Just then, footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Turning her head, Stella saw Haynes appear, his face pale as a ghost.

As soon as he caught sight of her, Haynes asked, "How's Star doing?"

Joshua shook his head. "I'm not sure. I just got here myself."

Without another word, Haynes knocked gently and stepped into the hospital room. Inside, Abby was hunched over Stella's bedside, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Star, this is all my fault," she choked out, her voice trembling. "If I hadn't run my mouth, Leonard wouldn't have targeted you, and your hands... they wouldn't be

Her tears fell fast and heavy, like pearls slipping off a broken necklace.

Since she'd regained consciousness, Abby had been drowning in guilt.

Stella was only recently awake herself. She tried to comfort Abby, her voice soft but steady. "Abby, this has nothing to do with what you said the other day. Even if you'd kept quiet, the fact that Aurora is illegitimate would have come out eventually, and Leonard would still have blamed me. That's just the way he is."

She reached for Abby's hand, her own wrapped thickly in bandages. "The important thing is that you're safe. If anything had happened to you... I don't think I could've forgiven myself."

Abby was caught in the aftermath of Stella's troubles-there was no denying it.

hurt her. And thank God Foreman's people had arrived in time,

words only made

regret crossed his face, quickly replaced by a simmering hatred for Leonard. If he

tension. "I've already contacted Dr. Burton. He'll be arriving in Sandford

mention of Dr. Burton, Stella's eyes flickered with

said, "It was Leonard who orchestrated the kidnapping, not Sellers. Sellers never laid a hand on me. Please, don't mention Sellers to Dr. Burton-I don't want to make things more complicated

still thinking of her

She

put him in

to Leonard,

knocked at

with Joshua following close

bed, pale and fragile, her hands swathed

her, then

her side, his voice rough with emotion. "I'm so

with someone I wasn't prepared to handle. No one can

Haynes, her voice barely above a

he alright?"

Haynes

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