CHAPTER 75: IN THE CROSSFIRE

MARIE My heart was racing as I stood in the doorway, watching Charles and Taylor's furious argument pass into violence. It hurt to see them fighting, an agonizing memory of how complicated life had gotten. I needed to avoid physical altercations even more because I was pregnant. However deeply enmeshed I was in this mess, I could not afford to risk the baby's safety or mine. Crystal, who managed the daycare across the street, suddenly appeared. She rushed into the fray with an authoritative stance, her voice cutting through the tumult. "Hey! Knock it off! This is a place of work, not a battleground. If you don't stop this nonsense, I'm calling the police!" Her intervention was swift and effective. Charles, his lip bruised and swollen, glared at Taylor before storming into the house, slamming the door behind him. Taylor, still panting and visibly agitated, turned to face me. His expression was a mix of frustration and concern. "Marie," he said, his voice sharp, "you need to be sure