Page 112 of The Tangle of Awful

She’ll come back to her husband.

My lover.

Oh God.

Hugo

Spencer opens his mouth to speak to me, eyes burning with shame and regret.

“Don’t say anything, Spence,” I bark out as they cuff my son. “Pops will be there soon.” Then, I turn to Aubrey, who’s pale and sitting on her knees. “Get my father on the phone, Love. Now.”

She scrambles to her feet and pulls her phone from her pocket. Her hands shake as she makes the call.

“What happened?” I demand to the officer whose name tag reads Knowles. “I need you to tell me everything.”

Knowles steps out of the way to let two of the officers guide Spencer out of the house and toward one of the waiting squad cars. The other officer, Jimenez, stands beside Knowles, arms crossed over his beefy chest.

“Apparently, there’s a wedding happening soon, and the lodge was booked to capacity. A couple just checked into their room and were talking when they heard Mrs. Park’s cries for help through the wall. They contacted the front desk. One of the lodge staffers opened the room up and found your wife being held captive.” He frowns. “They called the station and she told us who was responsible.”

I scrub a palm over my face. “And you believed her?”

Knowles exchanges a confused look with Jimenez. “She was shackled by her ankle and a chain that was anchored to the bed frame.” His brow furls. “Mrs. Park was hysterical and in a lot of pain, but she was quite clear about who did that to her. It was your son, Mr. Park. I’m sorry.”

“He’s on his way,” Aubrey blurts out behind me. “Nathan is on his way.”

Knowles tenses at the mention of Dad. Despite the obvious evidence against my son, no one wants to have to deal with Dad.

“I understand you want to protect your son,” Knowles says gently, “but your wife needs you right now. Would you like an escort to the hospital, Mr. Park? I know this is a lot to take in.”

Before I can answer, a news van pulls up, and then two more are on its trail. Fuck. Dad trots our way, face stern.

“Come on,” I say to Aubrey. “Let’s get to the hospital before this turns into a shitshow.”

“I’ll handle it,” Dad assures me, waving me off. “Let me speak with these officers and then I’ll head up to the station.”

I can’t believe this is happening.

My son has just been hauled away in cuffs and I’m about to see my wife for the first time in what feels like an eternity. And this relationship with Aubrey… What happens next?

Everything in my life is blowing up in my goddamn face.

I want to grab Aubrey’s hand and squeeze it, promising everything will be okay, but I can’t lie to her. I have no idea what the hell is going to happen. All I know is we’re striding through the hospital, eyes on us both, the subject of a lot of hushed whispers.

Word travels fast in this town.

“I’m here to see, uh, my wife,” I grunt to a receptionist, hating how I cringe at the statement. “They brought her here by ambulance.”

The woman, whom I don’t know but who clearly knows me, nods and taps on her computer. “Ah, Mr. Park, they’re still in the ER, getting her prepped for surgery.”

Surgery?

Spencer, Son, what did you do?

Aubrey sways on her feet beside me. I grab her shoulder and pull her to my side. I’m just a stepfather comforting his stepdaughter. Nothing to see here, folks.

“Is she going to be okay?” Aubrey asks, voice trembling. “Will she live?”

The receptionist frowns at her. “I should hope so, dear. Women deliver babies all the time and survive. Cesareans are common. I’m sure everything will be okay.”

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