Page 139 of Ransom

"Woman, what are you doing?"

"Looking for—aha!" She pulls his wallet from his back pocket, fishing out some bills. Standing on tiptoe, she plants a quick kiss on his lips. "Max, want to come check out the vending machines with me? They have a killer selection of chocolate bars."

Max looks at Maggie, uncertainty written across his face.

"Go ahead, sweetie." Maggie nods. "Maybe bring me back something good?"

"Okay!" Max hops off the bed, taking Evie's outstretched hand.

Colton follows them out, muttering something about being violated, leaving Ransom and me alone with Maggie.

The moment Max is out of earshot, Maggie's expression darkens. "You promised me, Blair. You promised no hospitals."

"That promise went out the window when I found you unconscious." My hands shake as I grip the metal rail of her bed. "What was I supposed to do? Let you die right there on the floor?"

"Yes! That's exactly what you were supposed to do." Tears streak down her pale cheeks. "We talked about this. I don't want to spend my last days hooked up to machines."

"Last days?" My voice cracks. "Is that what you think this is? You choosing where to die?"

"That's exactly what this is."

"No." I shake my head hard. "No, you don't get to do this. Not like this."

"Blair—"

"Have you even thought about Max?" The words explode out of me. "What it would do to him, finding you dead in the house? That's the memory you want him to have? Every time he walks into that living room, he'd see you there, lifeless on the floor."

"Don't—"

"No, you need to hear this." Tears blur my vision. "That house is supposed to be filled with memories of movie nights and birthday parties and you teaching him to bake cookies. Not..." My voice breaks. "Not this. I can't do this, Mags. I can't watch you give up."

Warm hands settle on my shoulders. Ransom. I hadn't even noticed him move behind me. I let myself lean against him, drawing strength from him.

"You're being selfish." I swipe at my eyes. "And I get it, I do. You're tired of fighting. But Max needs his mother."

"He has you," Maggie whispers.

"I'm not you!" The words tear from my throat. "I'm not his mom. I can't replace you."

"Blair." Ransom's grip tightens, steadying me, helping me rein my shit in.

"I'm sorry." Maggie's voice wavers. "I didn't think... I just wanted it to be peaceful."

"There's nothing peaceful about finding your body." My shoulders shake under Ransom's hands. "Please, Mags. Please don't make me do that."

"I called it in," Ransom's deep voice cuts through my tears. "Blair and Max were too upset. And Maggie, you're not dying. Not yet. Your electrolytes were way off, which is why you felt so awful. That's preventable."

I turn to face him, his hands come up to cup my cheeks, just for a second. Then he drops his hands and focuses on the most stubborn woman in the world.

"The doctors can manage your symptoms better. You don't have to feel like death warmed over all the time." His jaw tightens. "The cancer's still there, but we can make you more comfortable."

Maggie's fingers twist in the hospital blanket. "Really?"

"Really." He moves closer to her bed. "So stop being stubborn and let us help you."

"Where exactly am I?" Maggie glances around the private room. "This doesn't look anything like County."

"You're in the city," Ransom says. "Private floor."

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