Chapter 3

That was when panic first took hold of me, and I begged her.

"Vivian, enough. Please stop keeping Julian near you."

She exhaled smoke into my face, her eyes bright with fascination. "No. It isn't enough. He hasn't suffered what you suffered yet. Adrian, have you forgotten? I'm doing this to avenge you."

But was it revenge, or had she become addicted to him?

I didn't ask. I was afraid of the answer.

I could only watch as she moved farther and farther away from me.

Now Vivian dressed me again without expression, carefully fastening every button.

"Do as I say. You wouldn't want the entire world to see your son like this, would you?"

On the table, a live security feed showed Eli undergoing catheter care.

My heart stopped. I lunged forward and hid the screen against my chest, staring wildly around the room in terror that someone had already seen it.

Eli had always been proud. Even as a toddler he refused to be carried outside, and now he made everyone leave the room during every catheter procedure.

How could he endure it if that recording was released?

"It's only a statement saying Julian is innocent. I'll do it."

I closed my eyes and let the pain spread through my heart.

"That stinks. What kind of child urinates all over the floor?"

I knew that voice. I'd never forget it.

I staggered into Eli's room and found Roxanne Pierce, Julian's childhood friend, slicing through the drainage bag with a small blade and pulling at his bandages.

"Because of you, Julian has been furious all day. It's a shame he didn't finish you yesterday, you little parasite."

Eli sat frozen on the floor. For one awful second, I saw my younger self in his terrified silence.

I rushed at Roxanne, tore the phone from her hand, and smashed it against the wall.

"Get out! Who allowed you in here? Get out!"

"Enough!"

Vivian seized me and yanked me backward.

"Adrian, when did you become this crude? Roxanne came to help care for Eli. He damaged the bag and bandages himself, and she was only trying to assist."

Disappointment filled Vivian's eyes.

"You aren't helping Eli. You're denying him normal contact with other people. Do you think I don't care about our son? I spoke to his physician. If you isolate him like this, he may never learn to function in ordinary society."

Roxanne's mouth curved in contempt.

"You heard your wife. Apologize to me."

I crouched on the floor and held Eli tightly, unable to stop shaking. I didn't want him to see what his mother had become.

"Vivian, look at these photographs. People threw paint across Julian's gate. He's too frightened to leave home, and he cried throughout our last call!"

Vivian's fingers tightened around her phone until her knuckles cracked. When she looked at me, her eyes were cold.

"Vivian, can you not even control your own husband?"

Roxanne's expression turned vicious. "Give him to me if you can't handle him. By morning, everyone will believe Julian is innocent."

My skin crawled. I shielded Eli and stepped backward.

Vivian's gaze moved over me. Then she closed her eyes.

"Take him. By tomorrow morning, I want Julian Boyle's name clean."