need to be more careful," she said, her brow furrowed with concern. "A fall like th

waiting area, which had been murmuring quietly, sud

as a grainy cell phone video of

a dramatic fall today in an attempt to win him back," the anchor said in a grave voice. "This com

s. I gripped the side of the ho

r, the door to my curtained-off cubicl

mother, stood there, her

at me. Her hand connected with my cheek in

s I recognized, grabbed my arms. They hauled m

doing? She's

er, and they dragged me out of the hospital

abandoned warehouse on the industrial outskirts of the city. The

nded, her voice echoing

uards forced me down. My knees hit the

, her voice dripping with venom. "Your pathetic wife is here

e on the other end of the line. "Mo

tle tramp the lesson you've been too soft to teach her. You can't be

for him to hear me. "It's not

ice came through, low and defeated. "Gen... just do w

ne wen

ied wi

he unventilated warehouse. Sweat and blood trickled do

pain so intense it stole my breath. I looked down. A dar

o, no

hroat. I scrambled to the massive ste

somebody help

and dismissive. "What baby? That little bastard? Let i

d, my voice cracking with despe

nd of her footsteps walking

s al

, bleeding in the dark, the pain in

the bodyguards looked down at me, his face impassive

bright, the voices around me were muffled. I felt a profound coldness sp

phone, which had been in my purse, buzzed on

But you have to understand her positi

ye and traced a path through the grime on my fa

livered a crisp, white envelope. Inside was my di

ng over a name I hadn't called in five years. A

d the ca

ang

, laced with a familiar, teasing smile. "I was

ed, my voice break

. "I'm already on my way. Dad's with me. Just