---
The door clicked shut behind Armando, but his presence lingered, oppressive as ever. Jessica sat frozen in the chair, her hands still pressed against her face as the heat of the moment replayed in her mind. Her lips tingled, the memory of his forceful kiss vivid and impossible to shake.
How dare he?
She wiped at her mouth furiously, but the anger bubbling in her chest didn’t fade. It mixed with an uncomfortable undercurrent of something she refused to acknowledge. She wasn’t weak. She wouldn’t let him get to her.
Jessica turned her focus back to Alvaro. His small, peaceful form was a balm against the storm raging within her. She leaned forward, brushing a kiss against his forehead. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Mommy’s here. I’ll always be here.”
She whispered the words like a p
