Chapter 18 - The Violent Grasp
Emily pushed herself up from the leather seat, using both armrests to support her heavy frame.
Her legs were shaking violently as she managed to stand upright in the narrow aisle.
She kept one arm wrapped tightly across her belly, protecting her child, while the other hand reached out for balance.
She took one fragile, shuffling step forward, trying to walk past Vanessa toward the rear of the plane.
She didn't want to fight.
She didn't want to argue.
She just wanted to survive the next hour until Daniel opened that door.
But Vanessa was not finished.
Seeing Emily standing tall, even in tears, seemed to infuriate the older woman beyond all sanity.
“You don’t walk away from me when I’m speaking to you!” Vanessa shrieked.
As Emily tried to squeeze past her in the aisle, Vanessa lunged forward.
Her sharp, manicured fingers clamped down like iron claws onto Emily’s bare forearm.
Vanessa yanked backward with savage, unexpected violence.
“Agh!” Emily screamed as the sudden pull threw her off balance.
Her pregnant body lurched violently toward the edge of the mahogany table.
“Mrs. Sterling, NO!” Hannah screamed, dropping her tray and sprinting down the aisle to intervene.
Hannah threw herself between the two women, trying desperately to pry Vanessa’s fingers off Emily’s arm.
“Let go of her! You’re going to hurt the baby!” Hannah pleaded, gasping for breath.
“Get your filthy hands off me, you servant!” Vanessa snarled, swinging her other arm and striking Hannah across the shoulder.
Emily fell back against the armrest, clutching her belly with both hands as a sharp, agonizing spasm tore through her abdomen.
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“Daniel...” Emily whimpered into the cabin air, her voice breaking into pure, helpless despair.
“DANIEL!”
