I spot Malia behind him, Liam at her side holding a bundle wrapped in a blanket.“Milly,” I cry.“Is she okay?”
Malia nods.“She needs to get checked over.”
I tug the blanket down, and tears slip when I see a bruise on her cheek.Thankfully, she’s asleep.“You said she was okay.”
Malia pulls me in for a hug.“I love you.”
I hug her back just as tightly.“I love you too.”
She pulls back and eyes me, then Reid.I see the silent question in her eyes.“He hasn’t told me.You don’t need to either unless you want to.It makes no difference because how I feel about you, and how I see you, will never change.Okay?”
She nods and goes to speak, but a hysterical Evie grabs my attention.The very thing I’ve been worried about happens.She falls to her knees in front of Wyatt.“How can you look at me?How can you not see him?What he’s done to your family,” she wails.
Wyatt gets to his knees in front of her, grasping her face in his hands.“I don’t see him when I look at you.I see the love of my life, the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.I see someone who loves so fiercely and completely.I see the woman who will carry my children.I love you Evie.I love your kindness.Your generosity.He isnotyour father.I don’t care what DNA says, he isn’t.His children turned out evil, Evie.They are cruel in a way you can’t even stomach.That’s why I only see you.He is nothing.”He leans forward and whispers something in her ear.
She pulls back, her pupils blown, giving off a feral look.“Do not lie.”
His head bows.“I’m not.”
Her voice lowers.“He can’t hurt anyone else?”
He shakes his head and she throws herself at him, sobbing uncontrollably.“I’m sorry.I’m sorry.I’m sorry.”
“Turn that up,” Isaac yells.“Can someone turn it up?”
Everyone’s gaze goes to the television as Max jumps onto a chair, pressing the volume button.
“Early this evening, specialist officers were deployed to Oakland prison facility in Leicester.A riot had broken out at 3.45 this afternoon, injuring three inmates and causing the death of one inmate.Katherine Black, who has been on the news recently for the embezzlement of funds from her company, Kratos Properties and Investments, was found dead in her cell at 4.30 this evening.Her arrest charges also consisted of endangering a minor and resisting arrest.
“It is unknown why the riot broke out at this time.Detectives are still investigating.The ministry of justice has responded with the following statement:
“Riots are not a common occurrence at our prison.We will be making amendments in our procedures to make sure this never happens again.We will be working with detectives to find out who is responsible.”
The statement continues, but the nurse on the front desk mutes the television, glaring at Max.
“You weren’t joking,” Reid whispers.
I go to question who he is talking to, but suddenly, Milly arches her back, screaming.“No, no, no.Bear.Bear.Malia,” she screeches.“Liza!Liza!”
Liam is quietly rocking her in his arms despite her not being a baby.Malia reaches up, running the tip of her finger over her cheek.“Baby, it’s okay.Liza is okay.She’s okay.”
“Maybe we should take her in,” Liam rumbles.
And that’s when I look at their clothes.“You weren’t wearing those earlier,” I state quietly.I know because I passed Malia and Liam on my way to the farm.She was talking to a guest, and Liam was outside with Liam Carter, talking.
“No, we weren’t,” she tells me.“I will explain later.”
“Hey, they’ve arrested their mum,” Luke announces.
I glance back at the television and see the woman who was on the steps of Kratos with her son.She’s handcuffed, being led to a police car waiting for her.
“It’s really over,” Paisley whispers, clutching on to Landon.
“We can go back home,” Lily declares, leaning into Jaxon when he pulls her closer.
“No more being scared,” Rebecca confesses.
“We can forget about them,” Evie adds.
