Ariel sat on the bed, her hands gently cradling her swollen belly as she waited for Chase to emerge from the bathroom. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions – anxiety, fear, and anger – as she thought about Monica’s release from prison. The woman who had stolen her newborn baby and pretended to be her mother was now free, and Ariel couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease.
As she rubbed her belly, Ariel felt a sense of protectiveness wash over her. She was worried about the safety of her unborn child and her other kids. Monica’s past actions had shown her to be unpredictable and dangerous.
Chase came out of the bathroom, and Ariel could see the exhaustion etched on his face. She knew he had been avoiding conversations about Monica, but she couldn’t stay silent anymore.
“Chase, we need to
