Ryan paced the pristine floors of Brenda’s hospital room, the faint scent of antiseptic doing little to calm his frayed nerves. Brenda reclined against the bed, pale and sullen, her hands protectively resting on her belly.
“You’re distracted,” she said pointedly, her tone more accusatory than concerned. “Let me guess—it’s Amelia.”
Ryan didn’t answer immediately, his mind replaying the heated argument with Amelia. The image of Hale leaving her house still burned in his memory, but something about it felt... off.
Brenda’s sharp voice cut through his thoughts. “Ryan, you know she’s never wanted what’s best for us. She’s been against us from the start. You can’t seriously still believe she has good intentions.”
He turned to face her, his brow furrowed. “Amelia isn’t the type to work with someone like Hale. She’s stubborn, but she’s not a liar.”
Brenda narrowed her eyes, her lips twisting into a scowl. “And yet, you saw him leaving her house. Or did you forget that part?”
Ryan looked away, his jaw tightening. “I don’t know what to think anymore.”
“You need to focus on what matters,” Brenda continued, her voice softening as she gestured to her stomach. “This baby is your priority now. Not her.”
Ryan moved to the window, staring out at the city lights. Despite Brenda’s insistence, his mind drifted to Amelia and the twins.
Earlier that day, he had seen a photo Amelia had posted of Damien and Debby playing in the backyard, their smiles bright and carefree. For the first time in days, Ryan had felt a pang of longing—not for the life he had with Brenda, but for the family he was struggling to rebuild.
“What if she was telling the truth?” he muttered under his breath.
Brenda perked up, her sharp instincts catching his doubt. “Ryan, don’t let her fool you. Amelia’s always been good at playing the victim. She wants you to feel guilty so she can control you.”
Ryan’s eyes flicked back to her, his expression unreadable. “You don’t know her like I do.”
Brenda’s grip on the bedrail tightened. “And you don’t know what she’s capable of. Don’t forget, she’s the one who drove you away in the first place.”
Ryan turned back to the window, his thoughts swirling. Brenda’s words stirred resentment, but deep down, an uneasy feeling gnawed at him. He had accused Amelia of betrayal without giving her the benefit of the doubt—a choice he couldn’t shake.
As he stood there, his phone buzzed in his pocket. The screen lit up with a message from an unknown number: “You’re running out of time, Ryan. Your family’s next.”