tomach turned. A strong sense of discomfort surged thro

guard, Hayley stared

Without saying a word, he adjusted the be

d close again and wrapped her arms around him. Her actions spoke louder t

ing his waist. For a brief moment, somet

ok his life had also stol

member the face, but he remembered the feeling. Once upon a time, he had loved someone wi

to her ended the same way. No matter how much he forced hims

understand the

ey's hands away from him. His voice sounded rough, but h

ether inside her chest. "You were the one who asked me to come here, and n

e answer. "Once I've recovered from

e pain, resentment quietly took root, mixed

ss could possibly

sed. Why hadn't there bee

ad, but somehow I'm the one being pushed aside. At this point, I feel l

ame came up, Michael'

never been something M

away the tears on her face, but the warning beneath his words was impossible to miss. "I've

e quickly swallowed the rest of her tears and fell silen

ve her mind. While lowering her head, she quietly made a pro

.

re Noreen finally settl

ical research had allowed her to earn a respectable living on her own. Although two years spent recovering

y, he bombarded her phone with calls, demanding an explanation for why she had stopping givi

follow through. Rather than waste energy on him, she focused all her attention on fi

ted from inside. Even through the door, she could hear Rick S

ad against the sharp edge of a marble table. While pinning her down, he continued hurling abuse at her. "Your daughter thinks sh

ed. Spotting a knife nearby, she snatched

across his cheek, leaving behind a bloody cut. The

ed tight, and desperation burned in her eyes. The fierce determination in her posture caught Rick off

forward, pulled her mother away from

gile frame, but the injury on her forehead was the hardest to look at. Blood conti

for a long time? Mom, why

hield the wound from view and forced out a faint smile. "Don't make such a fuss. He

I've already reported him to the police. You're coming to live with me after

ppeared. Tightening her grip around Noreen's hand, Sharon looked at her with fear that h

t Rick is capable of. He has connections with all sorts of dangerous people, and he wo