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I blink against the pounding in my skull, trying to focus. “Brett. Please.”

Nothing.

Tears well up in my eyes. “Why are you doing this?”

Still nothing.

Salty tears spill down my cheeks. “Is this about the label? You could have just asked me.”

His jaw ticks, and finally, he lets out a low, bitter laugh. It sounds broken, like something in him is cracking from the inside out.

“I was your wife,” I say softly. “I would’ve given it to you.”

He looks at me now, really looks, and I see it in his eyes. Hate. But also, something way worse.

Knowledge.

A secret he’s waiting to throw in my face.

I should have known. I should have seen it.

My stomach churns. My pulse spikes with dread.

I stare past him, eyes locked on the basement door.

Julian, please come save me.

I think of my girls. Their laughter. Their light. I keep asking Brett where they are, if they’re safe. He won’t tell me, and I hate him for it.

I cough and immediately regret it as the booming pain explodes in my head. A fresh wave of tears pools in my eyes as I avoid Brett’s glare. Then—

BOOM.

It sounds like thunder exploded inside the house. The ceiling vibrates, and something heavy hits the floor upstairs.

Brett jumps up and points his gun at the door. My breath catches as my heart slams into my ribs.

“What was that?” I ask softly, but he ignores me again.

The basement door creaks open.

Heavy footsteps echo down the stairs.

Then I see him.

Julian.

Hands up. Calm. Focused. Determined, even with a gun aimed at his back.

I start sobbing the moment I see him.

He starts seething the moment he sees me. His entire body tenses, his fists clenching in the air.

“Did he do that to you?” His voice is shaking with barely restrained rage.

He doesn’t give me a chance to answer before he looks at Brett.

“What the fuck happened to her face?”