Chapter 11

The wood began to grow thin behind our car as we moved further; the silence and the hum of the car were the only sounds we kept hearing.

The ride back was a long one; Ella had fallen deep asleep on my laps before we could get to the main road of the city. The peacefulness of the moments felt so calm after all we have been through.

Michael focuses on the road as he handles the wheels. I could tell he is worried about something probably about Ethan’s health condition, and so am I.

I wanted to ask him so many questions as we kept going—Ethan, Vanessa allies, Vanessa custody and court case, and what would happen next—but sensing his mood and the look on his face, I had to hold back and let him concentrate on driving us to safety and where Ethan was.

Eventually, after a ride that felt like eternity, we finally got far from the woods. As we drove into the city, my anxiety grew when I saw the sign of the hospital building.

Michael pulled into the hospital parking lot, and my heart pounded e