The crash of metal against metal was deafening, each blow more urgent than thest. A man''s voice shouted through the chaos, raw with worry.


    "Annie, Ms. Meyer, are you in there?"


    Reese clung to Annie, the little girl limp in her arms, her breaths barely there, her face a sickly shade of gray.


    With everything she had left, Reese managed to yell, "Here! We''re here!"


    Matthew caught the faint reply and felt his heart stop. "Move away from the door. I''ming in!"


    Reese held Annie tight and scooted back. Outside, the whine of a power saw kicked in. She gave Annie''s cheek a gentle pat.


    "Annie, don''t fall asleep, okay? Your dad''sing. He''s almost here."


    Her own voice was barely a rasp. Every word scraped her throat, her chest burning.


    Then the noise at the door changed, a screech of tortured metal, and finally-one thunderous bang as the door crashed open.


    A tall figure rushed in, backlit by the hall lights, eyes sharp and searching. He spotted them huddled in the corner in an instant.


    Matthew was there in seconds, kneeling in front of them. "Are you hurt? Talk to me."


    "Reese! Come on, stay with me!"


    Reese''s head lolled, sweat stering her hair to her forehead. Matthew''s panic spiked as he patted her cheek, desperate to keep her awake.


    Maybe it was relief, maybe she''d just run out of strength, but Reese''s lips barely moved. She tried to answer, but nothing came out. Her vision blurred until the world faded to ck.


    Matthew''s heart mmed in his chest. He bent down, searching for her breath. When he felt the faintest sign of life, he exhaled in relief and looked at Annie.


    "Annie!"


    "Dad... Daddy, Auntie..." Annie''s eyelids fluttered open at his voice, and she managed a shaky little smile.


    "Don''t be scared, sweetheart. I''m getting you to the hospital right now."


    There was no time to think. Matthew grabbed his phone, called for an ambnce, and told them everything. Then he scooped Reese up in one arm, hooked the


    other under Annie''s small frame, and carried them both out of theb.


    He paused for a split second at the broken door, eyes flickering to the iris scanner, suspicion shing across his face.


    But there were more important things right now. He tightened his grip on the two of them and hurried to the elevator.


    The sharp sting of antiseptic filled Reese''s nose as she slowly came to.


    She blinked open her eyes, the world fuzzy and white coats moving in and out of focus.


    "Annie..." Her voice was barely a whisper.


    She felt coot electrodes on her skin and a gentle hand holding her down. A doctor noticed her struggling to sit up and pressed her back, his voice steady.


    "Ms. Meyer, it''s okay. The little girl who came in with you-she''s out of danger now."


    "Her dad''s with her in the children''s ward, just resting."


    He nced at Reese''s pale face. "But you need to stay put. You''ve lost a lot of


    blood, and you''re worn out. You need to rest."


    "We''ve already contacted your family. They should be here soon."


    The relief Reese had felt instantly snapped back to panic.


    Family?


    Sebastian was still her only legal family. If he came to the hospital and found out, he''d know she''d lost the baby ages ago.


    But the divorce wasn''t final yet. She hadn''t gotten her share of the assets, hadn''t taken back her mother''s ne from Zach.


    No-Sebastian couldn''t find out. Not yet.


    Panic gave her strength. She tried to push herself up. "I''m fine, really, you don''t need to call anyone..."


    "Ms. Meyer, please, don''t move "


    The door swung open before the nurse could finish. Sebastian strode in, his face stormy and eyes red with worry. He saw Reese was awake paused for a heartbeat then crossed the room in a few quick steps. He gripped her hand tight.


    "Are you okay? Does anything hurt?"


    His concern was real. Reese awkwardly pulled her hand away, wanting to insist


    she was fine, but Sebastian was already turning to the doctor.


    "Doctor, how''s my wife? And the baby-how''s the baby?"


    Reese''s heart dropped. There was no way out now. She shut her eyes.


    The doctor adjusted his sses,


    regret etched deep in his features After a long pause, he finally said "ME Ratcliff I''m sorry. The baby didn''t make it."