gns of my violent outburst erased. A doctor was standi

and. "You had a slight dizzy spell. It' s common duri

s face a mask of concern. It was a perfo

both. The numbness was a shield, the only

rina came to my room.

not daring to come closer. "I' m sorry if w

apology. It wa

n look at her

from the hallway. He gave her a nod, and she left,

in my mind. It was no longer a desperate wi

rt he expected of me. Th

food he brought me. When he spoke

a painful reminder of happier times. I asked if I could sell it,

render, of my acceptance of m

hair. "A wonderful idea. It shows you' re fi

bracelets, the earrings. I kept only my simple wedding band. The money was wired directly to

la on his superyacht, the 'Amelia.' He had named it after me durin

," he said. "It' s time we s

the happy wife, made me feel sick. But then I realized, it was the perf

at," I said,

re a simple, elegant gown, my hand resting on my small baby bump. Brayden was at

s associates who had always been kind to me. I made my way over to t

t," one of them, a sweet

This was goodbye. "I just wanted to say

efore she could ask what I m

e on the scre

istened for a moment, hi

asked, my voice

lie. "Katharina... she' s having some sort of panic a

rty, his mind clearly already gone. He

I said, my voice soft.

needs me. You' ll be fine here. The capta

on the cheek. "I' m sorry, Amelia.

empty

lance, leaving me standing alone in the midd

nality washing over me. This was the

ent of quiet. As I leaned against the railing, watchi

the captain, comi

s wr

pped out of the shadows.

n?" one of

other one covered my mouth, stifling my scream. The

as one of them punched me, h

man snarled, his breath hot and foul against my face.

s excruciating. I felt a warm, wet sens

the other man grunted, twisting my arm behind my back. "Brayden Quin

a. He had orchestrated her family' s downfall, the very same way he had orchestrated

feet. I collapsed, the world dissolving

e distance. People running.

Brayden's voice, frantic and

nt voice, a paramed

The baby... I don' t think t

going accor