"Don't test me. I could arrange for your mother to have a little accident right here in this hospital."
The word accident hit me like a spark landing in hot oil.
"Mabel!"
My hand flew before I could think, connecting hard with her face.
Crack.
Mabel stumbled back two steps, clutching her cheek as she crumpled into Guy's arms, eyes glistening with perfectly manufactured tears.
"I was only asking about your mother's health, and you hit me! How could you, Amber?"
"Amber! You're insane!" Guy's head snapped up, fury blazing in his eyes. "Mabel was kind enough to bring us here to visit your mother, and you slap her out of jealousy? Apologize. Now."
He turned back to Mabel, cradling her with a tenderness I had never once seen directed at me. Every gentle murmur, every careful touch, all reserved for her.
Tears slipped down my face before I could stop them, slowly hardening into a bitter smile.
This was the man I'd loved for ten years.
He hadn't asked me for a single explanation. One sentence from Mabel, and he'd turned on me like I was the enemy.
"She threatened my mother! She's the one who killed my daughter!"
"Shut your mouth!"
Guy rose to his feet. His hand came down across my face with full force.