---- Chapter 15 | woke up in a hospital bed. The first face | saw was Elizabeth's, etched with worry but also with a steely resolve. "You're okay, Liv," she said softly, taking my hand. "And the baby... the baby is okay. For now. But you had a scare. A placental abruption, a small one. The doctors said it was caused by extreme stress. You need complete bed rest." Relief washed over me, so potent it left me weak. My baby was safe. Then the anger returned, cold and fierce. Michael had done this. His lies, his cruelty, Serena's viciousness - they had put my child at risk. "Where is he?" | asked, my voice raspy. "He's not here," Elizabeth said. "| made sure of that. Ms. Albright is handling the legal fallout from Serena's ridiculous accusations. Don't worry about them." But just then, the door to my room opened. Michael stood there. Serena hovered behind him, peering in with a look of feigned concern. "Liv," Michael began, his tone hesitant. "The doctors said you're... resting. Serena and |, we were so worried." Worried? He had left me on the floor. "You have no right to be here," | said, my voice low and ---- dangerous. Serena pushed past him. "Olivia, | forgive you for what you tried to do to Mikey. | know you're not yourself. Pregnancy can make women do crazy things." Her audacity was breathtaking. Still playing the victim, still trying to paint me as unhinged. "Get out," | said, my voice rising. "Both of you. Get out!" Michael stepped forward, his expression hardening. "Liv, this has gone far enough. Serena is willing to forgive you. The least you can do is apologize for your behavior. For attacking her, for upsetting her and the baby." An apology? He wanted me to apologize? To the woman who had assaulted me, lied about me, and helped destroy my marriage? To the man who had betrayed me, abandoned me, and endangered our child? The sheer, unmitigated gall of it. | stared at him, at the smug, expectant look on Serena's face. This was his ultimatum. Apologize, capitulate, accept their twisted reality. Or be cast out. The choice was clear. It had been clear for a while.