Chapter 6

Tania saw the bruises on Nina's arm and her hand flew up, one slap knocking me to the ground.

"You bitch. Framing my daughter wasn't enough for you? You had to drag her out here and abuse her on purpose?!"

"Are you planning to sell her? Clear the way for some bastard you'll have someday? I'll beat you to death!"

My body was too drained to be any match for Tania in her fury.

She tore into me like a woman gone mad, and Nina broke down sobbing.

"Mommy, stop! Don't hit Teacher Cooley..."

When Sebastian saw the blood at the corner of my mouth, he frowned and pulled Tania off me.

"That's enough. You've already scared your daughter into tears. Take her to the hospital and get her checked out!"

Still not satisfied, Tania kicked me hard in the stomach.

"You touch my daughter one more time and I'll kill you!"

She scooped Nina up and turned to go.

Sebastian moved to help me up, then, catching the resentment in Tania's eyes, drew his hand back.

And because of that kick, I felt the wound in my abdomen tear open all at once.

Then came a pain that ripped straight through me.

Blood poured out, staining my white blouse red.

Helpless, I called out to him.

"Sebastian, my surgical wound has split open. Can't you take me to the hospital too?"

Tania's eyes went red at once as she glared at him.

"That was a heel, not a knife. She's just jealous, putting on a show with red ink! She'll even kidnap a child, so what's a little sob story to her?!"

"Sebastian, don't forget the promise you made me. There are still ten-odd days left of our fall trip, and I've made up my mind. It starts now."

"For these next ten days, you spend them with me and our daughter, and no one else. If you dare choose her today, I'll take Nina and jump into that lake and drown us both, so we're out of your sight for good!"

Weakly, I tried to defend myself.

"I didn't..."

"Enough!"

Sebastian looked at me, the disappointment plain on his face.

"Shelagh, when you went after Nina, did it ever cross your mind how much it would hurt Tania? Playing jealous with a stunt like this is truly shameless."

"You'd better pray Nina's all right. From now on, stay away from my daughter."

They got in the car. Nina cried and beat her hands against the window, as if she wanted to climb out.

Tania yanked her back.

The car swept off, right in front of me.

And I lost consciousness completely...

...

Half an hour later, after the exam, the doctor said Nina was fine.

Only then did Sebastian let out a breath.

He thought of the state I'd been in after Tania beat me, and that blouse soaked nearly all the way through with red.

For some reason, unease crept into his chest.

Was that... really red ink?

The next second, Sara appeared, her face ashen, and grabbed him in a panic.

"Mr. Sever, thank God you're here."

"Ma'am's wound from the miscarriage surgery has torn open badly, and she's lost too much blood. They're fighting to save her on the fourth floor right now..."