ra stood with her back to him, raising an eyebrow slightly as her tone softened. "Can you really promise me? No matter how things shake out, you won''t take Quinn''s side."


    Seeing how much she cared, Simon felt a weight lift off his shoulders. "I promise."


    He stepped closer, gently turning her to face him, resting his hands on her shoulders. "Do you still have feelings for me?"


    That question was one he truly needed an answer to.


    ra knew she had him right where she wanted and figured a little white lie couldn''t hurt. "Maybe I do. Even if I can''t remember, your actions still get to me."


    Simon, pleased with her response, gave her cheek a yful pinch. "I won''t let them take you to a mental institution, at least not until we get to the bottom of this."


    Inside, ra rolled her eyes, but outwardly, she put on a grateful face. "Alright."


    She turned and walked briskly down the hallway, catching a glimpse of what she thought was Dn''s coat. She picked up her pace and realized there was no one there. It must''ve been a trick of the light. Dn should be at work, not here at the hospital.


    Quinn was behind her door and had caught the whole exchange. She was


    freaking out, and needed to get that doctor out of there pronto. There would be no loose ends! She watched Simon head towards the doctor''s room through the small window in the door, and her nerves spiked.


    Simon was now sitting across from Dr. Gribble, the very doctor who''d delivered the bad news. Dr. Gribble, having overheard everything, was sweating bullets, his nerves shot and his mind foggy fromck of sleep.


    Even though Simon wasn''t the sharpest tool in the shed, being part of the Ferguson family carried a certain weight that you couldn''t ignore.


    "Dr. Gribble, you''re sure Quinn''s child is... gone, right?"


    Dr. Gribble wiped his brow, his lips quivering as he tried to answer, but a knock interrupted a nurse appeared at the door.


    "Dr. Gribble, Ms. Quinn just got sick. You should check on her."


    A chill ran down Dr. Gribble''s spine as he stood up immediately. "Mr. Simon, sorry,


    I need to attend to Ms. Quinn."


    Simon followed him to Quinn''s room.


    iel


    Meanwhile, Quinn was rinsing her mouth with bottled water, looking utterly drained. Dr. Gribble hurried, over, meeting her gaze filled with a chilling threat. It sent a shiver through him. He remembered the massive truck fromst night and the driver who looked like he belonged in the mob. He did a quick, half-hearted check and made an excuse to leave.


    Simon, still with questions, tried to follow Dr. Gribble but Quinn grabbed his wrist. "Simon, you promised you''d always protect me and not let my sister bully me."


    Back when Quinn first joined the Bradford family, Simon often found her crying during visits, iming ra bullied her no matter what she did to please her.


    Her vulnerability had always gotten to Simon, slowly tipping the scales in her favor.


    "Remember what you promised, Simon..." Quinn''s voice wavered with emotion. Simon sat down slowly. "I''ll stay with you."


    After leaving the room, Dr. Gribble felt drenched, desperate for a ssh of water to calm down. But out of the corner of his eye, he saw a hulking figure that froze him in his tracks. It was the truck driver he''de to the hospital! Was he here to finish the job?


    Dr. Gribble had spent the whole night haunted by nightmares of this brute. Once


    he spotted him, he couldn''t think straight. He needed ra and Simon''s help.


    Rushing back to his office, he


    grabbed the recording he''d secretly made of Quinn-a safeguard against her wrath. With his life on the line, he needed an ally. He remembered ra''s kindness the night before and didn''t hesitate to dash


    downstairs to find her.


    In the ward, Quinn was a bundle of nerves, desperate for Dr. Gribble to disappear


    but too afraid to let Simon leave, fearing he''d confront the doctor.


    A dark thought crossed her mind-she should''ve dealt with that doctor sooner.


    "Simon, do you remember the promises you made when we first...?" she yed the emotional card, knowing how much it mattered.


    Any doubts Simon had because of ra vanished. Yes, Quinn had given him her first time.


    He held her tightly, finally sighing. "I''ll send ra to the mental institution. After our wedding, I''ll let her out."


    Deep down, he couldn''t stomach the idea of ra ending up with Nate. Nate was just a thug and couldn''t have what he discarded.


    Quinn''s lips curled into a satisfied smile as she settled into his arms. "Alright, I trust you."