ement, she shot upright, her attention

rtook any remnants of surpr

s features softened by worry, she saw the

That child was just three years and seven months old-evidence that

lison squeezed until her knuckles drained

n sharper than any wound-especially wh

me passed, the pain s

to stand up to his mother. Never had it crossed her mind that the soft-spoke

ever-Kyle holding her in a tight embrace, his v

lly see what that apo

aining the warmth from her body and leaving

ure faltered. She hadn't been herself since the new neig

rfering, so he kept hi

Kyle for cheating on her. Then another woman darted into the room, a

ked across the floor, concern coloring her words

teady and attentive. "The doctor told me it's only mild pneumoni

her entire body went rigid. Recognition flash

had spent years working overseas, yet every homecoming meant a tri

e almost wished someone would

all she could feel was humiliation-she'd b

ned and met her stare. A flicker of surprise broke acro

res into a mask of serenity, even adding a small, polite sm

c, and disbelief warring across his featur

by Kyle's wandering attention, but the momen

? When did you get ba

ized-always weak, forever bending to his mother's wishes. Likely, t

her silence, the more

d her words came out barely

silent, giving the cheating

it all unfold. Former lovers crossing path

brief but steady. The faint warmth seeped through her

but she was responsible for his s

dge, believing anyone who looked after his child

ferent than watching over a trusted

Allison made her voice sound light. "Lo

e to cross the room and slap him-maybe th

anymore. He didn't deserve

hildren lay nearby, and a public outb

k-a man who, despite his invo

lips parted, searching for an expla

en. Spotting Allison close by, he squ

brushing his forehead, relieved to find it cooler. "It

eyes. He knew she wasn't able to have children. His gaze

man, gave Kyle a sliver of relief. He told himself that as long as she looked co

ing herself calm was the only way f

eck, but pretending nothing had h

of the IV, and as the hospital's crowding

d outside, determined to pick up some necessities from her old apartment-sh

away for long, so she intended to retu

er, she called a cab and rode alone to the

what she expected from a place left untouched. A sliver of susp

cold, scanning the room. The furniture arrangement had changed, and strange belon

ning her thoughts to static and sq

sat a photo of Kyle, Haylee, and their child, all sm

and hurled it to the floor. Glass exploded acr

d. Only bitterness an

ke grief at their divorce? How could he dare invite his mistress and their child into what had once been their home, even their be

rself, how could s

she could reach. Tears ran hot down her face. Only when she had reduced th

s sake-she'd wanted to spare Kyle. After all, ov

de her own bed stripped away any comp

her tears, splashed water on her face,