I rushed back to the hospital, hands shaking, and scooped my newborn son from his crib. Then I ran.

My eyes burned as I looked down at the pink, fragile infant in my arms. Several times, my hand hovered near his tiny throat, fingers twitching.

In the end, I unclenched my fist.

I needed the truth. All of it.

I needed to see exactly how black Adrian Vance's heart really was.

The car screeched to a halt outside Ava Finch's villa. When I burst through the door—disheveled, wild-eyed, clutching a baby—she nearly dropped her coffee.

After I choked out the explanation, her eyes went wide.

Then dark.

Then furious.

"That *bastard*. How could Adrian do this to you?"

I forced myself to breathe. My voice came out cold. Clinical.

"Hide the child. Once the paternity test results come in, I will make him pay for every ounce of pain he's caused me."

By the time I cleaned myself up and returned to the hospital room, Adrian was already waiting.

His eyes locked onto my empty arms. He rushed forward.

"Hailey, the doctor said you took Bubu. Where is he? Where's our son?"

I lowered myself onto the edge of the bed and smiled. It didn't reach my eyes.

"Adrian, before you ask about our son... shouldn't you tell me where you took our daughter?"

He froze. His gaze darted sideways.

"Dad wanted to see Xixi. I had the driver take her to the estate."

"Is that so?" I tilted my head. "Hasn't he seen enough? Tell the driver to bring her back."

I picked up my phone and began dialing.

Panic flashed across his face. He lunged and snatched it from my hand.

"Hailey, I'm talking about our *son*—why are you bringing up Xixi? Do you think my father would harm his own granddaughter?"

I studied his flustered expression. He must have known I'd gone home earlier. He just couldn't be sure how much I'd heard.

A short, cold laugh escaped my lips.

"Your father won't harm his biological granddaughter... so do you think I would harm my biological son?"

I paused.

"Actually... maybe I would. If he isn't really my son. If I get angry enough. Maybe I'd toss him in a dumpster. Or feed him to the strays."

I raised my hand and mimicked a vicious tearing motion.

"*Snap*. *Crunch*. A few bites and he'd be gone."

Adrian's face went white. He lunged, fingers closing around my throat.

"Hailey Henson, are you *insane*? He's just a baby!"

I didn't flinch. Didn't struggle. I craned my neck and met his glare head-on.