CHAPTER 8: The Freeze Frame
Vanessa stared at the screen as if hatred alone could make the image disappear.
But the frame remained.
Her boot. Olivia’s gown. The position of Vanessa’s body. The deliberate angle. The distance between them. It was not a stumble. It was not a rescue attempt. It was an attack.
Dr. Hayes looked away for one brief second, and in that second his face changed from professional control to something far more personal.
Ethan did not look away at all.
Marcus moved to the next frame. Olivia’s body fell sideways off the bed. Her hands went to her stomach before she even hit the floor.
That was the detail that broke Ethan.
Not the kick itself. Not Vanessa’s lie. It was seeing Olivia, in the worst instant of pain, think only of their child.
His voice came out low. “Play it again.”
Vanessa turned. “Ethan, don’t do this.”
He looked at her then.
“You told me she fell.”
“She was unstable,” Vanessa said quickly. “You know she’s been emotional. I barely touched her.”
Marcus clicked backward. The boot rose again.
Ethan pointed at the monitor. “That is not barely.”
Vanessa’s mask cracked. “She was ruining your life!”
The words landed harder than any confession could have.
Dr. Hayes stepped forward. “Say that again.”
Vanessa realized too late what she had admitted. “I didn’t mean—”
“You meant exactly that,” Ethan said.
The security room door opened. Two police officers stepped inside, called by the hospital before Vanessa even knew the footage had been recovered.
One officer looked at the frozen screen, then at Vanessa.
“Ms. Cross,” he said, “we need you to come with us.”
Vanessa’s face twisted in disbelief. “You can’t arrest me. I’m a Blackwood family partner.”
May you like
Ethan finally answered.
“Not anymore.”
