“I’ve got everything he needs, and the hospital has my signature on the discharge release.”

“This is ridiculous,” Ryan snapped, pulling his cell phone from his pocket.

“I will have security remove you from this building, Dad.”

“I am his father.”

“You left them,” Thomas said, turning his body to shield the baby.

“You left your wife to die, Ryan.”

“If I hadn’t gone to that house, you would be planning a funeral today.”

Ryan’s face flushed a deep, angry red, his fingers gripping his phone so tightly his knuckles turned white.

“You will regret this,” Ryan whispered, his voice shaking with a quiet fury.

“Both of you.”

He turned on his heel and strode out of the room, slamming the heavy door behind him.

The silence that followed was heavy, punctuated only by the steady beep of my heart monitor.

“He won’t stop, Thomas,” I whispered, looking at my baby boy.

“Let him try,” Thomas said, gently rocking Ethan in his arms.

“You rest now, Emma.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

I closed my eyes, the exhaustion washing over me again, but this time, the fear was different.