Chapter 5

Scott went still. For once, something like guilt flickered across his face.

He knelt beside the bed and looked Domira in the eyes. "Domira, Daddy knows he screwed up. I swear to you, from now on, I'm not leaving you and Mommy again. Okay?"

Domira bit her lip, her little brow furrowed. "You mean it?"

"Pinky swear. No takesies backsies. Whoever breaks it has to eat a worm."

His voice was so soft and earnest that Domira couldn't help herself. She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Then she burrowed into Veronica's arms, looking up at her with big pleading eyes, asking her not to be upset anymore.

Veronica didn't want to argue in front of Domira. She forced a smile and said, "Mommy's not upset."

Scott watched Veronica's face soften, and something in his own eyes warmed.

For a moment, it almost felt like before, before Selena, back when things were simple and good.

Then the door slammed open. Selena stormed into the hospital room, tears streaking down her cheeks, and went straight for Veronica. "What did I ever do to you? Why are you trying to pin that fire on me?"

Her voice cracked as she cried. "The cops showed up at my office! They said I'm under investigation. I nearly died in that fire. How the hell could I be the one who started it?"

She was shaking, breathless, and then she dropped to her knees right in front of Veronica's bed. "Please, Veronica. I'm begging you. Work is already hard enough for me. Don't ruin my whole life over this!"

"Selena, what are you doing?" Scott's brow furrowed. He reached down and pulled her up into his arms.

Selena sobbed against his chest. "Don't ask me. Ask her."

Scott turned to Veronica.

Veronica met his eyes without flinching. "Yeah. I called them. Before the fire, Selena came to my room and dared me to find out who you cared about more. So yeah, she's my first guess. That's how it works."

Scott didn't look angry. He looked stunned.

He and Veronica had been together for eight years. He had always been the one to step in, to handle things for her. She had always leaned on him.

He wondered, 'When did she start making calls like this on her own without telling me? Without waiting for me to fix it? When did she stop believing I would be there to take care of everything?'

Selena's crying yanked him back. "I didn't do it! She's setting me up. Scott, are you seriously going to let her treat me like this? Fine. I'm done. I'll get rid of the baby tomorrow."

"Don't talk like that." Scott's voice was sharp. Then he turned to Veronica, and his gaze went cold. "Veronica. Apologize."

Veronica knew Scott wouldn't believe her. She knew it. But hearing him say it still landed like a punch to the chest.

She tightened her fists and stared right back at him. "If the cops clear her name, I'll apologize first."

The stubborn look in her eyes nearly made Scott laugh. "I told you. Last time was the last time. I'm not letting this slide anymore."

Veronica tried to keep her voice level, but it rose anyway. "I don't need you to let anything slide! We're getting divorced anyway."

"You're still bringing up divorce?" Scott's jaw clenched, a vein standing out on his forehead. He let out a cold, humorless laugh. "You know what, Veronica? This is on me. I spoiled you rotten."

He motioned toward the door, and two bodyguards stepped inside. "Selena, they'll do whatever you say. Make her apologize however you want. I'm staying out of it."

He walked out and let the door slam behind him.

Selena's tears vanished. Her eyes lit up with triumph.

She looked down at Veronica, still trapped in the hospital bed, and smiled a slow, nasty smile. "Go ahead. Mess up her face. Let's see if Scott still wants her when she's hideous."

Veronica's blood ran cold. She forced herself to stay calm. "Selena, are you insane? Scott wants me to back down. That doesn't mean you get to do whatever you want."

Selena shrugged, completely unbothered. "Oh, I know. He's still into you. If I wreck your face, he'll lose it. But what if I tell him you did it to yourself? To frame me?"

Veronica stared at her, the words sinking in like ice water. Scott would believe her. Of course, he would.