Chapter 4

By the time I finally managed to force my way out of the room, Yates was in the master bedroom tending to an unconscious Winnie.

His eyes landed on my face, and the corner of his mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.

He seemed convinced I'd finally realized I was wrong, that I regretted saying we were over.

He was going to be disappointed.

I walked straight past him and went to Winnie.

"Where's Leo?" Even my voice was shaking.

Guilt flickered through her eyes.

"Why are you asking me? He's asleep with Nora."

Yates immediately stepped in front of her, his face guarded and impatient.

"You already upset Winnie so badly she fainted. What else are you trying to do?

"Can you stop pretending? Since when have you ever cared this much about Leo?"

I stared at him, stupefied, unable to believe those words had actually come out of his mouth.

But I didn't have time for this. The alarm on my smartwatch wouldn't stop going off, and every instinct I had was screaming that Leo was in danger.

My heart pounded as I grabbed Winnie by the collar.

"Where did you hide Leo?"

She shook her head innocently.

Then, without warning, she caught my arm and leaned close to whisper in my ear.

"That child is the reason this whole nightmare started. I can't keep watching Yates get dragged down because of him. You don't want that either, do you?"

Then she pulled up the security feed from the backyard pool.

Three-year-old Leo was bobbing in the water, his tiny arms and legs thrashing desperately.

The blood in my veins curdled.

I snapped.

My hands closed around Winnie's throat, squeezing hard.

"Winnie Blake, give Leo back to me!"

As we struggled, black blood suddenly began running from my nose and mouth.

Everyone around us gasped.

Yates stood frozen, staring at me in shock.

"What the hell is happening...?"

Only I knew the sleeping pills were starting to take effect.

I calmly wiped the blood from my face.

Even if I only got to be his mother for a little longer, I was still going to protect my child.

I stumbled toward the pool, but Yates suddenly blocked my path.

"You think you can attack someone and just walk away? Apologize to Winnie. Now."

Claire stepped in front of me too, disappointment written all over her face.

"Winnie has sacrificed so much for you and Leo. Now look at what you've done to her. You owe her an apology."

I bit down hard on my lip and refused to say a word.

When I tried to force my way past them, Yates reacted faster. He grabbed me and injected me with a sedative.

My body went limp, and I collapsed into his arms.

Through the thick glass windows, I watched Leo slowly sink beneath the surface of the pool.

I watched until the water went still.

Claire's furious voice rang in my ears.

"All you have to do is nod your head. We can send Hannah to a psychiatric hospital and get her treated. It'll be better for everyone.

"Then you and Winnie can finally be together without having to hide it!"

Yates said nothing.

Just as he always did, he silently carried me back to my room.

I lay down on the familiar bed and slowly closed my eyes.

Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth, staining the sheets red.

It felt like the last trace of me this house would ever hold.

In the end, Yates didn't stay in the master bedroom with Winnie.

He went out and came home carrying a bouquet of flowers.

He called out to Hannah twice.

But there was no answer.

In the instant he pushed open the bedroom door, his eyes went wide.