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

A man her mother once mentioned like a wound she refused to reopen.

The father who had vanished before Sophia could even form memories.

But he stood there now.

Very real. Very present.

“Let her go,” Michael said—this time gently, but with a firmness that brooked no argument. “This is a hospital, not your battlefield.”

Vanessa hesitated, hand tightening for one more vicious second before shoving Sophia backward with a disgusted scoff.

Nurses finally rushed in, alarmed by the monitor’s shrill cry. One of them reached for the call button, but Michael raised his hand slightly. His voice softened, but wrapped steel around every word.

“I’ve got it handled. Please check the patient.”

Then he turned back to Vanessa.

“You’re leaving,” he said. “Now. Or I’ll make sure security removes you—and trust me, I won’t stop there.”

Vanessa glared, fury flaring—and something else. Something like unease. She looked back at Sophia with eyes full of spite.

“This isn’t over.”

“Yes,” Michael replied without lifting his voice. “It is.”

She left.

The room buzzed with nervous movement as nurses assessed Sophia. Her blood pressure spiked, heart racing. Contractions tensed her abdomen. Panic threatened to consume her—but Michael stayed. He didn’t speak, didn’t crowd her—simply stood there as if his presence itself was a shield.

When they left, quiet crept back in.

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