ng of glasses-it all faded into a dull roar in my ear

g with a rage I had only seen once b

d, his voice a low, dangerous growl. He grabb

d, her eyes filled with tear

her evening bag and pulled out a small, ornate fruit knife from t

d, "or I swear I'll do it

than froze, his fac

Put the knife down," he p

ade harder, a thin line of

t her. He wrapped his hand around the blade, squeezing it tightly. Blood, dark a

h, his eyes locked on hers. "I'd do

moment, I saw the truth. It wasn't about the baby. It wasn't about his family's legacy. He loved her. He t

with a clatter. Then, her face crumpled, an

well," she whimpe

masterful one. And Ethan

ft motion, he scooped her up into his arms, holding he

ing backward. My legs, still weak from my collapse earlier, gave out from un

woman in his arms. He pushed through the stunned crowd and disappeared out the door,

again was his mother, Eleanor, looking down at me.

was in a hospital room. The light was

he bed, his head in his hands. Hi

heard me stir. His fa

re awake.

trying to take my ha

me," I said,

. I... I panicked. I don't

ut her," I stated, my

ds tumbling out in a rush. "She's unstable, Olivia. I was afraid of what she

o frame his actions as a noble sacr

reassuring. "She's getting the help she needs.

ty promise.

check my vitals. She w

my arm. "You gave us quite a scare. It's a good thing you're here. We nee

the room

p. His eyes narrowed. "Pr

u know. The D&C. You'll need to take it

od ran

my pale face and the cold fury in my eyes. He was so consumed by his own dr

glanced at the screen, and I saw his ja

ace a jumble of co

e a call," he mumbled, alre

word. I just

needed a plan. The old Olivia was gone, shattered on the floor of that ballroom. A n

let him think I was broken. And when he le