Chapter 4
Maeve's POV
Her body was convulsing violently, lips turning blue, gasping for air.
Seraphina stood there helplessly, still clutching a fancy pastry box. "I... I didn't know this would happen... She looked so sweet, I wanted to share these treats I got in Maple City. She said they smelled good and wanted to try one. She took one bite and started coughing, then she just..."
I saw the crushed peanuts covering the box and recognized it instantly—the same shop as the chocolates Garrick had tried to give me! The exact thing that could KILL Wren!
"Wren, baby, look at Mommy. Breathe slowly."
I forced myself to stay calm, quickly digging the EpiPen from my bag. I lifted her shirt and jabbed it into her outer thigh.
"Deep breaths, baby. With Mommy. One, two, three..."
But she kept getting worse—her little face turning purple, breathing getting harder. I yelled at the crowd, "Call 911! SOMEBODY CALL 911!"
"What's wrong with her?! Isn't the shot working?!" Garrick finally caught up.
This usually ice-cold man was completely falling apart. His hands shook as he reached toward her, stuttering. As her father, he had no clue what to do.
"The EpiPen just buys us time. We need to get to a hospital NOW." I scooped up Wren.
A park employee ran over. "The ambulance is here!"
"I'm coming with you—" Garrick tried to follow.
"Don't." I carried Wren toward the exit without looking back. "I've got this."
I climbed into the ambulance with Wren and slammed the door. Through the window, Garrick still stood at the park entrance like a lost idiot.
At the hospital, after two hours in the ER, Wren finally stabilized.
She lay in the hospital bed, pale as a sheet, monitors beeping on her chest.
Garrick knocked and came in while I was tucking her blanket.
"How is she?" His voice was rough.
"She's stable." I didn't turn around.
Garrick walked carefully toward the bed. "Wren, Daddy's here."
Wren glanced at him, then turned her face to the wall. Wouldn't even look at him.
Garrick froze, his hand hanging in mid-air. "Wren?"
"Get out." My voice was ice. "She needs rest."
"But I—"
"GET OUT!" I spun around, eyes blazing. "Haven't you done enough?"
He stepped back like I'd slapped him. I pushed him out.
In the hallway, we faced each other.
"Maeve, about today—"
"What about today?" I cut him off. "You know Wren's severely allergic to peanuts? You know she carries an EpiPen? You know her worst fear is not being able to breathe?"
Garrick opened his mouth but nothing came out.
"You know NOTHING." I bit out each word. "You claimed you bought her souvenirs, but it was just random crap you grabbed while playing tourist with your girlfriend! You couldn't even pick out a real gift for your own daughter. Just some shit from the same damn store. That stuff nearly KILLED her!"
Garrick's face went white.
"And the best part? When Wren was dying, you—Mr. Cold-Blooded Chief Justice—panicked like a useless piece of shit. You didn't even know basic allergy protocol!"
"Maeve..."
"You're not her father. Fathers show up."
I walked back into the room and slammed the door.
Garrick stood outside for a long time before leaving.
The next morning, I started packing.
When Wren woke up, she saw me with my suitcase.
"Mommy, where are we going?" Her voice was still weak.
"Somewhere new, baby." I stroked her hair. "Somewhere we don't have to wait anymore."
Wren stared at me. Something died in her eyes.
"What about Daddy? Will we see him again?"
I choked back tears. "Probably not."
Wren was quiet for a long time. Then she whispered, "That's okay. I only need you, Mommy."
The tears finally came.
I held her tight, pulled out my phone to book flights, and mailed off the dissolution papers. Then I deleted every trace of Garrick from my contacts, ready to disappear from his world forever.
The next evening, Garrick left work early and rushed to the hospital.
Yesterday's events had kept him up all night. Maeve's words cut through his head like knives. He had to find them. Had to apologize.
He ran straight to the pediatric ward, clutching a teddy bear.
He opened the door to an empty room.
"Excuse me, where's the little girl who was in this room yesterday?" Garrick grabbed a passing nurse.
"You mean little Wren? They checked out this afternoon."
"When? Where did they go?" His voice cracked.
The nurse thought for a moment. "About three hours ago. The lady said they were moving, took their suitcases straight to the airport."
