Chapter 14 Louis's face paled as he rushed past me , his eyes fixed on Maya's shuddering form at the bottom of the stairs . He knelt beside her , his hands trembling Chapter 14 1 + 10 Bonus of the stairs . He knelt beside her , his hands trembling as he cradled her carefully . Maya let out a piercing wail , clutching her stomach . " My baby … my baby ! " she sobbed , tears streaming down her face . I froze at the top of the stairs , my heart pounding in my chest . The hallway was deathly quiet , save for Maya's cries . The accusing stares of their coworkers burned into me like fire . One of them , a man with a stern face , turned to me . " What happened ? " " She - she fell , " I stammered , gesturing wildly . " I didn't touch her ! She moved back on her own ! " But their expressions didn't soften . If anything , their gazes grew colder , filled with disbelief . " You expect us to believe that ? " a woman muttered , her voice laced with disdain . " After that altercation … the whole office could hear … " 1/9 Chapter 14 +10 Bonus " I'm telling the truth ! " I snapped , panic creeping into my voice . " It wasn't me ! " Louis looked up sharply , his face a mixture of worry and fury . " Emily , " he said , his voice low and hard . "What the hell happened ? " " I - she was taunting me , and then she started moving toward the stairs . I told her to stop , but she didn't listen . I didn't push her ! She did this on purpose ! " Maya let out another anguished cry , and Louis's attention snapped back to her . " We need to get her to the hospital , " he said , his tone urgent . One of her coworkers was already on the phone with emergency services , explaining where they were in the building . Louis didn't move , holding Maya's hand as the others stood around , glaring at me over their shoulders . When the ambulance got there , and they loaded her onto the gurney , I trailed hahind my mind racing How had avaruthina 2/9 Chapter 14 +10 Bonus behind , my mind racing . How had everything spiraled so completely out of control ? At the hospital , the fluorescent lights were harsh and unforgiving , amplifying the tension in the waiting room . Maya had been rushed into emergency care , and Louis paced the floor , his hands buried in his hair . I sat stiffly in a chair , my hands clasped tightly in my lap . I could feel the weight of his anger pressing down on me . I don't even know why I am still here . " Louis , " I began tentatively . " I didn't push her . You must believe me . " He stopped pacing and turned to face me , his expression unreadable . " Emily , do you have any idea what this looks like ? Maya falling down the stairs ? Her baby- " 3/9 Chapter 14 +10 Bonus " She's manipulating you ! " I interrupted , my voice rising . " This was her plan all along . She wants to make me look like the villain , so you'll push me away ! " Louis shook his head , exhaling deeply . " Says the woman who keeps hammering on about divorce . " I bit my lip . " I'm not saying you pushed her on purpose , but , Emily … your anger has been out of control lately . Maybe - maybe you didn't realize how far things were escalating . " I stared at him , disbelief washing over me . " Why do you think my anger is out of control ? " " I think , " he said carefully , " That this situation . has pushed you to your limit . And I think you need help . " 4/9 Chapter 14 +10 Bonus Before I could respond , the door to the waiting room burst open , and Lucy stormed in , her face twisted with rage . " You ! " she screamed , pointing a shaking finger at me . " Mom , calm down , " Louis said , stepping between us . She ignored him and marched toward me , grabbing my collar with both hands . " You did this on purpose ! " she spát . " You tried to kill my grandchild ! " " I didn't- " I started , but her slap came hard and fast , snapping my head to the side . The sting of it jolted me , but before I could react , she struck me again . " You monster ! " she shrieked , her hands shaking as she raised them to hit me once more . Chapter 14 +10 Bonus " You monster ! " she shrieked , her hands shaking as she raised them to hit me once more . " Enough ! " I roared , shoving her hands away . " Don't you dare lay a finger on me again ! " " Stop it , both of you ! " Louis shouted , stepping between us . I ignored him , my fury boiling over . " Who do you think you are , Lucy ? This is the second time you've put your hands on me . What gives you the right to act like this ? " " The right ? " she hissed , her eyes blazing . " You're nothing but an aggressive , paranoid murderer ! You killed your own child , and now you've gone after Maya's ! I should've dealt with you a long time ago ! " Her words hit me like a slap , and I staggered back , my chest heaving . 6/9 " I didn't kill my child ! " I repeated , my voice Chapter 14 +10 Bonus shaking . " How dare you throw that in my face ? You've done nothing but torment me since the day I married your son ! " " Don't you dare try to play the victim ! " she shot back . " You've been nothing but a curse on this family ! " The room felt suffocating , the weight of her accusations pressing down on me . I turned to Louis , desperate for support . " So , you're just going to stand there ? Quiet , not bothering to defend me ? Typical - status quo for you , Louis . " " Enough ! " Louis shouted , his voice cutting through the chaos . He turned to his mother , his expression hard . " Mom , go home . Now . " " What ? " she sputtered . " You're not helping , " he said firmly . " Emily needs to rest . Maya needs to recover . This isn't the 7/9 Chapter 14 time for your anger . " +10 Bonus Lucy glared at him , then at me , her eyes filled with hatred . " You're making a mistake , " she said . coldly . " You'll regret this . " She stormed out , leaving a heavy silence in her wake . I turned to Louis , my anger giving way to exhaustion . " You think I pushed her . " He sighed , running a hand through his hair . " Emily , I don't know what to think right now . I just … I need time to process this . " " Process what ? " I demanded . " The lies Maya is feeding everyone ? Or the fact that your mother just attacked me in a hospital waiting room ? " " Just go home , " he said quietly . " We'll talk about this later . " I stared at him , my chest tightening . The man Chapter 14 1 +10 Bonus who had once been my partner , my confidant , now looked at me like I was a stranger . Hypocrite . " Fine , " I said , my voice hollow . " I'm leaving . " I turned and walked out of the hospital , my head held high , but inside , I was crumbling . The war between Maya and I had reached its peak , and I wasn't sure if I even wanted to keep fighting . Emily's POV