"What are you thinking about?" Tracia suddenly asked.

"About someone… a man," Lauren replied softly.

"Ms. Rhodes, you're such a stunning beauty. I'm curious who could be on your mind," Tracia said with interest.

"His name is Andrew Lloyd," Lauren answered honestly. "He's an incredibly skilled doctor and quite handsome too. Before I met him, I never knew loving someone could be so painful—sometimes the loneliness makes me want to cry."

"Shut up! I don't want to hear this nonsense," Tracia snapped.

Lauren studied Tracia's scarred face with sudden understanding. "You've never been in love, have you, Tracia? Or rather, no man has ever loved you?"

Tracia's expression turned ugly, as if Lauren had struck a nerve. "Men are all worthless idiots. Their so-called love makes me sick. Since you're about to die anyway, I don't mind sharing this with you. When I was young, I met several men. But they all betrayed me, sweet-talking liars who got what they deserved when I cut their throats