ELIANA'S POV
Lily's scream cut through the mansion like a knife through silence.
Eliana took the stairs three at a time, Carter right behind her. Her heart hammered so hard she could barely breathe. That wasn't a normal scream—not the kind kids made playing or having nightmares.
That was pain.
She burst through Lily's bedroom door and froze.
Lily lay on the floor beside her bed, tangled in sheets, oxygen tube ripped out and dangling. Blood streaked from her nose. Her small body convulsed—shaking so violently her head kept hitting the hardwood floor.
Seizure, Carter choked out. She's having a seizure.
Eliana's brain kicked into emergency mode. She'd researched this—spent hours reading Lily's medical files, memorizing protocols, preparing for worst-case scenarios.
Get pillows! she ordered. Soft things! Protect her head!
Carter moved like a robot, grabbing every pillow in sight. Eliana dropped to her knees beside Lily, carefully turning her onto her side so she wouldn't choke. The little girl's eyes had rolled back. Foam gathered at the corners of her mouth.
How long? Eliana demanded, checking Lily's pulse—fast, too fast. How long has she been seizing?
I don't—I heard the crash—maybe thirty seconds?
Eliana's watch read 8:47 PM. Start timing. If it goes past five minutes, we call 911.
Carter fumbled for his phone with shaking hands.
Lily's body jerked again. A small, broken sound escaped her throat.
It's okay, sweetheart, Eliana whispered, even though Lily couldn't hear her. We've got you. You're safe. We've got you.
The seconds crawled by like hours.
One minute. Two minutes.
Lily's convulsions started to slow.
Three minutes.
Her breathing evened out. The shaking stopped.
Four minutes.
Lily's eyes fluttered. Focused. Found Eliana's face.
Ellie? Her voice came out tiny and confused. What happened?
Relief hit Eliana so hard she almost cried. You had a seizure, baby. But you're okay now. Just stay still, okay?
I'm scared.
I know. But I'm right here. Carter's here too.
Lily's gaze found her brother. Carter knelt on her other side, face white as paper, phone still clutched in his hand like a lifeline.
Did I scare you? Lily asked in a small voice.
Carter's composure cracked. Yeah. You scared me a lot.
Sorry.
Don't be sorry. His voice broke. Never be sorry.
Eliana checked Lily's pulse again—still elevated but improving. The blood from her nose had stopped flowing. Can you tell me what happened before the seizure? Were you dizzy? Did anything hurt?
I got up to get water, Lily said slowly. Then everything went spinny. Then I was on the floor and you were here.
Classic seizure presentation. Eliana had read about this—chemo could lower seizure thresholds, especially with Lily's specific drug combination.
We need to call her oncologist, Eliana said to Carter. Report the seizure. They might need to adjust her medications.
Carter nodded but didn't move. He just stared at his sister like he was terrified she'd disappear.
Carter, Eliana said firmly. Phone. Now.
He blinked, nodded again, and stumbled out of the room to make the call.
Eliana carefully reinserted Lily's oxygen tube, then helped her sit up against the pillows. How do you feel now? Dizzy? Confused?
Tired. Really, really tired. Lily's eyes were already drooping. Can I sleep?
Not yet. We need to keep you awake for a bit, make sure you're okay. Eliana squeezed her hand. Tell me about your favorite princess. The one from the story Carter was reading.
Lily started talking—slow and sleepy, but talking. Her words made sense. No confusion. Good signs.
Carter returned fifteen minutes later. Doctor says to monitor her overnight. If she has another seizure, we go straight to the ER. She's calling in a prescription adjustment—I need to pick it up in an hour.
I'll stay with Lily, Eliana said. You go.
I can't leave—
Yes, you can. She needs those meds. I'll watch her every second.
Carter looked torn. But finally, he nodded. He kissed Lily's forehead—gentle, terrified—and left.
The moment he was gone, Lily grabbed Eliana's hand. Am I dying?
Eliana's breath caught. What? No, sweetheart—
The seizure. Is that because I'm dying?
You're not dying. You had a reaction to your medication. That's all. The doctors are fixing it right now.
But what if they can't fix it? Lily's voice went small. What if I keep getting sicker and sicker until I die like Grandma did?
Eliana's chest cracked open. This little girl—eight years old and already thinking about death. Already preparing for it.
Listen to me, Eliana said fiercely. You're a fighter. The strongest person I've ever met. And fighters don't give up.
But I'm tired of fighting.
I know. I know you are. But you're not fighting alone anymore. You've got me. You've got Carter. We're a team now.
Lily's eyes filled with tears. Promise you won't leave? Even when I'm scary and sick?
I promise. The words came out before Eliana could stop them. I'm not going anywhere.
Lily fell asleep holding her hand.
Carter returned at 10 PM with new medications and Chinese takeout neither of them touched. They took turns monitoring Lily—two-hour shifts throughout the night, checking her breathing, her pulse, watching for any sign of another seizure.
At 2 AM, Eliana found Carter in the hallway outside Lily's room, sitting with his back against the wall and his head in his hands.
She sat beside him without asking.
I can't do this, he whispered. I can't watch her die. I can't—
She's not dying. She had a seizure. The meds are adjusted. She's going to be fine.
You don't know that.
You're right. I don't. But I know she needs you strong. So get yourself together.
It came out harsher than she meant. Carter flinched.
I'm sorry, Eliana said softer. I just—watching you fall apart doesn't help her. She needs you to be her big brother. Her hero.
Some hero. I froze tonight. Again. You saved her. Again.
We saved her. Together. Eliana bumped his shoulder with hers. That's what teams do.
Carter looked at her with something raw in his eyes. Thank you. For staying. For caring about her. For—
His phone lit up on the floor between them.
157 Instagram notifications.
They both looked at the screen.
Sienna's post had exploded overnight—the photo of them in the kitchen now had 89,000 likes. The comments were brutal:
He's definitely cheating
Scholarship whale strikes again
Carter Ashford downgrading HARD
She's probably using the sick sister as an excuse to seduce him
But buried in the hate, one comment made Eliana's blood run cold:
@SiennaCross:Update: Just filed a formal complaint with CPS. A mentally unstable girl with no credentials shouldn't be caring for a critically ill child. Expect a visit soon, @ElianaTries. Hope your little job was worth it. 💅
The post had 12,000 likes.
Eliana's hands started shaking. She called Child Protective Services?
She can't—they won't— Carter grabbed his phone. I'll call my lawyer. We'll fix this. I'll—
Carter. Eliana's voice came out hollow. If CPS investigates and finds me living here, caring for Lily without credentials, they could remove her from your custody.
No. No, they can't—
Yes, they can. And Sienna knows it. Eliana stood on shaky legs. I have to leave. Tonight. Before they show up and—
Carter shot to his feet. You're not leaving. Lily needs you!
And Lily needs to stay with you more than she needs me! Eliana's voice rose. If CPS takes her away because of me, she'll end up in some hospital facility with strangers! Is that what you want?
I want— Carter's voice cracked. I want you to stay. Please. We'll figure this out. I'll hire a lawyer. I'll call my parents. I'll—
A soft voice interrupted: Don't fight.
They both turned.
Lily stood in her doorway, oxygen tube trailing, eyes heavy with exhaustion and medicine.
Please don't make Ellie leave, she whispered. Please. I need her.