Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“Come on,” I say to Aubrey. “Let’s get to the hospital before this turns into a shitshow.”
“I’ll handle it,” Dad assures me, waving me off. “Let me speak with these officers and then I’ll head up to the station.”
I can’t believe this is happening.
My son has just been hauled away in cuffs and I’m about to see my wife for the first time in what feels like an eternity. And this relationship with Aubrey… What happens next?
Everything in my life is blowing up in my goddamn face.
I want to grab Aubrey’s hand and squeeze it, promising everything will be okay, but I can’t lie to her. I have no idea what the hell is going to happen. All I know is we’re striding through the hospital, eyes on us both, the subject of a lot of hushed whispers.
Word travels fast in this town.
“I’m here to see, uh, my wife,” I grunt to a receptionist, hating how I cringe at the statement. “They brought her here by ambulance.”
The woman, whom I don’t know but who clearly knows me, nods and taps on her computer. “Ah, Mr. Park, they’re still in the ER, getting her prepped for surgery.”
Surgery?
Spencer, Son, what did you do?
Aubrey sways on her feet beside me. I grab her shoulder and pull her to my side. I’m just a stepfather comforting his stepdaughter. Nothing to see here, folks.
“Is she going to be okay?” Aubrey asks, voice trembling. “Will she live?”
The receptionist frowns at her. “I should hope so, dear. Women deliver babies all the time and survive. Cesareans are common. I’m sure everything will be okay.”
Blood rushes to my ears.
“What did you say?” I grind out.
“Oh,” the receptionist whispers. “I assumed this was her daughter. Should I have not said anything? I didn’t realize.”
The poor woman looks like she might cry.
I’m not going to fucking sue her.
“Take us there,” I demand.
She nods. “I can escort you, Mr. Park, since you’re the husband, but they’ll only allow one person back during the surgery. Again, I’m so sorry.”
“G-Go,” Aubrey hisses. “Hugo, just go. Mom needs you.”
I give her a long look, hating how broken she is right now. We’d just gotten her to a good place after everything that happened with Drew and now this.
“I’ll call Callum or Dempsey to come sit with you,” I tell her and press a kiss to her forehead. “Everything’s going to be okay, Love. I promise.”
Her eyes are watery, but she nods, putting on a brave face. I leave her without another word. The aftertaste of my lie on my tongue is bitter.
How will this be okay?
The next few minutes are a blur as I’m ushered into a room where I change into scrubs and wash up. Then, I’m pointed to the doors that lead to the surgery room—to the first time I’ll see my wife in nearly a year.
I stare past the bustling of nurses and doctors at the body on the table, stomach swollen and bare. Fuck. It’s really her. It’s really Neena. Pregnant. With my child.
It all makes sense now.
She probably got pregnant and said or did something that freaked Spencer out. He did this to protect me.
I walk around where the sheets are tied up and latch onto the cold eyes of Neena Park. Her blond hair is nice and silky, clearly not the hair of a horribly kept captive. She’s even wearing makeup. Flawless as per usual. Her plump lips twist into an ugly sneer.
“Get this baby out of me,” she hisses. “I hate these people. This family. I don’t want this thing inside me!”
I drop into the seat beside her and take her hand, the one that is adorned with the massive diamond ring I bought her years ago. Her nails are painted and pretty. Not her usual acrylics but beautiful nonetheless.
Spencer took care of her. All the places he shopped at were to bring her the things she was used to and loved. My son isn’t a complete monster.
“Don’t touch me,” she snarls. “Your family is poison.”
“Neena—”
“When I finally get this baby out of me, I’m going to wring its neck, Hugo. I’m going to kill it.” She glowers at me. “They’re destroying my body!”
“Neena,” I growl, squeezing her hand. “You’re talking crazy.”
“Crazy? Your son kept me captive and forced me to have this child!”
“Stop. Just stop.”
Her eyes sparkle with familiar cruelty. “I’ll make you watch as I kill it.”
“Neena, you would never hurt a baby. I know you think you mean it, but you don’t.”
A hand touches my back. It’s the doctor. “I’m going to give her a little something to relax her, Mr. Park. Sometimes women lash out and don’t know what they’re saying.”
Neena bellows and within seconds it turns into murmurs. Her eyes flutter closed.
My mind reels at her words. So vicious and nasty. I suppose if I were held captive for as long as she was, I’d be pissed too.