Her yellow gloves were turning red.
“Blood—oh God, you’re bleeding!” she cried, frantically checking their hands and arms. “What happened?!”
“We broke the window,” Ethan sobbed, shaking. “Dad locked us in… the door wouldn’t open… we jumped so we could get to you.”
Emily’s world tilted.
They had gone through glass.
For her.
Before she could process that kind of love, a shadow fell over them.
Richard reached them, breathing hard, eyes blazing with rage and fear. In his poisoned mind, he didn’t see a reunion.
He saw a kidnapping.
“LET THEM GO!” he roared, grabbing Noah’s arm violently. “Get away from my kids, you crazy woman!”
“Please—sir, they’re hurt!” Emily begged, shielding them with her body. “Don’t pull them—there’s glass in their hands!”
But Richard was blind.
He shoved Emily backward. She hit the curb hard. The children screamed.
“DAD, STOP!” Ethan’s shrill cry finally sliced through the fog.
Richard froze.
He looked down.
Really looked.
Blood dripping from his sons’ hands. Scraped knees. Torn clothes. Emily on the ground—hurt, but still reaching for them.
“What… what did you do to them?” he whispered, horror replacing fury.