Chapter 29

Ethan Sullivan's fingers jerked violently on the guitar strings.

The door to the private room crashed open with a deafening bang that made his eardrums throb. He looked up to meet Andrew Lucas's ice-cold gaze.

"What the hell, Andrew?" Ethan flung the guitar onto the couch. "Can't you see I'm singing for the lady?"

Andrew's eyes slid past him, locking onto Susan Thompson with an intensity that could flay skin.

Nicole Capra dug her nails into her palms. She grabbed Andrew's sleeve, her voice trembling. "Andrew, our baby..."

The words doused Andrew like a bucket of ice water. He slumped back onto the couch, knuckles cracking under the force of his clenched fists.

Nicole exhaled in relief, though a flicker of malice crossed her eyes. Suddenly, she raised her voice. "Ethan, do you know who hurt Mom?"

"Who?" Ethan shot to his feet.

"Her!" Nicole pointed accusingly at Susan. "Susan murdered my child, and now she's coming after Mom!"

Ethan's expression froze. He turned slowly to Susan. "Is it... true?"

Susan's lips trembled. "I didn't—"

"When I got to the hospital room, Aunt Catherine was already..." Her voice broke. "I respected her more than anyone. How could I hurt her?"

The room plunged into suffocating silence.

Then Ethan reached out and ruffled Susan's hair. "I believe you."

Those three words shattered Susan's composure. Tears spilled over as she buried her face in Ethan's chest like a wronged child.

"Silly girl." Ethan wiped her tears with his thumb. "When Mom wakes up, the truth will come out."

He took her hand. "Come on, let's wash your face."

The hallway lights were dim. Ethan suddenly stopped—Susan's white glove was stained with vivid red.

"What happened to your hand?"

Susan hid it behind her back. "Just a scratch."

Ethan yanked off the glove without hesitation. Susan gasped in pain—the wound on her severed finger had festered, the fabric sticking to torn flesh.

"Who did this?!" Ethan's eyes burned red.

Susan lowered her lashes. "I really did it myself—"

"Hospital. Now."

The emergency room blazed with light. Susan bit her lip bloody but never cried out as the doctor treated her wound. Ethan stood rigid, knuckles white.

By dawn, Susan insisted on leaving. Unable to refuse, Ethan took her home.

In the apartment hallway, Andrew stood like a statue at her door. Bloodshot eyes, alcohol-stained suit—he hadn't slept all night.

"Had fun?" His voice was raw with fury.