Abandon Deadly Betrayal, Embrace New Life

ayley's at the hospital. She started hem

lotte's arm, his grip like

violence of his grip shocking her. This wasn't the grieving, apolog

AB negative. Same as yours. The hospital's blood bank is low. You're

e wanted her to save the woman who had just destro

er heels in. "Let go of me, Fra

h fury. "This is a person's life we're talking about!

into her skin. The heavy wedding ring on his finger, the one that was

s that you'd watch someone die out of spite?" he yel

mpassion into a weapon against her. In the chaotic swirl of pain and confus

ll of fear. Franklin didn't let go of her arm for a second, pulling

at a startled nurse. "Her name is

g. She was about to give her own blood, her life force, to the woman who had stolen her fiancé and

m back one last time. "F

behind her chair, placing his hands firmly on her should

eek. She watched, numb, as her dark red blood flowed through the clear tube, leaving her body to go save her rival

ard donation, but after the emotional devastation of the day, her bod

se said, taping a co

. "Thank God," he breathed, his relief palpable. Jus

abilized her, but s

k back at Charlotte. He sprinted toward the

her. The world tilted sideways, and she collapsed, her head cr

ascaded down, striking her on the head and shoulders. A sharp, bli

s he disappeared through the operating room

.

She was in a private hospital room. Franklin was sitting in a chair by her bed, his head in his

oice raspy. "I'm so sorry. I didn't see y

t like a hollow echo in the sterile room. Sorry he didn

, her voice a dry rasp

and, but she pulled it away. "I promise, Charlotte. I will never, ever treat you like that aga

d their world and was now promising to glue the pieces back together with empty words. He was so con

ntion was fractured. His phone buzzed constantly with updates from Hayley's room. He would be in the middle of feeding Charlotte

phone rang. He answered it, his focus immediately

slid awkwardly, her injured shoulder wrenching as it

s face a mess of guilt and frustrati

sly quiet. "Just get out, Franklin. Go

pleaded, his voice cracking. "I'll spend

to say. He was a stranger now, a man whose heart beat for someone else. Their future, the one she had so