé's hotel hadn't been smart. I had just been in a state of shock and nothing made sense at the time. I was going to get Rosé some help and then I was getting Jennie out of LA and back to Rosemary. I needed to call my mother. She should be dealing with this. Not me.

Kiro wasn't going to do anything about it. Rosé wanted something she would never have. It was time she let it go. A nurse opened the door and walked in. I looked up at her and decided it was time I gave up trying to be everything to Rosé because I sucked at it.

"I need to speak with the doctor. When she is ready I want her admitted into a facility that will help her get a grip on things. She needs help I can't give her," I said aloud for the first time in my life. I was admitting I'd failed my little sister. Instead of feeling guilty, I felt a huge burden lift from my shoulders.

"Doctor Jones will be in shortly. He'll want to admit her as well. She does need help; I'm glad you're in agreement. That always makes these things easier."

Nothing about this would be easy but it was what was best for everyone.


L

Georgianna was headed to LA. She was going with Rosé to admit her to the facility that the doctor suggested for her. Our mother would probably make sure it was the trendiest once she got here. I had already made sure it was the best medically. Georgianna would be more concerned with appearance than Rosé's mental well-being. Something was off with her and she needed someone to help her. I had a family to take care of. I couldn't keep being responsible for my sister.

Once she had woken up and talked to me some I had told her that Mother was on her way. When she'd fallen back to sleep I had left and gone to get my phone. Jennie had called me several times along with Tzuyu. I had worried her and I had a lot of making up to do. I clicked on the first text from Jennie.

Tzuyu brought me to her doctor. I was having cramps. They've given me an ultrasound and I'm in a room being monitored.

My stomach dropped. The baby. Oh God no. I started running for the elevators as I pulled up her next text.

Where are you?

NO! I needed to know if she was okay.

Are you okay?

Fuck! Was she okay? That was it. No more texts from her. I clicked on the first one from Tzuyu.

Jennie is cramping and bleeding. I brought her to my doctor and they are keeping her here a few hours to observe her and make sure she is okay. Call me, I'll tell you where we are.

That was eight hours ago. FUCK! It was also the only text from Tzuyu. It was why she'd been trying to call me. NO MORE! NO FUCKING MORE! I was taking Jennie home tonight.

The last text I received from Jennie was five hours ago. Where was she? I dialed her number and it went straight to voicemail. Was she in the hospital? No, no, she couldn't be in the hospital. She had to be okay. Our baby had to be okay. I dialed Tzuyu's number.

"Hello."

"It's Lisa, how's Jennie, where's she? I didn't have my phone. God, tell me she's okay. Please," I rambled into the phone as I ran out the door of the hotel to my car.

"She's okay. I think she's worried about you and maybe... hurt," Tzuyu replied.

A lump formed in my throat and it was hard to swallow. "I'm on my way. Please tell her I'm on my way. Rosé took a shitload of painkillers and I've been at that hospital with her. They had to pump her stomach," I explained. I didn't want Jennie mad at me but more importantly, I didn't want her hurting.

"Oh. I'm sorry," Tzuyu simply replied.

"Please tell her. I'm on my way there now," I repeated.

"She didn't come down to dinner. I knocked on her door to take a plate but she didn't answer. I don't want to go in there in case she's sleeping. She's had a long day."

She wasn't eating. She wasn't answering her door. The fear of something happening to her, of finding her like I found Rosé terrified me.

"Please, go open the door and check on her. Make sure she's okay," I begged.

"Okay," Tzuyu replied after a pause.

I hung up and threw the phone on the other seat as I sped down Sunset Drive.

When I opened the front door of the house and found Tzuyu standing in the foyer with my dad I froze. "What?" I asked, afraid to move.

"She's gone. Her bags are gone. She's not in another room I checked," Tzuyu replied.

I shook my head and walked inside. "Gone? She can't be gone! Where would she go?"

"Probably somewhere so she doesn't have to deal with Rosé's shit and her fiancé running off and leaving her and not answering her damn calls. That'd be my guess. You're a stupid fucker, just like me girl," Dean said with disgust in his voice before walking away.

"I had to tell him why I was running around from room to room checking inside. He caught me," Tzuyu whispered.

"Did she leave a note?" I asked, dialing her number again only to get her voicemail.

Tzuyu shook her head.

I stalked past her and took the steps two at a time before breaking into a run yet again. This day had gone from bad to fucking disastrous. Jerking open the bedroom door the silence that met me was knee buckling. I could see the small imprint on the bed from where she'd laid down earlier today. Tzuyu was right. She was gone. Every little trace of Jennie was gone. She'd needed me. Our baby had needed me and I'd been with Rosé, again. I deserve to be left.

I closed the door behind me before leaning against the wall and sliding down to the floor to weep. The fear of losing Rosé had been terrifying but the idea of losing Jennie and my baby was unbearable. I didn't deserve her. I had promised her I'd always be there yet my family kept pulling me away. It was time I stopped letting that happen. But what if I was too late?

I shook my head and wiped the tears from my face. I'd find her and I'd beg. I'd grovel. Whatever I needed to do I would do it. Then I'd never leave her again. For anyone.