Avery looks down at Evan. His face is serious and gentle, and he's holding a champagne-colored diamond ring. The ring is a perfect match for the gifts he's given her in the last five days. Her stomach twists with disgust, but her heart gives her away, hammering hopefully in her chest.

"No, I can't marry you," Avery says sadly. "I mean, I don't want to marry you."

"What if I stayed here on my knee until you agreed?" Evan asks. "I'll wait as long as you waited for me last night. Longer even."

"Evan Howel, I said I wouldn't marry you," Avery says.

Evan's forehead creases, and his lips press together into a thin line. He looks up at her in confusion, and then his face twists with anger.

"Are you refusing me because of Andrew?" he asks.

"If I said yes, would you shoot him in the heart too?" Avery asks with disgust.

"Any man who tries to take you from me will pay the price," Evan says seriously. "You're mine and mine alone."

Avery closes her eyes and fights the bile creeping up her throat. His possessiveness makes her sick, but it hurts her to say no. The selfish part of her wants nothing more than to offer him her hand and let him slide the ring onto her finger. She wants him to wrap his arms around her and kiss her forehead, lips, and neck. She swallows hard and shakes her head.

"So you're going to go through life shooting any man whoever dares to look at me or be my friend?" she asks. "No, I refuse to have such a cruel and jealous husband. I refuse to accept any man who would dare to hurt Charles Meyer."

Evan shuts the velvet box with a snap and slowly stands. He wobbles slightly, and Avery fights the urge to run up and put her hand on his arm. He looks at her seriously and exhales a long sigh.

"Yes, I shot Charles, and I won't apologize for it," he says.

"You disgust me," Avery says. "You do nothing but cause pain and violence. Everyone I know and love suffers because of you. What makes you think I would accept such a man as a husband?"

Evan's eyes flash, and he asks, "Do you have any idea how Charles treated you? Do you know what he was doing to you, Avery? He was drugging you—giving you hormones to try and make you fall in love with him."

"I don't believe that," Avery says. "Charles was a good man, and he would never do anything like that. Your sick jealousy makes you paranoid. Besides, even if he was drugging me, you didn't have to kill me."

"I didn't mean to kill him," Evan says, staring deep into her eyes. "I knew his heart was on the right side of his chest—that's why I shot him in the left side. It was just meant to be a warning."

"I don't want to hear your excuses or explanations," Avery says, fighting back the tears. "You killed him, and I can never marry a killer."

"Avery," Evan pleads, stepping toward her.

"No, you stay away from me!" Avery shouts.

She turns and runs through the forest. The tears fall hot on her cheeks, and the trees and branches turn into a tangled blur. Suddenly she tripped on a root and feels herself flying through the air. The breath leaves her body, and she feels a dull pain in her side. Then everything goes black.

The wind whistles through the window screens and Evan paces across the room while Avery is lying in bed in a deep sleep. She hasn't woken since she fell down in the forest. Evan grabs David Walter by the collar of his shirt.

"It's been two days, why the hell hasn't she woken up?" Evan asks.

"Mrs. Howel is pregnant, and it's possible she's just exhausted," David says. "Besides, you mentioned that she might be emotionally distressed. It's not uncommon for people to fall into a deep sleep when they're deeply upset by something—it might just be her mind's way of processing the bad news."

"It might be?" Evan asks. "For God's sake, you're a doctor—can't you give a proper diagnosis?"

Evan shoves David away, and the man slams into a table, knocking some medical supplies onto the floor. Avery tosses and turns in the bed, but she shows no other signs of waking.

In Avery's dream, Charles Meyer stands in front of her. His face is serious, and he's trying to tell her something important, but she doesn't understand what he's saying. Suddenly a dark, shadowy figure appears behind Charles and raises a terrible gun. The figure shoots, and a bullet breaks through Charles' chest, leaving a gaping hole.

Avery stares at his chest in horror, but no blood comes from the wound. Instead, a dazzling, bright light shines through the bullet hole. Avery reaches for Charles, but he seems to be drifting backward. He raises his hand towards her as he slowly gets further and further away. He becomes a speck, and then the speck disappears. Avery wakes up with a jerk.

"You're awake," Evan says, quickly walking to the bedside.

Avery struggles to sit up, but her body feels heavy and tired. Evan gently sits beside her and helped her up. His face was creased with worry, and his hair stands on end. He looks like he hasn't slept in days.

"Don't move, you're weak," Evan says. "Just tell me what you want."

Avery tries to swallow, but her mouth feels cottony and dry. She coughs, and her throat aches. She doesn't want to ask Evan for anything, but a glass of water sounds good. A servant quickly runs in with a glass of water. Evan cradles her body and lifts the glass to her mouth. Avery grabs the glass herself and pushes his hands away.

"Be careful," Evan warns. "Drink it in small sips—if you have it all at once, your stomach will cramp."

Avery drinks slowly and deeply. The cold water feels amazing as it slides down her parched throat. She blinks and looks around the room. Evan tries to take the cup from her, and his hand brushes her. She pulls her hand away as if she's been electrocuted.

"Fuck off," she says hoarsely. "I don't want you anywhere near me."

"Did my hand hurt you somehow?" Evan asks worriedly.

"Did you ask Charles if it hurt when you shot him in the chest?" Avery asks.

Evan's face clouds and he says, "Oh, it's about him. I swear Avery, and I want to make this right."

"You want to make this right?" Avery asks with disbelief. "Just how can you do that? You shot him in the chest—he's going to die because of you."

"I can't take back the past," Evan says, sounding pained. "Believe me, I wish I could, but I can't go back in time and do it differently."

He's right, Avery thinks. There's nothing I can do now. But if he shot Charles, will he shoot and kill other men? It may be too late for Charles, but I can protect everyone else—I just have to get away from Evan. Her heart twists painfully at the thought of leaving him, but she refuses to let him see her cry.

A servant knocks at the door carrying a tray of oatmeal. Evan takes the tray and puts it on the bedside table. He dips the spoon into the oats and offers it to Avery, but she presses her lips together and shakes her head.

"Avery, please, you need to eat," Evan says. "You've been sleeping for two days. You and the baby need food."

"Leave me alone," Avery says. "I don't want to see you—your face makes me sick to my stomach."

Evan's eyes flash, but he puts the spoon down and steps away from the bed. Avery closes her eyes and tries to stay strong. Every second, Evan is near her, and she wants to forgive him and let him take her in his arms. She thinks about Charles and bites her tongue until she tastes blood. Suddenly, she remembers Andrew's offer. Was he serious? She wonders. And would I actually spend a year with him to save Charles' life?

From across the room, she hears Robert whispering to Evan, "Mr. Howel. When a woman is angry, you should leave her alone for a while. If you try to talk to her before she's calmed down, it'll only make things worse."

"How well do you know women?" Evan asks coldly.

Robert blushes and bows his head, and Avery fights the urge to laugh. Robert is a confirmed bachelor and knows very little about women. Watching him try to give Evan advice is absurdly funny. Evan scowls at Robert and stomps out of the room, slamming the door behind him.