Chapter 5
My twisted arm had aggravated an old injury, requiring surgery.
From preparation through surgery to regaining consciousness, nearly a wook had passed.
During this time, Mr. Pierce disappeared again.
He didn’t contact me, nor did he show up for our scheduled wedding photo shoot.
Just when I thought he would never appear again.
Disaster struck
“Mom… Mommy…
“It hurts… it hurts so much.”
“Help me, please help me…
I was walking back to my room with an IV bottle when, passing by another hospital room.
The agonizing eries coming from inside made me stop in my tracks.
So familiar…
Could it be… Riley?
“Riley hurts so much… Mommy come…”
My pupils dilated in shook, the water bottle crashed to the floor as I burst through the door.
Trembling, I reached for the hospital bed, and when I saw who it was, my eyes instantly turned blood–red
“Riley! Why are you here?”
in like th
“What happened to you, how did you end up like this….
In a daze, I pulled back the blanket to check her injuries, my hands shaking more with each revelation.
Riley’s entire body was wrapped in bandages
Even the thick bandages couldn’t contain the red seeping through from beneath.
The wound at the back of her head was the worst, blood had completely soaked through the pillow.
Tears streamed down uncontrollably as I bit my lip hard to s
suppress a sob
Riley’s swollen eyes were barely open, but even so, she wasn’t crying.
Instead, she reached up to wipe away my tears.
“Mom, don’t cry.”
“Riley doesn’t hurt, daddy just didn’t mean to…
Just as Riley’s voice trailed off, a sharp cry came from the doorway.
“Ah! It hurtel”
“Brother Pierce, my hand hurts so much, it’s bleeding”
“Brother Piorco, don’t worry about me, I brought this on myself.”
“It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t insisted on taking Riley along, you wouldn’t have had to protect me, leaving Riley behind to fall down that cliff…”
“I just wanted to see where you worked, and bond with Riley a little. I never meant for this to happen..
Summer’s voice trombled with self–pity, and Mr. Pierce immediately softened.
“This isn’t your fault”
“It’s Riley’s fault for being too young and disobedient. If she hadn’t run off, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“Nothing serious happened anyway, she won’t blame you.”
“Let’s get your hand treated, such a large scrape worries mo.”
In that moment, all my recent struggles felt like a joke.
A complete and utter joke.
How disgusting
Summer was disgusting, but Mr. Pierce was even more revolting!
What was there to love about this heartless man who would hurt his own child for love?
Rage surged through me, burning even my heart.
Looking at Mr. Pierce and Summer’s faces, I wanted to toor them apart right there!
After calming the pale–faced Riley, Iclenched my fists and loft.
Once outside, I grabbed the thermos from the floor and lunged at Summer like a madwoman.
“AM”
Ignoring my recently operated hand, I raised my palm and slapped her,
“Ugh!”
“Who?! Summer Brooks?”
“What are you doing, let go of me! Ugh!”
“Brother Pierce, Brother Pierce! Help me, it hurts! Ah!
Fury had stripped away all my restraint. Ignoring her struggles, I delivered another heavy slap.
Summer’s face twisted to the side, blood trickling from her mouth.
The commotion drew a crowd, but while many wanted to intervene, they hesitated at the sight of my frenzied state.
I grabbed the thermos from the floor and yanked Summer’s hair.
Then poured the entire bottle of water over her head.
“Ahhhhh!
Summer lat out a piercing scream, struggling desperately to escape,
But I held hor with all my strength, giving her no chance to flee.
“Does it hurt? This pain is nothing compared to what Riley is suffering!”
“Summer Brooks, are you oven human? You destroy my family and now you try to kill my child?!”
“You better pray Riley will be okay, because I promise you, next time it won’t be cold water I pour on your face, it will be boiling hot!”
Throwing Summer aside, I stood up and shook off Mr. Pierce, who had been trying to pull me away.
Without hesitation, I slapped him with all my might
“SLAPI
The enormous sound ochood through the quiet hallway.
Mr. Pierce stood dumbfounded, unable to process what had happened.
“Ethan Pierce, you don’t deserve to be a father, you don’t even deserve to be human!”
“I will never forget what you said today, or what you did to Riley. You will pay for this.”
“Seven years of affairs, disappearing, even attempting bigamy I’ll give y you what you want. The divorce papers will be on your desk tomorrow”
“From now on, I make you pay for every debt you owe mal”
As I left, I heard Summer whining to Mr. Pierce.
And Mr. Pierce’s long, hesitant pause in response,
