Chapter 4

After the sparse graveside service, David walked away from Ethan' s freshly covered grave, the scent of damp earth clinging to him.

The grief, the exhaustion, the years of stress and poor nutrition, finally caught up.

He collapsed on the cemetery path.

He woke up in a sterile hospital room, a doctor explaining he' d suffered from severe exhaustion and dehydration.

As he lay there, drifting in and out of a dazed state, he heard familiar voices from the hallway.

Victoria. And Leo.

He pushed himself up, his body aching, and shuffled to the door, peering through the small window.

Victoria was fussing over Finn Maxwell in a private room down the hall.

Finn looked perfectly healthy, lounging on the bed, complaining loudly about the "stress" of his upcoming college orientation.

Leo stood beside Victoria, an arm around her waist, murmuring reassurances.

David' s blood ran cold.

Then Leo stepped out of the room, a smug look on his face when he spotted David.

"Well, well, David," Leo said, his voice dripping with condescension. "Heard you had a bit of a tumble. Vicky was so worried, but Finn needed her more, you understand."

David just stared, the pieces clicking into place with horrifying clarity.

Leo leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "She' s always been devoted, you know. To me. To Finn. She' s taken good care of us. That new sports car she got Finn? Sweet ride."

He paused, then added casually, "Finn had a bit of a minor scrape with it the other night. Coming home late. Might have clipped a cyclist who just came out of nowhere. Kid on an old bike, I think. But don't you worry, Vicky's lawyers are all over it. Smoothing things out."

A cyclist. An old bike.

The air rushed out of David' s lungs.

The world swam.

Finn. Finn killed Ethan.

With Victoria's car.

A guttural roar tore from David' s throat. He lunged at Leo, his hands outstretched, aiming for the smug bastard' s throat.

Victoria rushed out of Finn' s room at the commotion.

Seeing David attacking Leo, she didn' t hesitate.

She launched herself at David, her nails scratching his face, her fists pummeling his chest.

"Get off him!" she screamed, her face contorted with rage. "Security! Help! He' s attacking Leo!"

Hospital staff rushed over, pulling a stunned, bleeding David away.

Victoria ignored David completely, turning to Leo, fussing over his feigned injuries, her voice laced with frantic concern.

"Leo, are you okay? Oh, my god, that maniac! Someone get a doctor for Mr. Maxwell, now!"

David watched, his heart shattering into a million pieces, as she prioritized the man whose son had murdered hers, the man she had chosen over her own family, time and time again.