"The moment Alexander wakes up, that woman will be long gone!"

Nathan's voice was laced with venom as he paced the hospital corridor. Dominic stepped forward, his tone measured but firm.

"Before Alexander was taken into surgery, he specifically said we should wait until he's conscious before making any decisions. Nathan, don't act recklessly. We need to respect his wishes."

Nathan whirled around, jabbing a finger toward Amy. "She nearly killed him! Do you honestly think Alexander will let this slide? Why keep her here, contaminating the air? She belongs in a cell, rotting where she can't hurt anyone else!"

For weeks, Amy had been untouchable—her every move calculated, her defenses impenetrable. Nathan had watched, seething, as she slipped through his fingers time and again.

Now, finally, he had her cornered. And he wasn’t about to let her escape.

Amy stood motionless, her expression unreadable. She might as well have been a statue, detached from the chaos unfolding around her.

Dominic opened his mouth to speak again, but the arrival of the police cut him off.

"Who reported the incident? Where’s the suspect?"

Nathan and Victoria pointed at Amy in perfect unison.

Nathan’s voice was sharp with triumph. "Her! She stabbed Alexander! Arrest her—she deserves worse than jail!"

The officer turned to Amy. She met his gaze without flinching, her posture relaxed, as if this were nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

"Did you assault someone?" the officer asked, skepticism creeping into his voice.

Amy’s reply was ice-cold. "No."

Nathan let out a furious scoff. "She’s lying! Officer, she won’t even admit it—that alone should be enough to lock her up!"

Amy arched a brow, unimpressed. "If you’re accusing me of murder, where’s the body?"

Nathan faltered. "Alexander—he’s still in surgery."

"So he’s not dead," Amy said flatly.

Nathan’s face twisted. "You’d love that, wouldn’t you? If he never woke up?"

Amy didn’t dignify that with a response. Instead, she turned back to the officer. "Sir, I didn’t kill anyone."

Assault and murder were two very different charges.

The officer frowned, glancing between them. "What exactly happened here?"

Dominic stepped in smoothly. "Officer, this is all a misunderstanding among friends. Yes, there was an injury, but it was an accident. If you need confirmation, wait until Alexander wakes up—he’ll tell you himself."

Dominic’s calm, composed demeanor carried far more weight than Nathan’s outbursts.

The officer hesitated, then nodded. "You’re certain this isn’t more serious?"

Dominic offered a polite smile. "If it were, Alexander would file a report himself once he’s conscious."

The officer could see the tension between them—Nathan’s personal vendetta against Amy was obvious. With a final skeptical glance, he relented. "Fine. But if anything changes, call us immediately."

As soon as the police left, Nathan rounded on Dominic, his voice a furious hiss.

"Why the hell are you protecting her?"

Dominic’s gaze darkened. "Nathan, I’m following Alexander’s orders."

"She nearly killed him!" Nathan spat. "You really think he’ll forgive her after this?"

Dominic held his ground. "Nathan, regardless of what you think, Amy is Liam’s mother. If you throw her in jail, what happens to him?"

"If Alexander wanted her behind bars, he would’ve said so before surgery. This is between him and Ms. Sinclair. Stay out of it. Pushing your way in only makes things harder for him."

Nathan stiffened. He’d forgotten about Liam—the Blackwood heir. A mother with a criminal record would tarnish the boy’s future, a scandal that would follow him forever.

Before he could respond, the operating room doors swung open.