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.

as to actually hurt her. And thank

Stella's words only made Abby

A flicker of regret crossed his face, quickly replaced by a simmering hatred for Leonard. If he ever had the chance to get his

He'll be arriving in Sandford this afternoon. There's

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

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 for

of

She

put him in a

lip. Compared to Leonard, Sellers' past mischief

then, someone knocked at the

entered, with Joshua following

on the bed, pale and fragile, her hands swathed in

her,

his voice rough with emotion.

with someone I wasn't prepared to

voice barely above a whisper. "What about Keen?

he alright?"

Haynes assured

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