Chapter 18

Night melted into morning, and the time had come for Ethan to be discharged from the hospital. He had slept peacefully, like the angelic child he was, satisfied that his plan had worked like a charm.

However, his Mommy, Christine, hadn't been as fortunate. Restlessness consumed her, her emotions a turbulent mix of distress, fleeting moments of ease, and torment. Despite her attempts to brush it away, she couldn't shake the feeling that Ethan had orchestrated his illness on purpose.

And then there was Hunter's presence, intoxicating yet accompanied by painful memories. Some of those memories weren't entirely painful, but she kept that locked away as her own secret.

Hunter, perhaps even more overjoyed than Ethan, stole glances at Christine whenever the opportunity presented itself, unaware that she did the same when he wasn't looking. Being in her company, along with her child, felt undeniably right to him. The intimate setup brought him immense pleasure, even amidst the troubling cir