Just as he leaned his face close to hers, she slapped him hard across the cheek.
The joyful smile froze on his face.
"Holly?"
Tristan Sterling's cheek burned as he stared in astonishment at the young woman, her eyes bloodshot.
He instinctively glanced at her stomach. "What's wrong? Is the baby—"
SMACK! SMACK!
"Tristan Sterling, you're an animal!"
Holly Sinclair struck him again, once on each cheek. She ground her teeth, the hatred in her eyes enough to shatter worlds.
Those two slaps took all her strength, leaving her palms tingling and numb.
Tristan Sterling's brow furrowed. He pushed his tongue against the inside of his stinging cheek.
An image surfaced in his mind: her telling him to take her to the hospital first…
His heart skipped a beat.
A terrible premonition grew stronger.
Especially since her eyes held not just resentment, but also an unshakeable grief and pain…
'It's fine!'
'Her face is pale, but she's always been strong. She's probably not hurt.'
