Noah stepped forward. “Actually, I do. I’m dealing with a man who had to chase down a woman carrying a baby because he couldn’t stand the fact that she’d stopped being afraid of him.”

The words landed like a blow.

Ryan was escorted out of the room, shouting that the whole thing was a setup. But airport police and legal personnel were already waiting outside.

They didn’t handcuff him like in the movies. What happened was worse. Right there, in front of everyone, they made him sign the notice of temporary protective measures.

He was forbidden from approaching Emily or Lily. Forbidden from publishing anything about them. Forbidden from using their personal documents. And he would have to answer for the fraudulent loan.

That night, Emily didn’t stay at her cousin’s apartment. For safety, she was taken to a temporary apartment run by a foundation for women rebuilding their lives.