Luke now realized it had never been charm.

It had been hunger.

“Enhance the image,” Luke ordered.

Marco zoomed in on the man beside Daniel.

The second the face sharpened, Luke felt his blood go cold.

Victor Hale.

A name buried deep inside the part of his life Elena never fully knew.

A trafficker.

An extortionist.

A man Luke had once put in prison through testimony so dangerous it required federal protection.

Victor Hale was supposed to still be incarcerated.

“He got out two weeks ago,” Marco said quietly.

Luke looked up sharply.

“You knew?”

“I found out yesterday. I was trying to confirm it before bringing it to you.”

Luke’s silence became lethal.

On the hospital bed, Elena watched the exchange with growing confusion.

“What’s happening?”

Luke turned toward her.

For three months he had lied to her every single day.

Now he suddenly understood the truth had nearly killed her.

He walked back to the bed.

“No.” She shook her head weakly. “Don’t start talking to me like I’m fragile now.”

His voice lowered.

“The divorce was never real to me.”

She stared at him.

“What?”

“I did it because Daniel convinced me someone was targeting you.”

A flicker crossed her face.

Disbelief.

Then fury.

“That’s your explanation?”

“It’s the truth.”

“You humiliated me in court.”

“I know.”

“You told me you regretted marrying me.”

His throat tightened.

“I lied.”

“You ignored my calls for weeks.”

“Because I thought distance would protect you.”

Elena laughed again, but this time tears slipped down her cheeks.

“Protect me?” she whispered. “Luke, I lost my apartment because your lawyers froze the joint accounts before I could even hire representation.”

Luke went still.

“I had nowhere to go.”

Marco cursed under his breath.

Elena continued, voice trembling.

“I thought maybe after a few weeks you’d at least explain why you suddenly hated me.”

Luke’s chest physically hurt.

“But every time I tried reaching you…” Her eyes filled. “Daniel answered.”

The room became silent.

Luke felt something dark begin to unfold inside him.

“What did he tell you?”

Elena looked away.

“That you said I was pathetic.”

Luke closed his eyes.

“That you were relieved I couldn’t have children.”

His hands clenched.

“That you’d finally met someone worth your time.”

The monitor beside the bed quickened with Elena’s pulse.

“And when I found out I was pregnant…” Her voice broke completely. “Daniel said you’d accuse me of trapping you.”

Luke looked genuinely shaken for the first time in years.

“No.”

Tears streamed silently down Elena’s face.

“I believed him.”

Marco stepped toward the door again.

“Luke,” he said carefully, “you should probably not see your brother tonight.”

Luke barely heard him.

Because Elena was crying quietly in front of him.

Not dramatic.

Not loud.

Just exhausted.

The kind of crying that came from reaching the absolute edge of what a human being could survive.

And he had done that to her.

Even if his intentions had begun as protection.

Even if he had thought he was saving her.

He had still abandoned her to a monster wearing his family name.

Luke sat beside the bed.

Very carefully.

She did not look at him.

“I need you to hear one thing clearly.”

Silence.

“I never stopped loving you.”

Her eyes squeezed shut instantly.

Like the words hurt too much to hear.

“I can’t survive you saying that right now.”

Luke nodded once.

Because he understood.

Then the heart monitor suddenly spiked.

Dr. Bennett rushed back in.

“What happened?”

Elena gasped softly, grabbing her stomach.

Pain flooded her face.

Dr. Bennett’s expression sharpened immediately.

“We need ultrasound now.”

The room exploded into motion.

Nurses entered.

Machines rolled forward.

Luke stepped back automatically as Elena was wheeled from the room.

But just before they reached the door, Elena reached weakly toward him.

Instinct.

Luke caught her hand.

And for one devastating second, she held onto him like she still remembered what safety felt like.

Then they disappeared down the hallway.

Marco looked at Luke carefully.

“You okay?”

Luke stared after Elena.

Then his expression hardened into something terrifyingly calm.

“But my brother is about to be much worse.”

Daniel Mercer lived in a glass penthouse overlooking the Hudson.

Expensive.

Elegant.

Soulless.

Luke entered without knocking.

The security downstairs had recognized him and wisely chosen survival over procedure.

Daniel stood near the bar pouring whiskey when Luke walked in.

He didn’t even look surprised.

“Hospital went badly?” Daniel asked casually.

Luke crossed the room.

Fast.

The punch hit Daniel so hard he crashed into the marble counter.

Glass shattered.

Blood appeared instantly at the corner of Daniel’s mouth.

Marco shut the penthouse doors behind them.