What Blooms From Burned Love

Suri finally crashed at dawn after hours of tossing and turning.

Didn't last.

Bruce yanked her up, his face tight.

"You actually slept?"

He dragged her out of bed. Pain flared down her burned arm.

She lay on the floor, pale light spilling over her as she looked up at him. "What are you even doing?"

"What am I doing? Why'd you put cinnamon in the cream soup? You know it's got cinnamaldehyde—causes uterine contractions! Julie could've miscarried!"

"What?"

Suri blinked, stunned.

"You're saying I did that on purpose? Just to make her lose the baby? Seriously, Bruce? Why would I do that?"

"Because you hate how well I treat her! Suri, you were the only woman I ever cared about." He was shaking, furious. "I brought Julie here 'cause she's pregnant and alone.

"If you had a problem, you should've just said it! Why go this low?

"I'm done with the excuses. Is Julie right? You're bitter 'cause you can't have kids, so you wanted her to lose hers?"

Suri stayed on the floor. "You don't believe me."

"You messed up and won't even own it," he said, towering over her. "We're going to the hospital. You're apologizing to Julie."

"And if I don't?" Her eyes flamed.

"You're going. I've spoiled you long enough—look what that's done. Time you owned up to what you did."

Bruce hauled her to the hospital.

The second they walked in, he dropped her arm and went straight to Julie's side. His tone flipped. "You still hurting?"

"It's better now. Bruce, when you left... I was so scared. I thought I might lose the baby—and you weren't here."

"Come on, silly girl. I'd never leave. Suri's here to apologize."

Suri stepped up, locking eyes with her. "Julie, did you tell Bruce I added cinnamon to the soup?"

Julie played innocent, but Suri wasn't buying it. She knew exactly who Julie was.

She hadn't added a thing to that soup. Only one way this made sense—Julie did it herself and pinned it on her.

Of course. Anyone who snagged Bruce like that was never gonna play clean.

"It's okay, Suri," Julie said, all sweet and fake. "I know you didn't mean it. Just... be more careful next time.

"Bruce worries about me, that's all. Don't be mad. But maybe you shouldn't cook anymore. We don't want any more... accidents.

"I just want the baby to be safe."

Bruce's chest tightened.

He looked at Suri. Long pause. Then, "Tomorrow, you're moving to the complex next door. I've got a place there. You'll stay until Julie has the baby."

Her burn throbbed, sweat clinging to her skin. Suri's lips had gone pale—Bruce didn't even notice.

She pressed them together, steady. "Fine. I'll move out. You two could use the space."

The flat look in her eyes made him hesitate. "That's not what I meant. It's just two months, Suri. You get that, right?"

"I get it." She smiled. She was leaving anyway.

"Good. To show Julie you're sorry, get her a gift for tomorrow when she's discharged."

Her face went bone white. "Sure. Got it."

She already knew what she'd give.