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The nurse looks at him confused. Rian elaborates quietly, “I stopped by her house the night before. She appeared distressed. Otherwise…she was unharmed. How fucking dumb does that sound?! What the hell was I even thinking?” He shakes his head, still very much upset at his own reluctance to do more. “I guess…when she told me to go, I accepted it. I thought, maybeIwas the one overreacting. MaybeIwas imagining things. I should have known better. I should have done more.”
The nurse’s expression softens. “You went back to her home uninvited. You came back the very next day. You saved her and that little boy. They will be reunited soon. All because you didn’t hesitate to go back. You did good.”
Nurse Gloria adjusts Stephanie’s blanket and checks her drip, replacing it with a fresh one.
Once she’s done, Gloria gives his shoulder a reassuring gentle squeeze. “When families fall apart in this violent way, we are simply programmed to look the other way. Scandal is everybody’s business, but pain is private. You didn’t look away. This woman owes you her life, and so does her son. Don’t wallow in regret. Invest your energy into helping more people like her. God knows this lady here has all the money in the world, but there are plenty of women and men out there, who could never escape their abusive partners.”
Rian can’t take his eyes away from Gloria. This small Filipino woman tells him the plain truth. He can’t argue with the facts.
As she softly closes the door behind her, Rian begins to wonder how he could be of any use to others if his own life is in shambles.
* * *
He wakesup in the early hours of the morning to a room filled with people. Little Toby is held by a strikingly beautiful woman and is whining because he isn’t allowed to crawl on the bed and cuddle up to his mother. Toby is visibly distressed. It breaks Rian’s heart to see him this way, and at the same time, he can’t suppress his instincts to run home to his own son.
Before Rian can try and leave discreetly, Stephanie calls for him, the effort causing her to cough. He rushes to her bedside, bringing to her lips the straw so she can have a sip of water from the cup he grabs from her bedside table.
He glances at the other woman. There is a faint resemblance there, but while Stephanie is petite with delicate features, this woman is a total amazon – tall, fierce fire burning in her eyes.
This must be Danika, he thinks to himself.
She is clearly on edge which is more than understandable.
Danika looks at him, seemingly undecided if she should thank him, or slap him. After a tense moment of regarding each other, she seems to make up her mind. She mouths,Thank you.
Rian bobs his head meekly.
This woman isnota crier. The words she wants to relay are simply not there yet.
They both focus their attention on Stephanie, who is trying to tell Rian something, but seems to struggle to find the right words. “Rian, I didn’t imagine this was ever going to happen to me. I never…” Still very emotional, she takes a deep breath to calm herself and goes on, “I know who your husband is. I know…I think you need…I want you to know, that you’re not alone. I can help you. Don’t wait until it’s too late.”
He swallows thickly. In the back of his mind, some ridiculous thought is trying to resurface. Some bullshit notion that he should be embarrassed he is in this position. That he is a man and shouldn’t need any help. That he can take the abuse because he is physically stronger.
But he ignores this poisonous voice now. He humbly nods in agreement, because yes, he needs fucking help. He is all alone in this nightmare with his son. The time for pride is over. All he has the power to mutter is, “Thank you.”
Toby reaching for his mommy brings them back to their current situation. Rian discreetly leaves the room, giving the Daud clan some privacy.
The hospital is swarmed with people. Cameras flash in his eyes momentarily blinding him. Suddenly he is pulled from side to side by reporters asking him questions about last night.
“What is your relationship with Stephanie Daud?”
“Why were you at the Daud residence?”
“Are you affiliated with the Daud conglomerate?”
Rian is too shocked to process any of the other questions screamed in his direction. The police officers try to disperse the crowd, but it is useless. More and more reporters keep pushing in, soon forcing him into a corner, where he is completely trapped. Rian starts to panic. He isn’t sure he wants any of this attention and vaguely thinks Harris might not be happy about it at all.
He feels a firm clasp over his elbow. Rian looks to his right startled – it is Mr. Duncan. He gives him a curt nod, and an understanding passed between them. Rian takes a step back and lets the elderly man handle the crowd. Mr. Duncan is poised and calm when he raises his hand, and the crowd goes quiet.
“My name is August Duncan, and I will be acting as legal counsel for Mr. Rian Kelly. He has no statement for the press at this time.”
The angry mob begins buzzing with more questions, but Mr. Duncan swiftly ignores them. He’s urging Rian to follow his lead, directing them to the main entrance. One particularly loud shout reached them. “What is a retired federal judge doing representing a queer writer in a domestic assault case?”
Rian has no idea what the reporter is talking about.Federal judge?
Mr. Duncan had mentioned he was retired when they had first met. Rian had left it at that, assuming he shouldn’t push for more information. August Duncan had seemed more inclined to share stories about gardening conventions and Coco’s daily mischievous adventures.
Mr. Duncan turns to the journalist. Everyone seems to be holding their breath, the paparazzi cameras furiously clicking. A few reporters appeared to be googling Mr. Duncan.
