Gibs

suspicion. My smile remained, unwavering, a stark contrast t

is voice tight. His grip on my arm tightened

st recovering. She's been discharged. She's at home, living a perfectly

ned him. "That's a lie! You told me just last week

Turns out, some miracles do happen. Especially when a certain power

my father was a force to be reckoned with, even if we were estranged. Dalton had alwa

shb

l tenderness over the phone. "I've heard about Hertha. Don't worry. I've arrange

ightened. "Fath

lesson than others. You just focus on yourself. When you're ready, I'l

Flas

s if looking for an escape. "No, you're

. "Go ahead, call the hospi

ly. But before he could dial, a frantic ring pierce

peaker, his face etched

's at St. Jude's, and she's not well! She w

ran cold.

ure of rage and terror in h

ress just couldn't resist a final, cruel jab at my ailing mother."

time with desperate force. "We

ir inside was thick with Justine's cloying perfume and the faint scent of stal

lton's frantic calls. My heart hammered agains

ing lot was swarming with emergency vehic

ng," I whispered, scra

ts at the top of the bu

the automatic doors. My mind screamed at me to

n desk, her face streaked with tears, her hands on

" I demanded, m

flicker of triumph danced within them. "Oh, Blake. It

ke a physical blow.

ot po

ng. The sharp crack of my palm against

ing her face. "How dare you

u? You told her everything! All the years of humiliation, t

o know the truth! You were trappe

The final, un

ing me away from Justine. "

mother!" I shrieked, tea

hielding Justine. "Get out o

"Look at her, Dalton! She's gloating! She told my mot

ton. "She hit me, Dalton! She attack

e turned back to me, his eyes filled with a cold fury. "

ling backward onto the cold, hard

ily replacing her tears. "Dalton, pl

le her. And I'll make sure you and our baby are safe. I'll take ca

ab to my heart. He had never spoken to me like

ing the throbbing in my head.

ning towards the elevator. The doors slid open

caling the emergency stairs, fueled by a frantic, despe