---- Chapter 16 The details of the first timeline flooded Caleb's mind as he sped toward the hospital. The family's excitement, quickly soured by Ericka's rejection of Hailie. Their foolish, cruel plan to "teach her a lesson." Every moment of torment, every word of abuse, every drop of blood. The guilt was a physical thing, a crushing weight in his chest. But underneath it was a fierce, desperate hope. It hadn't happened yet. None of it. He could stop it. He could protect her. He burst through the doors of the hospital and ran to her room He paused at the door, his heart in his throat, and looked inside. She was there. Standing by the window, bathed in sunlight. She was alive. She was beautiful. She was whole. The relief was so overwhelming it brought him to his knees. Tears streamed down his face. "Ericka," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. She turned, a look of surprise on her face. "Caleb? What's wrong?" ---- He couldn't speak. He just rushed to her, pulling her into his arms, holding her so tightly he was afraid he might break her. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling the scent he thought he'd lost forever. "| thought | lost you," he sobbed, his body shaking. Ericka, confused but gentle, wrapped her arms around him. "I'm right here, Caleb. I'm not going anywhere." She thought he was just overwhelmed by her waking up from the coma. She didn't know. She couldn't know. He held her at arm's length, his hands framing her face, his eyes searching hers. "I love you," he said, his voice raw with a sincerity that came from the depths of his soul. "! will never, ever let anything hurt you again. | swear it." She smiled, a little bewildered by his intensity. "| love you, too." He kissed her then, a kiss that was full of desperation and relief and a promise of a future he would die to protect. As they were leaving the room, hand in hand, the door opened. Hailie stood there, a basket of fruit in her hands, a shy, hopeful smile on her face. Caleb's blood ran cold. He instinctively stepped in front of Ericka, shielding her. "Caleb?" Hailie said, her smile faltering. "| came to welcome ---- Ericka home." She tried to step around him. "Don't touch her," Caleb said, his voice low and menacing. He looked at Hailie, at the innocent mask she wore so well, and felt nothing but pure, unadulterated hatred. "You are not welcome here," he said, his voice flat. "Leave. And stay away from her." Hailie's eyes filled with tears. Ericka looked from Caleb's hard face to Hailie's crumpled one, her expression confused. "Caleb, what's going on?" Just then, my parents and Fitzgerald arrived, bustling with excitement. They immediately swarmed Hailie. "Hailie, dear, you're here!" my mother gushed. Caleb watched the scene unfold, a sickening sense of déja vu washing over him. It was starting. Just like before. But this time, he would not let it happen.