Luke laughed. “I know what she’s up to. Tell
her it’s not going to work.”
He hung up and turned off his phone.
He shut Mark’s off.
“Rainey Lynn again, trying to get attention.
River’s award is what matters.”
Mark frowned. “What is it this time?”
“She’s trying to make us go back.”
“She doesn’t want us to see River get this
award.”
Mark frowned, then turned off his phone.
“She’s out of control.”
Г
“We need to teach her a lesson,” Luke said.
The crowd roared.
Luke and Mark clapped, watching River.
River looked down at them.
“I want to thank two people.”
“My boyfriend and my brother.”
“If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here.”
“Thank you.”
Luke and Mark watched River.
She was their world.
L
- 10.
After the ceremony, Luke and Mark took River
on vacation.
On the way to the resort, River brought up the
phone calls.
“Was Rainey calling you? I thought I heard her
name.”
“Ignore her. She’s trying to start a fire.”
“Don’t say that,” River said. “She just wants
your attention.
“It’s my fault. If you weren’t with me, she
wouldn’t act like this.”
“We won’t go see her,” Luke said.
く
River looked at them.
Luke held her. “You’re too good.”
Mark agreed.
His phone rang.
The guy on the other end was a cop.
“Is this the family of Rainey Lynn?”
Luke scoffed. “Rainey Lynn is faking being a
cop.”
“I’m Officer #010. Last night a house burned
down in Southgate.”
“No one made it out. Do you know her?”
Luke rolled his eyes. “She’s faking her death.
Tell her it’s not going to work.”
He took Mark’s phone and blocked the
number.
- 11.
The private jet landed.
The island was Luke’s.
River loved it here.
That afternoon, Luke saw something about
the news.
The article said, “House Burns Down In
Southgate.‘
“No body was found.”
く
Luke glanced over it.
“Smile,” River said, holding up a selfie stick.
Luke put his arm around her.
Their lips met.
Mark watched from the balcony.
He called Rainey’s phone.
It went to voicemail.
He tried again.
He was blocked.
Mark slammed his phone.
く
He was scared.
He shook his head.
He would teach her a lesson.
- 12.
A week later, they returned to L.A.
Luke took River to his parents‘ house.
His mom sat in the living room, looking at
Luke. “You should be ashamed.”
“Rainey’s dead. What is wrong with you?”
Luke rolled his eyes.
“Mom, you are being lied to.”
く
“She’s trying to get our attention.”
Luke’s mom stared at him. “The cops want
you to come.”
“They want you to identify her body.”
Luke frowned. “She’s still playing a game!”
“Let’s go,” he said to River.
River stopped him. “What if it’s true?”
Luke said, “It can’t be.”
He walked away.
River followed.
He was mad
く
Something was wrong.
- 13.
In the car, Luke was quiet.
“I’m sorry. Your phone is out of service,” the
phone said.
He heard it three times.
Luke called Mark.
No answer.
He was blocked.
River touched his arm. “I’m scared.”
Luke didn’t answer.
く
“What if something happened?” she asked.
“She wants us to think that.”
River leaned against him. “She’s sad, I know
it.”
Luke ignored her.
River started to cry.
Luke said, “We’re almost there.”
He felt ill.
They turned a corner.
Luke got out.
He was too late.
<
Everything was gone.
Mark was kneeling in the dirt.
- 14.
Luke staggered forward, saying, “What
happened? How could this happen?”
Mark stood up.
He punched Luke.
Luke fell to the ground.
River screamed.
Luke pushed her away.
He and Mark fought.
<
Finally, they were pulled apart.
Mark sat, saying, “I should’ve listened.”
“She’s in here. I have to save her.“.
Mark dug in the dirt.
Luke was walking.
“They didn’t find a body, she’s alive.”
Mark said, “You’re right, she is!”
He hurried away.
“Luke!” River cried.
She tripped on a burnt board.
L
Mark and Luke left.
- 15.
Luke and Mark went to the police station.
They wanted to see the security tapes.
“I’m sorry. We can’t tell if that’s her,” said the
cop.
The cop handed over a bag.
“This is everything we found.”
It held a diamond and a red bracelet.
Mark looked at the cop.
“I know it’s hers.”
く
“This is my sister’s bracelet,” Mark said.
Luke got dizzy.
River walked in.
Luke was in shock.
“What about Rainey?” River asked.
Luke stared at River.
“It’s your fault,” he whispered.
“We were happy before you.”
“Get out of here,” he said.
River looked at Mark, crying.
Г
Mark looked away.
River walked away.
- 16.
I was living in Germany.
I slept in and went to the store.
I drew and designed.
I walked and cleared my head.
Some news from back home came my way.
They said I was dead.
They said Luke and Mark were making River
and her mom pay.
Г
They told the world River stole my designs.
They took back everything they gave her.
They said River’s mom was a home–wrecker
and River was a bastard.
It didn’t matter anymore.
The sun came up.
I had a new life.
I looked for a job.
In nine days, I got one.
The people were kind.
2 seal lady who helped me
