“I had a miscarriage, Ryan,” she said flatly. “The baby is gone. The doctor said the stress caused the placenta to detach.”
For a brief second, the room went silent.
She waited for even a small sign of remorse.
Instead, Ryan sneered.
“That’s nonsense,” he scoffed. “You’re lying because you forgot to buy groceries. You’re pathetic. You couldn’t even carry a baby properly.”
Then—
Smack.
The back of his hand slammed across her face.
The force sent Lily crashing to the floor, the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth.
“Don’t lie to me!” Ryan roared.
He stepped forward, towering over her trembling body. His fist tightened, ready to strike again.
“Get up,” he shouted. “You’re going to clean this house right now.”
Ryan swung his arm down.
But his punch never landed.
From the shadow of the doorway behind him, a massive hand shot forward and grabbed his wrist mid-air.
The grip tightened.
Crack.
The sound of bone snapping echoed through the room.
Ryan screamed in shock and pain as he spun around.
Standing in the doorway was General Daniel Carter, Lily’s father — a retired four-star military commander who had spent three decades leading soldiers through combat zones.
He didn’t look angry.
He looked cold.