on and some bruising, bu

he tension that had been coiling in her gut for the last hour fina

fice, her mind already shifting to the l

re. Standing a few fe

gy for this. She tried to walk past, to s

ith a cruel insinuation. "How convenient. Are you that desperate for Gerhardt's atten

t shred of Hortense'

n is a parasite," Hortense hissed, her voice low and

l. Her skin went pale, her eyes filled with tears, her lower lip be

es just before the tears began to fall. She knew, with

ried footsteps co

ne in a single, damning glance: Hortense, standing over Brittni, her face a ma

astries scattered acr

round her as she swayed dramatically. He glared at Hortense o

on of her guilt was li

footage before you jump to conclusions,"

at's happening," he snarled. He looked down a

ible things," Brittni

mmanded, his gaze returning to

the man who was supposed to be her partner, her protector, now s

d, the word tast

step toward her, letting go of Brittni

nt, Brittni let ou

abdomen. She doubled over, her face a ma

tly timed, perfectly executed. It drew ever

r at Hortense was instantly replaced by panic for

gently lifted onto it, her hand weakly clutching Gerh

rous rage. "If anything happens to this baby," he said,

t was rushed toward the maternity ward, lea

-

Then, on instinct, she walked toward the maternity ward. Not because s

he double doors. "The woman who was just b

e bleeding, but we were able to stop the progression. She'll need bed rest

The baby was fine. Which meant Gerhardt's threat still hung over her head

ay from the m

-

nse of despair. It was over. Whatever was left between them, whatever

g breath and walked toward

opped up in bed, a bandage wrapped arou

wasn't

le with a small knife. He was in his late fifties, impeccably dressed i

topped in

ush coloring her cheeks. "Hortense, darli

n. The same name as the monster from her past. The

. He smiled a warm, charming smile. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you,

m, her gaze cold and assessing. She g

lter, but his eyes, she noticed,

the room became

to fill the awkward silence. "He was such a help. He called the ambulance,

mother between herself and this man. She checked the IV drip, her mov

her question directed at him, but her eyes on her mo

un a red light and clipped Amiyah's back bumper, sending her into a spin

g about him. A slickness beneath the charm. A hint of the s

sion paperwork," she said abrupt

he saw Joey lean over and whisper something in her mother's ear, his hand resti

or and leaned against

nd his mistress on one side, and now, the Emersons were clo

war. And she