Page 113 of The Tangle of Awful

Blood rushes to my ears.

“What did you say?” I grind out.

“Oh,” the receptionist whispers. “I assumed this was her daughter. Should I have not said anything? I didn’t realize.”

The poor woman looks like she might cry.

I’m not going to fucking sue her.

“Take us there,” I demand.

She nods. “I can escort you, Mr. Park, since you’re the husband, but they’ll only allow one person back during the surgery. Again, I’m so sorry.”

“G-Go,” Aubrey hisses. “Hugo, just go. Mom needs you.”

I give her a long look, hating how broken she is right now. We’d just gotten her to a good place after everything that happened with Drew and now this.

“I’ll call Callum or Dempsey to come sit with you,” I tell her and press a kiss to her forehead. “Everything’s going to be okay, Love. I promise.”

Her eyes are watery, but she nods, putting on a brave face. I leave her without another word. The aftertaste of my lie on my tongue is bitter.

How will this be okay?

The next few minutes are a blur as I’m ushered into a room where I change into scrubs and wash up. Then, I’m pointed to the doors that lead to the surgery room—to the first time I’ll see my wife in nearly a year.

I stare past the bustling of nurses and doctors at the body on the table, stomach swollen and bare. Fuck. It’s really her. It’s really Neena. Pregnant. With my child.

It all makes sense now.

She probably got pregnant and said or did something that freaked Spencer out. He did this to protect me.

I walk around where the sheets are tied up and latch onto the cold eyes of Neena Park. Her blond hair is nice and silky, clearly not the hair of a horribly kept captive. She’s even wearing makeup. Flawless as per usual. Her plump lips twist into an ugly sneer.

“Get this baby out of me,” she hisses. “I hate these people. This family. I don’t want this thing inside me!”

I drop into the seat beside her and take her hand, the one that is adorned with the massive diamond ring I bought her years ago. Her nails are painted and pretty. Not her usual acrylics but beautiful nonetheless.

Spencer took care of her. All the places he shopped at were to bring her the things she was used to and loved. My son isn’t a complete monster.

“Don’t touch me,” she snarls. “Your family is poison.”

“Neena—”

“When I finally get this baby out of me, I’m going to wring its neck, Hugo. I’m going to kill it.” She glowers at me. “They’re destroying my body!”

“Neena,” I growl, squeezing her hand. “You’re talking crazy.”

“Crazy? Your son kept me captive and forced me to have this child!”

“Stop. Just stop.”

Her eyes sparkle with familiar cruelty. “I’ll make you watch as I kill it.”

“Neena, you would never hurt a baby. I know you think you mean it, but you don’t.”

A hand touches my back. It’s the doctor. “I’m going to give her a little something to relax her, Mr. Park. Sometimes women lash out and don’t know what they’re saying.”

Neena bellows and within seconds it turns into murmurs. Her eyes flutter closed.

---