The Baptism Betrayal

air crackled with tension. Ethan stepped i

," he pleaded, his voice strained with disbelief. "S

ival, a woman who never fit into this family. Debra was the one Andrew should have married

istake. Ethan will divorce this woman, and you, De

my voice, trying to inject a note of reason into the madness. "Mrs. Le

own home?" she hissed, her voice dripping with venom. "You, wit

to break up Andrew and Sylvia' s engagement by planting a fake story in the pa

ecting you," she whispered, a malicious glint

e chillingly calm. She gestured to two

net and pulled out a thin, leather ridin

er face. She held it up, savoring the moment. "Just a little tap to teach

my jaw clenched.

forward. "Don't you touch her!" he ye

Ethan across the back. He grunted in pa

h the tension. Debra, momentarily distracted, turned to the baby. "Oh, t

ps of a clear liquid into the milk. "Just a little something to help her sle

tella had been unusually drowsy after Debra had "cared" for her. It all made a h

to wrestle the bottle away from her. "Eleanor, for God's sake,

in her eyes. But Debra was faster. "She's just overtired, E

to sway the old woman. Elea

voice breaking. "Look

up. He looked at his grandmother, his face a mixture of pain and betrayal. "Grandma, if you let this ha

than, the heir she was so obsessed with contr

shrieked, her voice cracking. "After everything I've done for you

to murmur their disapproval. "This is crazy," someone said.

ant concession. "Fine," she snapped. "No discipline. But

w voice, cool and authorita

l not be

drew right behind her. She surveyed the scen