My father's reassurances did nothing to calm Oliver's fears, though, naturally since he knew what they'd see on the security footage. The only person other than Ryder to leave our apartment in that time was the very person who'd done this to me.
"Did the man say anything to you?" my father asked, thoroughly convinced some intruder had found a way onto the estate.
I shook my head and took a sip of water to ease the pain in my throat. "No. One moment I was alone in the kitchen, and then the next moment he was coming at me. I threw a glass to stop him, but it was no use. His hands were around my neck in seconds choking me."
Completely ignoring my father's interest in my attacker, Oliver asked, "Do you need anything from home? I can go get you whatever you need, honey."
So now I was honey. He hadn't called me that once in all the time we were married, and now he'd called me honey twice in the span of a few minutes. Oliver may not have been much of a husband, but he was a hell of an actor.
I smiled like a thankful wife would and answered sweetly, "Just a change of clothes for when I go home tomorrow, please."
Like he couldn't get out of that room fast enough, he nodded and announced he'd return with exactly what I asked for. Kissing me goodbye, he said in his kindest voice, "I love you, Serena. I'm so happy you're going to be okay."
He had no idea how not okay I was going to be until I made him pay for what he'd done. But I smiled and pretended to be thankful for such a wonderfully thoughtful husband.
"I'm going to go too. You need your rest, sweetheart," my father said as he gave my hand a gentle squeeze. Another manipulator pretending to care.
"Thank you. I am feeling a little tired, I guess."
"Well, we'll get out of here, but you have Ryder to thank once again for the fact that you're alive. If he hadn't been there to save you, God only knows what may have happened."
If God was paying attention, he knew exactly what would have happened.
I smiled at Ryder, and he took a step toward the bed. The troubled look on his face told me he didn't understand what he'd just witnessed. Confused by my insistence that I'd been attacked by an intruder when he knew full well who had done this to me, he remained silent but tried to smile.
"Thank you again for saving my life. One of these days I'm going to have to repay the favor."
"I just wish I got there in time to stop him. I'm sorry I didn't."
The pain in his voice told me he was sorry for more than that. We'd lost something beautiful we'd created. It was taken away by a hateful man I swore would pay back someday soon.
I reached out for his hand and took it in mine, soothed by him being there with me. "You saved me. I can't tell you what that means to me, Ryder."
"Well, we're going to leave you to get some rest. If you need anything that Oliver doesn't bring you, just call me, sweetheart," my father said as he kissed my cheek and turned to leave.
"I want to talk to Ryder. Give us a few minutes, okay?"
"Okay. Ryder, I'll be down at the car."
Happy to get a few moments alone with him, I clung to Ryder's hand as I waited for the door to close behind my father. When we were finally alone, I didn't hold back my tears any longer. I didn't have to.
As they rolled down my cheeks, he pulled me close and held me to him as I sobbed over what we'd lost. I felt the sadness in him and wished I could do more than simply fall apart.
He pressed his lips to the top of my head and whispered, "Why did you lie? You could have outed him right here and been done with him, Serena. Why let him off so easy?"
I leaned back and looked up into those green eyes so full of confusion, hoping he'd understand what I'd had to do. "That would have been too easy for him, Ryder. I couldn't risk him somehow getting out of paying for what he'd done to me, to our baby, because of some slick lawyer. No way."
My mention of the baby made Ryder wince, and he turned away from me. "I hate him, Serena. I hate the very sight of him," he said quietly, his voice cracking.
"I know. I do too."
"I swear, if I could, I would-" He stopped speaking and sighed as his shoulders sagged. "I hate him for what he did to you. To our baby."
Tugging on his arm, I pleaded for him to look at me. I needed him to know I wasn't going to just return to Oliver and that hateful life I had with him.
"Ryder, I want you to look at me. Please."
He slowly turned his head, and his gaze zeroed in on my bruised neck. "He could have killed you, Serena."
I placed my palm on his cheek and directed his eyes to mine. "I swear to you he won't get away with this. I just need you to trust me. Please, I know what I'm doing."