Too Late to Love Her Right

Chapter 8 The Decision

　　Only when Fiona was pushed to the edge did Debbie finally feel a flicker of satisfaction, like all the twisted emotions buried inside her had found release. She casually dropped a "Get some rest" before hurrying out the door, looking just a bit too frantic to be genuine.

　　Her dress was soaked halfway up, making her look all pitiful and innocent-like she'd just been the victim in all this.

　　"Carlos, sis didn't mean to... Don't be mad at her, okay?"

　　Carlos stared at her, but what flashed through his mind wasn't her apologetic face-it was the image of that furious woman in the room, shaking with rage, eyes blazing. His chest tightened.

　　"Why did you say that just now in the ward?"

　　"Huh? What do you mean?"

　　"You said the baby would be staying with you?"

　　Debbie blinked at him innocently, her expression painted with confusion and hurt.

　　"Carlos, isn't that the right thing to do? I'm your wife. If sis takes the baby, people will say it's an illegitimate child. Do you really want your child labelled like that? I'm just thinking about what's best for you, her, and the baby. And besides... with my health like this, I probably can't ever have a child of my own, so..."

　　"Enough," Carlos cut her off, frustration in his voice. "Just don't ever bring this up in front of her again. She can't handle it."

　　"Okay... I understand. I'll be careful around her..."

　　Leaning gently against him like she was the most obedient woman in the world, Debbie gave a soft reply. But behind those quiet words, every sentence had another layer, sharp and cutting.

　　Heh... Fiona, Carlos will always be mine. You think just because you're pregnant, you can take him away? Keep dreaming.

　　*****

　　After Debbie left, Fiona sat like a broken doll, all out of tears.

　　She placed a shaky hand on her belly, her voice hoarse, tears silently streaming down.

　　"Baby... what do I do now? What should I do?"

　　The sudden ring of her phone cracked through the silence like a whip.

　　Seeing Ryan Carter's name on the screen, her fingers trembled as she picked up.

　　"Ryan, did you... did you find out who caused the accident?"

　　It had been almost half a year, and they still hadn't tracked down the person who killed Bruce.

　　Countless nights she'd dreamt of him-bloodied, standing beneath the pale sky, looking at her with that unbearable smile.

　　That pain in her chest never left-it just spread, deeper and deeper.

　　Ryan's voice came through low and tense, his eyes on the video playing on his screen.

　　"I found someone who saw what happened that day. But their statement and evidence are in police custody-you'll have to come see it yourself. And..."

　　He paused, then added, "You absolutely can't let Carlos or Debbie find out. Got it?"

　　Fiona didn't know why he was being so insistent, but thinking of the warning Carlos had given her, her heart sank.

　　"Okay."

　　As she ended the call, her mind was made up.

　　She had to run-escape this twisted cage before it crushed her completely. She'd take her child and get far, far away.

　　That was the only way to make sure her baby wouldn't fall into some other woman's hands and grow up calling her "mom." And it'd give her leverage over Carlos, to keep him from touching Bruce's grave.

　　This baby-it was her last tie to herself.

　　She lay numbly in that cold, sterile hospital room like a trapped animal, staring blankly for hours. Then, when the hallways fell into silence, she crept to the door.

　　But just as she turned the handle, she froze.

　　Two bodyguards in black suits were standing right outside. As soon as they saw her, they moved in, cool and precise.

　　"Miss Harper, without Mr. Morton's permission, you're not allowed to leave."