The Call That Ruined Me

air smelled of antiseptic and floor cleaner. My body felt hea

Liam's grandfather, the family patriarch, Mr. Stone, was sitting in a chair by

wake and came

softer than I'd ever heard

t my throat was raw.

iles, came in. He was older, with kind

vere internal bleeding. There was a uterine perforation during a medic

taking a

ould, but the damage was too extensiv

b was gone. The one thing Liam had demanded from me, the one thing this entire ni

hook my body. There

was surprisingly gentle. He turned to the doc

left, closing the do

llowed was heavy wi

is voice a low rumble of fury. "He went too far.

a hoarse whisper.

t solid. A single brick

, a little stronger this

here was sympathy, but also the weary calculation

.. complicated. A divorce right now, after this 'accident'... it would be a

ut I expected it. The Stone

ashing down on me again. "He took everything. My caree

ound of a man trapped between morali

s just paper. It can be torn up." He paused again. "Let

, gentle squeeze befor

r of hope. It was a fragile thing

stion too great to fight. As I drifted off, my last conscious thought w