Dr. Harrison swallowed hard, his adam’s apple bobbing.

“We will wait for Mr. Parker’s arrival,” Dr. Harrison said, backing toward the door.

“We will be in the administrator’s office,” the lawyer said.

They turned and walked out, the door swinging shut behind them.

The silence that followed was heavy and suffocating.

I pulled my knees toward my chest, ignoring the sharp pull of my stitches.

“They’re going to take him,” I sobbed, burying my face in my hands. “They’re going to take Ethan.”

Laura sat on the edge of the bed and pulled me into her arms.

“No, they aren’t,” she whispered, her chin resting on my hair. “We won’t let them.”

Thomas leaned against the wall, his face pale and lined with exhaustion.

“Margaret planned this the moment she found out you survived,” Thomas said. “She cannot stand to lose control.”

“And Ryan is letting her,” I said, my voice muffled against Laura’s shoulder. “He left me to die, and now he wants my son.”

“Ryan is a coward,” Thomas said. “He always has been.”

Victoria sat back down at the small table and opened her laptop.