her lower abdomen. Her phone lay on the bedside table, displaying dozens of misse

e recovery facility for nearly a month. The

t, had always been her silent protector, the one person who saw through Ethan from the start. He h

ongings from the apartment she' d once shared with E

were everywhere, cheap, flashy trinkets

r sex addiction, the ones she' d meticulously researched and encouraged him to take. They were nearly full. Next t

, the "struggle" – it was all a lie. He never intended to heal, n

sensation, clean and sharp, burning away

iant, waltzed into the apartment

a sneered, her eyes sweeping over Sarah with

ings, Jessica." Sar

er, her protruding bel

ays too cold. Too uptight. Not lik

photo of Sarah and Ethan from

, her hands flying out, knocking the photo from her o

She pushed me!

sk of panic. He saw Jessica on the floor, S

, striking her har

What did you

ent Sarah reeling. Pain

' s side, cradling her. "Are

n they met Sarah' s over Ethan' s shou

ied – Jessica was put into a room for observation for her "l

up for her own internal injuries. The c

he barged past a nurse, knocking Sarah, who was be

ting through her abdomen. She felt a sickening w

k. Onlookers murmured, blamin

series of dramatic, ear-

mise you' ll marry me if we make it through t

hoed in the hallway. "Yes! Yes, Jessic

seeing her on the floor, pale a

ing again! Get he

the rapid loss of blood, muttered to a nurse, "I don' t think she' s going to make it. We might be losing her." Another staff