The doctor waves her hands. “Oh no, no. The baby is very much fine. Perfect, really. You’re doing an amazing job with prenatal care.”
I frown. “Then what’s there to be concerned about?”
“It’s that man.” She lowers her voice. “The man who was here earlier. The one who brought you to the hospital. Is he your husband?”
“Hell no,” I blurt out before realizing how bad that probably sounded. “I mean—I do know him. But we are not…together…anymore. I mean, we were. Sort of. It’s complicated.”
I’m rambling like an idiot. Meanwhile, she gives me an empathetic nod. Like she understands.
Homegirl has no idea.
“Relationships are complicated,” she says.
Understatement of the year.
“But they should never feel unsafe,” she goes on, and my eyes widen.
“Oh. No. No, no, no.” I let out a little nervous laugh. “Thanks, but—it’s not like that.”
“He’s demanding a paternity test,” she says, and I snort.
“Of course he is.”
“Obviously, that’s not something we would or can do without your consent. Though I will say that he could try to stir up trouble if you refuse. Legally, I mean.”
I shake my head, pressing the heels of my hands to my eyes. “No. It’s fine. If that’s really what he wants,”if that’s what will make him leave me alone,I add mentally,“then let’s do it.”
“Are you sure?” she asks. “Because if you need us to get the police involved, we can.”
“No,” I blurt out way too quickly. Then I realize how bad that sounds. “It’s just…”
The doctor places her hand on my arm. “You really can be honest with us, Miss Hathaway. You are safe here.”
Safe.
What a stupid fucking word.
They have no idea what it means, or what itdoesn’tmean, in my situation. They have no idea who I’m dealing with. Ransome isn’t just some angry, controlling asshole of an ex. Not even close. And not even cops could make him stay away, which is why it’s easier to just give him what he wants. For now.
“It’s okay, really. His bark is bigger than his bite.” I force a smile. One thing is for sure: I have gotten unrealistically good at lying since I met Ransome Rozanov.
After the doctor and the nurse leave, I close my eyes. I am so tired that they literally burn the moment I shut them. If only I could turn my brain off long enough to sleep. Even if it was only for a moment.
I almost do. Within minutes, my head droops to the side. My breaths start to even. And I almost get that moment of relief?—
When, suddenly, the door opens again.
No.Slams.Hard into the wall behind it.
I jolt upright and nearly pull the IV from my arm.
My first thought is cops. The second, because I’m exhausted and paranoid, is Tristan.
But to my relief, and a little bit to my worry, it’s my siblings, all three of them rushing my bed in a tizzy.
“Oh my God, what happened?” Eliza asks, nearly throwing herself on top of me.
“It’s okay, guys. I’m fine, really.”
