pening?" Alicia as

weak and unsteady, and even as he answered her

down beside him and reached for his shoulder, shaking him car

d not hesitate. She pulled out her phone

pneumothorax, and he was rushed

While she was sitting beside the bed, his phone sl

g, and her breath caught. The lo

, shock wash

supposed to b

p a picture of h

at?" Jared's sudden vo

y and drew in a slow breath, forcing her racing heart to settle. "What wo

d, then quietly set the phone ba

ed. "Baby, the doctor said you suffered a pneumothorax. When

He shifted instead, leanin

his gaze, like he was trying

tightened wit

n her palms as h

ce somethin

d lifted his hand and brushed it against h

, Alicia jerked back, fear

"It's probably just the h

osely, and a faint smile tugg

and she could not shake the f

er cane and pushed herself to her fe

oor ahead of her, continuing the act as she moved forward,

rridor, Jared slowly pulled his

.

a quiet corner

t her chest as she released

d, the look in Jared's eyes

r phone buzzed

quietly arranged earlier f

the message, fury

age with her was Michael. Yet the groom standin

d married a jobless man

e of his position as her legal husband

herself to stay calm while she co

son. He was twenty-nine years old,

, and he had been raised by his a

look for work, and after being deceived by a friend into t

ho grew up with nothing, which made it seem like hi

ent over the file again and ag

tled into her ches

at he truly was ju

tucked her phone away and turned

ew steps when she collid

re you're walking? Y

oice made Alicia li

er, Jennifer Gill, and what they were holding mad

faction thick in her voice, even as her eyes burned with hostility. "You've been

savoring each one. "Or is it that M

er ran through

and nausea surged up befor

turning her attention away. "

her expression soft with care. "Kaelyn, what do y

ia. Disdain flashed across her face, and she pulled Kae

through Alic

s voice cut through

out sparing her a glance and reache

ide Alicia sh

before she even turned two, back when they

, Jennifer became p

here she stood and never once

treat her like a stranger, or worse, stan

s mouth as her heart felt like it wa

r love and the family she clun

all bee