Chapter 46

Vivian nodded slowly, prodding my realization on until I gasped.

I stared at her, blinking hard. "Something to rewind the buildup of Pause inside you."

"And then mass produce the rewinding just like Pause, reversing time, sickness, old age, even." Vivian laughed bitterly, a weird sound coming from her when she'd always been so happy. "As soon as Shane perfects it, he's resigning, and we can leave this place forever."

I tightened my grip on her hand as if to pull her from the bed. "I'm taking you out of here now."

She pulled back and shook her head. "No, Jasmine. That woman out there is the best doctor in the city. She stays here with me more than full-time, even when she can't contact her own family."

"Then she'll go with us," I hissed. "I'm not leaving here without you."

"I can't leave without Shane," she said simply.

I yanked my hand away from Vivian's and stood up, shaking my head. "Why did you marry him?"