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Relief floods through me, and I close my eyes for a moment, taking slow, deep breaths to steady myself. “You brought me to the hospital?” I ask, my voice still a little bit shaky.
Hudson pushes off the wall and steps closer, his arms crossed over his chest. “We brought you here to make sure you’re okay after…everything that happened.”
A burning rage flickers in Antonio’s eyes, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. “That bastard Ian is finally where he belongs—in jail, and that was being kind to him,” he growls, the anger in his voice palpable. “I swear, if I ever see him again, I’ll make him pay for what he’s done to you.”
“Antonio, calm down,” Hudson interjects, placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder. He chuckles bitterly, shaking his head. “You should’ve seen the news, Harper. His whole scandalous life is out there for everyone to see now. The guy’s a laughingstock. Even if he manages to get out, he’ll never live the same life, and he’ll never hurt you again.”
“We won’t let him,” Antonio growls.
When I glance between Antonio, Benedict, and Hudson—each of their faces etched with concern, love, and determination—I can’t help but believe their words.
“By the way, Harper,” Benedict interjects, his deep voice breaking through my thoughts, “your mother called earlier.”
My head snaps up at the mention of my mother, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. “Oh, so she finally believes me?”
Benedict nods, confirming my suspicions. “She asked about you and the kids. Seemed pretty concerned, actually.”
“Better late than never,” I mutter, more to myself than to anyone else, as I stare out the window at the twinkling Christmas lights that outline the hospital grounds. Despite my words, the thought of my mother finally acknowledging the truth provides a small sliver of closure.
“Hey, um, when can I go home?” I ask hesitantly, eager to leave the sterile environment of the hospital, return to the warmth of our shared house, and get my children back with me where I can see them.
Hudson glances over at the heart monitor beside my bed, studying the rhythmic beeping for a moment before answering. “The doctor said they want to look you over one more time before discharging you, just to make sure everything’s okay. Shouldn’t be too much longer now.”
I nod. As I take a deep breath, I let the reality of the situation wash over me—Ian is in jail, my mother finally believes me, and these amazing men are by my side, ready to face whatever comes next. The fear still lingers, but it’s slowly being replaced by something stronger—hope.
And love.
I look at each of them in turn. Antonio’s fierce protectiveness, Benedict’s unwavering support, and Hudson’s gentle reassurance have been the pillars that held me up when I was on the verge of breaking.
The door to the hospital room swings open, and a doctor enters, her white coat shimmering like freshly fallen snow under the fluorescent lights. She glances at the chart in her hand before looking up at me with a warm smile.
“Good news, Harper,” she says, her tone gentle yet authoritative. “Everything from your tests came back great. You’re free to go home. You’ve been through quite an ordeal, so I’d advise taking it easy for Christmas Eve.”
Christmas Eve already? I must have been knocked out for a few days.
“Thank you, Doctor,” I manage, my voice barely above a whisper. The relief that washes over me is palpable, making me feel lighter than I’ve felt in ages.
“Of course,” she replies, nodding toward Antonio, Benedict, and Hudson. “Your friends here have been very concerned about you. Make sure you get plenty of rest, okay?”
“Will do,” I assure her as she hands me the discharge paperwork and leaves the room.
“Are you ready to go?” Antonio asks, his voice soft and tender, completely different from when he was talking about Ian.
“More than ready,” I respond.
44
BENEDICT
“Relax, Harper. You’ll see, Mom will love you,” I reassure her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze as we pull up to my mother’s house. It’s completely decked out in Christmas decorations with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa inflatables in the front, plus lights galore—on the house, in the trees, practically anywhere she could fit them. My mom has always been festive.
We approach the front door together, our footsteps crunching on the gravel path. Before we even have a chance to knock, the door swings open, revealing my mother. Her dark hair is pinned up, and she’s wearing simple overalls. She beams at us, her eyes shining with warmth and kindness.
“Come in, come in!” she exclaims, ushering us inside. “You must all be starving. How about some lunch?”
“Mom, wait,” I say, pulling her aside, trying to prevent her from inviting them in without knowing the full situation. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Harper just got out of the hospital, and I’m sure she wants to go home.”
“Darling, nonsense!” she replies, waving away my concerns with a flick of her wrist. “What kind of hostess would I be if I didn’t offer them food? Besides, I’ve already prepared enough for an army. It would be a shame for it to go to waste. And I’m sure it’ll cheer her right up.”
