s were gentle, theatrical, completely belied by the hard glint in her eyes when she looked at

s thousands of dollars worth of damage. These are irreplaceable cl

t. Whatever it costs. I take responsibility for my son." She said

? Or the value of these client blueprints, which represent months of work?" I pulled out my phone, opened a calculator app, and began tappin

"$27,450. And that doesn't even be

0? That's ridiculous! You're trying to con me! I don't have that kind of money!" Her v

damaged goods, his face a mixture of shock and discomfort. "Brett, darling, perhaps you c

top-of-the-line gear. The laptop alone is... significant. And those blu

't. I'm a single mother, Mr. Parker. I work hard, but I barely make enough to feed my so

arted out. His small fist balled up, and he swung i

d, his face contorted in a child

push his arm away. It wasn't a hard push, just a reflex. But Leo, seei

e! Mommy,

into his arms, cradling the sobbing child. "You hit a child? My God, Alex, what is wrong with you? What kind of monster attacks a

to my thigh, where a red mark was already blooming. "And he's not just 'a child' when he'

lay a hand on him? Can't you see he's upset? Glenda, are you

er. It's just... I tried to tell her I'd pay. She just ke

asking for accountability! And I asked you how you intend

y last penny. Glenda, don't worry about a thing. I'll take care of it." He looked at Glenda, his expression softeni

looking at me like I was a stranger, an enemy. He held Glenda's child in his arms, h

hot through my chest, as if a fist had clenched around my heart

, my voice barely au

n front of me-Brett, Glenda, Leo-swirled, their faces melting into grotesque c

dark

eart monitor. The room was white, impersonal. A hospital. I blinked,

l confident demeanor replaced by an anxious, worried frown. He rea

his voice hoarse. "T

d sense of betrayal, hadn't dissipated. It had sim

hair. "I... I have something to tell you." He took a deep breath. "The doctors said... you're pregnant.

y lower stomach, a wave of shock, confusion, and a strange, unwelcom

ow, threatening to overwhelm the anger. A baby.

rstands she messed up. She even signed this." He pulled a crumpled slip of paper from his po

urse, told her not to worry. That you'd cover it, because that' s the kind o

almost pleading. "Please, honey. We're having a baby. We need to be a family. I promise, Glenda understands now. I've laid do

. I was distracted, my leg hurt. I wasn't thinking clearly. But this baby... this is our future. Our marriage. Please, don't let this ruin us. I need

perate hope. "I promise, I'll make it right. Every single thing. I'll

on me, on us. I closed my eyes, trying to block out the image of Glenda's hand on Bret

ccused me of hitting a child. But then, I thought of the tiny flutter in my womb, the fragile beginning of a new lif

ry, but beneath it, I saw a glimmer of hope. He truly believed he coul

e barely a whisper, "this ti

my hand, tears welling in his eyes. "Thank you, A

aming bowl of chicken soup. Her eyes were downcast, her voice soft. "Ms. Hardy, I am truly sorry for eve

r the baby. I nodded, a silent command for her to leave the soup