Chapter 25 Vanessa sat in the corner of her hospital room, hair disheveled, hospital gown wrinkled, eyes wide and blank as she rocked herself back and forth. Her lips moved soundlessly, and she kept humming some distant, tuneless melody under her breath. The nurse who had just checked on her whispered to the attending doctor outside the room, "She hasn't spoken in two days. She just sits like that, rocking… crying sometimes." But the moment they left, Vanessa stopped rocking. Her eyes narrowed. She got up, walked to the mirror, and fixed her hair slightly. Her madness faded as quickly as it had come. A smirk curled the edge of her mouth. Until the door burst open. Troy, Travis, and Van stepped inside. Travis's jaw was tight, fists clenched at his sides. "Enough of this, Vanessa. Drop the act." "I don't know what you're talking about," Vanessa said softly, lowering herself to the bed again this time letting her limbs hang loosely, like a lifeless doll. "I feel… confused." "Cut the crap," Van snapped. "We talked to the doctor. They said there's no diagnosis. No history No signs of any real trauma or mental breakdown." Troy stepped forward, his face dark. "We know you were faking it. And now Taylor's lying in a hospital bed because of you." Vanessa's eyes darted between them. "You… you don't understand. I didn't mean for that to happen. I just wanted her to disappear! I didn't think-" 'But you planned it," Travis interrupted coldly. "You paid someone to hurt her. And you tried to Fool all of us again." 'I was scared!" she screamed suddenly. "I was scared to lose everything-Troy, the life I wanted the attention, the love!" 'You lost it anyway, Van said. "Because of what you've become." When Vanessa didn't answer, Troy grabbed her wrist and pulled her to her feet. "We're done playing games." 'What-what are you doing?!" she shrieked. "We're going to make you talk," Travis said. "You want to act crazy? Let's see how long that asts." They pulled her out of the room, past the startled nurses and doctors. Down a quiet corridor, into One of the private rooms. There, the screaming began. "Please! Please stop!" Vanessa cried, her voice raw. "Okay! I'll tell you everything!" Troy stood over her, his expression hollow. "You ruined her. You tried to kill her. You destroyed the one person who never wanted anything from me but love." "I was jealous," Vanessa sobbed. "She had everything. Your love. Her dreams. Her success. I was always the shadow. I hated it." "And now you're going to disappear," Travis said, stepping forward. "We're sending you away- abroad. Somewhere you can't hurt anyone again." Vanessa shook her head violently. "No! No, you can't!" But they had already turned away. Later that afternoon, Troy and Van returned to the main wing of the hospital. They moved quietly down the hall, their hearts heavy. The moment they reached Taylor's room, they saw her through the small glass panel in the door. She was sitting up, face pale, eyes swollen from crying. Scott sat beside her, holding her hand and pressing soft kisses to her temple. A nurse checked her IV. She wasn't saying much-just staring down at her belly. When they entered, Taylor didn't even look up. "Taylor," Troy said quietly, his voice cracking. "We heard. About the baby…" "I lost my child," she whispered, still not meeting his eyes. "Because of our sister that you loved more than me." Van stepped forward, his voice shaking. "We're sorry, Taylor. We've already sent her away. For good. She won't come back. And neither will we… if that's what you want." "I wanted a family once," Taylor said, still not looking at them. "You don't get to offer yourselves back now, when it's convenient." Tears welled up in Van's eyes. "We know we failed you. That we didn't protect you. We believed lies over and over again, and we'll spend the rest of our lives regretting it." Troy walked closer, his shoulders slumped. "You were the best thing that ever happened to me. And I ruined it. I thought I had time. I thought you'd always be there." His voice cracked. "I signed the divorce papers. I let go. But I never stopped loving you." Taylor finally turned to look at him. Her face was calm. Cold. "I hope someday," she said softly, "you learn how to love someone without breaking them first." Troy swallowed hard. "This is my last goodbye. You won't see me again." And with that, he turned and walked away. Van followed, tears streaming down his face. Travis had been waiting at the end of the hallway and joined them silently. Back inside, Taylor leaned against Scott. "She's gone," she whispered. "They're all gone." Scott kissed her forehead. "And I'm still here." Taylor closed her eyes and let herself grieve what could've been-but also breathe in the quiet, certain peace of what she still had.