Chapter 2

Evening.

Reginald came home reeking of alcohol. As he bent to change his shoes, his shirt pulled loose from his belt, and from where I lay half-reclined on the sofa I saw them at once, the dense scatter of kiss marks all over his waist.

Thinking I was asleep, he crossed into the living room and dropped his voice at Isabella Chavez, who was still busy with her chores.

"Isabella, I hired you to take proper care of my wife. She throws a fit and runs home from the hospital, and you just let her?"

"When she wakes up, you'd better get her back to the hospital nicely, or it won't go well for you."

With that, Reginald stalked off toward the bathroom, still fuming.

The water had barely started running when a coy little voice drifted out from inside.

"Reginald, what are you doing! Wasn't earlier enough for you? Do you have to watch me shower too..."

The clinging, sticky scene from the office a few hours ago flashed back into my mind. I couldn't hold it down. One hand pressed to the small swell of my belly, I gagged, a sharp sound tearing out of me.

Inside the bathroom, the laughter and the running water cut off all at once.

Reginald came rushing out with a towel thrown over him, crossed the room, and pulled me into his arms, his face and voice all tenderness.

"Genevieve, does something hurt? How did you start gagging in your sleep? This is my fault, I didn't take good enough care of you..."

Every word earnest, every line aching with concern.

If I hadn't stood outside that office and heard those words with my own ears, I'd have gone to my grave never dreaming this man was a beast wearing a human face.

"Mrs. Delgado..."

Isabella edged forward, trembling, twisting the hem of her clothes, and forced the words out awkwardly.

"In a case like this, you really must go to the hospital, or both you and the baby could be in danger. I've cared for pregnant women for more than ten years now. You have to trust me..."

"Shut up!"

Reginald cut her off through clenched teeth.

"Does my wife need you deciding where she goes?"

His large hand kept moving over my back, his voice husky and gentle.

"Genevieve, the hospital's no good place to be. If you don't want to go, then we won't..."

Isabella looked like she wanted to step in and say something more, but didn't dare.

Watching her face go paler still, I cut Reginald off.

"I'll go back to the hospital."

The moment I said it, Isabella let out a breath of relief.

I looked straight into Reginald's eyes, and beneath that thin outer layer of tenderness, deep down I caught it, a well-hidden flicker of ease and smug satisfaction.

Reginald didn't dare waste a single second, moving as if half a beat too slow and I might change my mind.

In under twenty minutes I was back inside the hospital that had cost me eighteen children.

The smell of disinfectant stung my eyes till they ached.

I had just lain down on the bed when Dr. Fox pushed the door open.