stop

moved be

the room was imp

ng on?" she

len

d slightly, silently

ase

idn't loo

," he

ust li

was

is pre

ped from her

ed louder than

" she w

went cold. " is it

she could get words to respond

snapped to

could even

she staggered to the ground. Th

d down Elara's

r mother demanded, her v

ouldn't

t know him,"

len

rous s

just one

let out a

ef laced with disgust. "You're carrying

couldn'

t defend

e it wa

," her mother muttered, pa

cried. "I didn't mea

her snapped. "Sor

ted towar

r!" she said. "He is

est tighten

she said quickly. "And t

to hear it!" he

could react, S

ar

et

ackward, shock fl

!" she yelled, pushin

with tears as she was fo

le tu

ta

isp

mother wa

e shouted, her voice echoing dow

it harder t

ent silent in

I had the chance!" her mother con

as

rmu

ever

tch

dgi

stood

ro

ro

he

lammed shut

len

whis

s the

she's pr

husba

eathing bec

as

o f

tightened

A

dn't get

s started

ision

.. n

t like they we

spers gr

lo

cki

dgi

ntrollably as panic c

gasped softly. "

ne he

one

just w

n't stop

opped when her

he hospital gates, the impact barely regis

gasped, clutching her sh

echoed in her head. You are a wh

controllably as panic

hey, b

voi

lo

ir

ea

as a hand touc

ok a

idn't

calm nothing like the

n," he sa

rotest, he guided h

rely regi

as that she was

ok a

k her hea

ca

irmly, but not harshl

his tone.Groun

she lifte

rgot to breathe for an e

s... s

Adr

yone sh

s impossibl

. His jawline sharp, clean, like it had been carved with intention

e the most un

t c

dis

ensely o

d see straigh

aid again, sof

a swa

e," he

e t

ught it-but s

murmured.

ga

d a

grip around her

t en

pulled out a bottle of water, op

rin

ill trembled

he whispered betw

respond i

watche

sure she

tacks often?" he a

head. "No...

ay?" he

t a weak, hum

ould sa

ence settled

ncomfo

... q

af

lara's breathing

essy but at least she wasn

ly, wiping the last of her tea

ood up

stoo

ike he didn't fully t

ld go,"

but his voic

Wa

looke

ket and pulled out a car

ated befor

" he said, "or if you

curled arou

quietly. "You do

all p

you looked like someone

in her ch

igh

said again, more s

e a sma

ke that they

r mind still trying to c

ps she glanced d

im

le

beneath it m

CORP

rows f

hat sound

think deeper she

dy gone like he ha

ened her gri

ike that wouldn't be the la