She believed attacking a pregnant woman in the hospital had no consequences — until the father she never expected showed up.

“So,” she said coolly, walking closer. “This is where you decided to hide.”

Sophia’s heart jolted. “What are you doing here?”

Vanessa’s gaze flickered to Sophia’s pregnant belly with undisguised disdain.

“You really think this baby is going to chain him to you? You’re delusional. Ryan doesn’t want you. He wants freedom. He wants a real partner. And frankly—” she leaned closer “—you’re in the way.”

Sophia’s pulse thundered in her ears. She tried to push herself upright, gripping the rails of the bed as fear shot through her, hot and crushing.

“Please,” she whispered, voice trembling. “Leave. I don’t want stress. I don’t want trouble.”

Vanessa scoffed. “Trouble already exists. You created it.”

She lunged forward, fingers digging into Sophia’s arm, yanking her forward as if she meant to rip the courage straight out of her.

“You don’t deserve him. You never did.”

Pain flared—not just in Sophia’s body, but through her chest, sharp and brutal. Panic clawed at her throat. The monitor beside her erupted into a frantic beeping frenzy.

And then—

A voice cut through the chaos.

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