Chapter 3

The nurse stepped in front of her at once.

"This is the emergency ward. Whatever this is about, settle it at home. Please don't raise a hand here."

My mother-in-law shoved the nurse aside and lunged at me again, still shouting, when the nurse's voice cut in.

"The patient's out. Family can move him into the room."

Zion lay on the gurney, face drained white, an IV in his arm and three tubes running into his body.

She forgot all about me then, turned and threw herself over him, wailing, my son, my baby.

Once we were in the room, she glared at me and dropped her voice.

"Irene, let me tell you something. Don't think that just because my son can't father children now, you're free to run around with other men. If I ever find out, I'll skin you alive."

"And another thing. Zion's badly hurt. You are not to tell him the truth about this. There'll be a way to treat it later on."

She grabbed me and shoved me forward, snarling.

"Irene, get over here and look after Zion."

"If it weren't for you, you jinx, my son wouldn't have crashed. If you weren't so heartless, he'd never have gone out in a downpour like that."

I looked at her rage, then at Zion, still unconscious, and lifted my phone to hold Delia's messages right in front of her face.

"Mom, someone else is the reason your son went out. That jinx title isn't one I can wear."

She scanned the messages, and her face changed on the spot. Then she roared.

"So it was that little tramp. I knew she was up to no good."

"How could Zion be such a fool? Running a red light in the pouring rain for some tramp. How am I supposed to go on living?"

"I'll tear that little slut apart. Ten years she's clung to Zion. What is she really after?"

The instant she turned to storm out, Zion woke. He pushed himself up and rushed to stop her.

"Mom, come back. It was my own carelessness, all of it. Don't go after Delia. She's not well."

"Mom, I'll heal up with some rest. Don't blame Delia, or she'll be heartbroken."

I watched him without expression, a cold laugh building inside me. So their love really was solid as gold. Even now, all he thought about was his little sweetheart.

I only wondered whether he'd defend Delia like this if he knew his testicles were shattered, that he'd never father a child for the rest of his life.

I couldn't be bothered to explain. I stepped up and held the divorce papers out in front of him.

"Zion, you didn't spare a thought for your own body. Ran three red lights to go take care of Delia, and now that you've been hurt you still keep defending her. The two of you are the real thing."

"So I'll set you free. Let's get divorced."