Frozen Promises

Since the last drowning, Kathleen felt unwell all the time. She checked into a VIP room at the hospital to rest through her pregnancy.

Madison kept nagging Braydon to go visit her.

Braydon could not argue with his mother. He had no choice but to go.

Right as he raised his hand to push the door though, voices leaked from the crack. They stopped him cold. "...rest easy. I set it all up. I told Cade to aim right. It would not kill her, but that leg stayed ruined for sure. See how she flirts with men after that."

Kathleen talked on the phone with her family. She laughed with smug pride.

That laugh pierced like an ice pick dipped in poison. It stabbed straight into Braydon's heart.

Blood drained from his body. He stood rigid on the spot.

Bang!

He kicked the door open. The crash made Kathleen whip her head around in terror from the bed. "Mr... Mr. Saunders?"

"You sent your brother to hit Allison." Braydon closed in step by step.

His voice shook with raw fury. His eyes chilled her to the bone. "That crash was no accident."

Kathleen paled in fright. She babbled excuses. "No, it was not like that, Mr. Saunders. Hear me out."

"Hear you out? I heard it myself." Braydon swatted her reaching hand away. Rage like never before nearly broke his control. "How dare you do that to her. How dare you!"

The huge row drew Madison in. She rushed to grab her son. "Braydon. You lost your mind. Kathleen carries your child. How can you upset her like this."

Braydon shook off his mother's grip. He pointed at Kathleen. Anger filled his eyes. "Mom, did you not hear? She ordered someone to hit Allison. That is attempted murder. You still shield a vicious woman like her."

Madison stepped in front of Kathleen without a pause. She guarded her like a hen with her chicks. "That does not mean you strike. She carries the Saunders heir in her belly. Save the talk until after she delivers."

Those words broke the last straw.

Braydon watched his mother defend the culprit. All his bottled letdown exploded at once.

Right in front of his mother and Kathleen, he made a call. "Officer, I need to report an attempt on my wife's life. Yes, that Cade Murphy. Ignore what my mom says. Arrest him."

Kathleen nearly fainted. She swayed on her feet. "No, Mr. Saunders, do not do this to my brother."

Madison steadied her quick. She shot back at Braydon. "Kathleen still carries your child. Do you have to ruin everything."

Braydon shot Kathleen a cold glance. "If not for the one in her belly, I would haul her in too."

He turned to his mother. He spoke chill. "Mom, since you treasure that grandson so much, raise it yourself. From now on, that woman has nothing to do with me."

He ignored his mother's shock and Kathleen's wails. He turned sharp and walked away without a look back.

One thought filled his head then. Find Allison.

Confess to her. Repent to her. Beg her pardon. Spend his life making it up.

He raced mad to Allison's room downstairs. He shoved the door open. He called out. "Allison, forgive me. I was wrong."

Silence answered him though. Dead quiet.

Allison stayed gone from the room.

The nightstand held a divorce agreement.

He flipped to the last page. His own signature stared back at him.