“Pay the rent or get out!”

She inhaled to answer—

The door swung open.

Samuel Carter stormed in like the hallway belonged to him, face flushed, jaw clenched, eyes already locked on Evelyn. She’d hoped the hospital would restrain him. It didn’t even slow him down.

“Sir, you can’t—” a nurse began from the doorway.

Samuel was already moving. Too fast. Too close.

The slap landed with a sharp crack that rang louder than any machine. Evelyn’s head snapped to the side. Her balance went with it. She slid off the bed and hit the floor, pain flaring through her abdomen as her stitches pulled tight. For a split second the room was silent—then panic erupted.

“Code!” someone shouted. A nurse smashed the emergency button. Another dropped to Evelyn’s side, hands hovering, afraid to touch the wrong place.

Evelyn lay staring at the ceiling tiles, heart hammering, cheek burning, breath coming in short, jagged pulls. Outside, the hallway exploded with movement—running, radios, a door banging open.

Two officers and hospital security burst in and froze mid-step.

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