Ethan stepped into my path.
«We’re not finished with this conversation.»
«Please, let me through.»
«No. You can’t disappear all day and then come home acting like the victim.»
I reached into my hospital bag and pulled out my discharge papers.
«Read them.»
He slapped the papers out of my hands.
They scattered across the floor.
One sheet landed beside the pizza box.
Ethan looked down at it but didn’t bother to pick it up.
«You think a piece of paper excuses everything?»
At that moment, something inside me finally broke.
«I lost your baby.»
My voice cracked.
«And you’re talking to me about dinner.»
His face hardened.
«You’re always trying to make me feel guilty.»
Then he raised his hand.
The first slap sent me crashing into the wall.
A sharp pain shot through my body, and I collapsed to my knees.
Margaret didn’t move.
She only said,
«Ethan, calm down before the neighbors hear you.»
He stepped toward me again.
His fist rose.
But it never reached me.
A large hand appeared from behind him and grabbed his wrist mid-swing.
Ethan froze.
Then he slowly turned around.
The man standing behind him was tall, broad-shouldered, and perfectly still.
