Page 215 of I See You

She hadn’t told him. Not yet. How could she?

The love of his life was down the hall, unconscious, fighting for her life. How could she add that weight—the death of the woman who raised him, his rock, his anchor—to his chest?

She couldn’t.

Harper made a silent promise to Helen as the elevator doors closed behind her:I’ll tell him when he can breathe again. I’ll carry it for him until then.

Even if it broke her to do it.

Themomenttheireyesmet,theyfellintoeachother’sarms.

Neither spoke, but their pain did.

“Have they said anything?” Harper asked, her voice shaky once they pulled apart.

“No. They still back there with her.” Dorian wiped at her cheeks, trying to keep herself from crumbling.

“She’s going to make it,” Harper said softly, like she was trying to convince herself as much as Dorian. “Sevyn is strong.”

Dorian didn’t answer. She just nodded, holding back another wave of tears, praying Harper was right.

Because losing Sevyn would break them all—and for Dorian, there wouldn’t be no coming back.

The elevatordingedagain,andDorianandHarperlookedup,expectingtoseeHassan,Von,andRomanwalkthrough.But the second Dorian saw who it really was, her heart dropped to her stomach.

Trina stormed into the waiting room, Steven right behind her, along with Dorian’s own parents. All of their faces were painted with panic, pain, and fury. Dorian shot up before they could make it to the front desk.

“What is going on? Where is my baby?!” Trina’s voice echoed through the waiting area, drawing attention from everyone seated.

“Auntie, calm down. You’re going to get us kicked out,” Dorian said lowly, trying to deescalate.

“Calm down?” Trina snapped. “My baby is in there fighting for her life, and you want me to calm down, Dorian?!”

Steven wrapped an arm around her waist, trying to hold her back, but even he looked like he was about to snap. “You told me she was on vacation,” Trina continued, voice shaking, eyes brimming with tears. “And I find out from a doctor that my child has been rushed in here—bruised, bloodied, possibly overdosed?!” She paused, her chest heaving. “Thank God I used to work here, or I’d still be in the dark!”

Dorian’s tears fell before she could even form a sentence. “I’m sorry,” she croaked, overwhelmed by guilt.

“Baby, breathe. Let Dorian explain,” Steven said, trying to hold it together as he looked between the women. “Dorian, explain.”

Dorian turned toward her family, eyes filled with grief. She opened her mouth but no words came. Her voice cracked, and her chest caved inward as the sobs came pouring out. Sean caught her before she could fall, wrapping her tightly in his arms.

While the chaos unfolded, Harper stood back in the corner, already on the phone. The second Trina had started yelling, she called Hassan.

By the time she hung up, she stepped into the tense circle with all eyes shifting to her.

“Harper…”Dianaasked,hervoicetrembling.“What’sgoingon? Why is everyone—what happened to Sevyn?” Harper hesitated. “Braxton did this.”

Silence blanketed the room. Even Trina stopped moving. “What?” Steven’s voice dropped to an icy low.

“He kidnapped her. Drugged her. Tortured her,” Harper said, her voice cracking, tears threatening to fall again.

Steven’s entire demeanor shifted. He clenched his fists, eyes reddening. “Where that nigga at?” he asked, his voice laced with rage. “He dead.”

His only child. Hurt. Broken. And by the man he once told her to give a chance.

Harper nodded slowly. “It’s already been handled, sir.” Dorian, finally steady, spoke again. “Ariel was helping him.” Diana and Trina turned to her, stunned.

“What?”

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