When Remi saw Ariel, he froze. He quickly put the baby back in the crib and strode toward the door.
"Ariel, what are you doing here?"
The other men saw her too. Their faces went pale.
"Ariel?"
"Ariel, let us explain! We heard Ella had a baby and came to visit. We just ran into Remi on the way and dragged him along."
"That's right, Ariel. Please don't misunderstand."
Even now, Remi's closest friends were covering for him. Hearing them say her name like that made Ariel feel sick.
She slowly lifted her gaze to Remi. Her voice came out flat. "What about you, Remi? How do you explain this?"
"Ariel, don't get upset. It's just like they said. We ran into each other by chance."
"You're still lying."
Her heart felt frozen, like it should have gone numb by now. But his lie still crushed her. She raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face.
"You told me you were leading a month-long training exercise at the border. So what happened? Did the training get moved to the maternity ward? That was fast work, Commander."
Remi's face went white. "I… Plans changed. I'm sorry, Ariel. Please calm down. You're pregnant."
"It's my fault! Ms. Slater, please don't hit him anymore."
Ella clutched the baby and dropped to her knees. "Remi only stayed with me because he felt sorry for me! Ms. Slater, I'm not asking for anything else.
"I'm a widow. I just wanted someone to take care of me and a child to hold onto. I would never try to take your husband!"
"Shut up! You already have a child with him, and you're telling me you won't take him?"
Ariel raised her hand to strike Ella, but Remi caught her wrist. "Ariel, you can hit me, but don't touch Ella. She just gave birth. She's weak."
Watching him defend another woman made Ariel laugh bitterly. "So this is why you said you'd be gone for a month? So you could be here with her? How can you be this shameless?"
Ariel wrenched her arm free and raised her hand again. Ella scrambled up from the floor with the baby and rushed toward Remi.
Ariel couldn't stop. Her hand struck the child.
"Waaaah!"
The baby tumbled from Ella's arms. Everyone in the room went into a panic.
"My baby!" Ella sobbed as she lunged for the child.
"Why would you do this? He's only four days old! You're going to be a mother yourself! How can you be so cruel?"
The others rounded on Ariel.
"Ariel, how could you? The baby's so small! No matter how angry you are, you can't hurt a child!"
"A fall like that could cause serious damage. Mr. Callahan, we need to get a medic in here right now!"
Remi turned on Ariel, furious. "I know what I did was wrong! But that's my son! My own son!"
"Is he?" Tears streamed down Ariel's face as she pressed a hand to her stomach.
"Then what's this?"
"Sweetie, why did you stop crying? Baby! Remi, he's not breathing!" Ella's scream cut through the room.
Remi panicked. "Someone get a medic! Now!"
Ariel stood in the doorway, her expression blank. "Let them go. Remi, I'm giving you one last chance. It's me or Ella. My baby or hers. You can only choose one. Who do you choose?"
