Page 27 of Ruthless Prince
My smile faded. “Oh. What did shesay?”
He fidgeted nervously, eyes wide. “It was a bad word. Something to do withbats.”
“Bats?” My brows dipped in a confused frown. “Oh. Did she say I’m bat-shitcrazy?”
Jared’s eyes dropped to the sheets, and henodded.
I sighed and squeezed his shoulder. “I know Mom can be blunt sometimes, but I don’t think she meant for you to hearthat.”
He pouted. “I still didn’t like it. I don’t think you’recrazy.”
I ruffled his hair again. “I should probably explain what’s going on. Did Dad tell youanything?”
“He said you weren’t feelingwell.”
I nodded. “That’s right. I’m not. Apparently my mind has been playing tricks on me and making me think things are there when theyaren’t.”
His eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yes. I know it’s hard to understand. I’m still having a lot of trouble believing it myself,” I admitted. “All these things I’ve been seeing and experiencing lately… they seem real to me. But apparently they’re not. It’s like my own brain is lying to me. Does that makesense?”
Jared looked up at me again. “I always believeyou.”
“Thankyou.”
He shook his head. “I mean I don’t think your brain is lying. I think Mom and everyone else iswrong.”
I gave him a faint smile. “That’s really sweet, Jared, and I wish you were right,” I murmured. “But it’s much more likely that I’m the one who’s wrong in thiscase.”
He stubbornly folded his arms. “No. If you think someone wrote bad notes and tried to hurt you, then that’s whathappened.”
I sighed and gathered him into my arms for a hug. He was trying his best to be supportive of his big sister, and I wanted so badly to tell him he was doing the right thing, but I couldn’t. As much as I searched my mind for another possible explanation of recent events, one wasn’t forthcoming. The doctors, Secret Service, and my parents had no reason to lie to me, and deep down, I knew they were right. Only one explanation actually madesense.
I was losing mymind.
6
Logan
BeltwayBuzz
First Daughter’s First StomachPump?
Listen up, lovelies, because you aren’t going to hear this over at Politico. The Beltway Buzz offices just received an amazing and VERYexclusive tip from a Hill staffer regarding first daughter WillowRhoades.
According to our intel, Willow was rushed to GWU hospital an hour ago after being found on her bedroom floor in what was referred to by our tipster as a ‘compromising position’. Hmm… we aren’t sure what that means, exactly, but it soundsjuicy.
Our source tells us rumors are already flying about the nature of this hospital visit, especially as the White House hosted a lavish ball for the UK PM’s birthday last night. Coincidence? We thinknot.
People are also asking why Willow wasn’t taken to the White House Medical Unit. Could it be that the WHMU wasn’t equipped to deal with the nature of Willow’s sickness, or was the First Family simply trying to hide what happened from our decorous Britishguests?
The number one theory amongst our staffers is that Willow was rushed off for emergency treatment due to some sort of alcohol or drug overdose. We have good reason to think so. Firstly, our anonymous Hill staffer tells us that Willow was seen downing multiple glasses of champagne at last night’s ball despite her underage status (her 21stis still six weeksaway!).
Willow was also spotted taking her shoes off and stumbling barefoot through the White House halls (trashy!) after leaving the ball without paying her respects to visiting luminaries. Not exactly dignified behavior for a young lady many girls view as a role model and refer to as ‘PrincessWillow’.
Furthermore, our source informs us that several WH staffers have commented on Willow’s recent behavior, deeming it ‘odd’, ‘paranoid’ and ‘secretive’. Some may simply assume that means Willow is shy or introverted, and that could very well be the case, but at the Buzz, we know those terms are often code for ‘drugproblem’…
Could today’s hospital visit be a sign of serioustrouble?
