Eve stared at him and sucked in a sharp breath. Then she slapped his hand away from her face and pushed him even more furiously against his broad chest. He had been expecting it because it was barely enough to make him take half a step back.

"You lying asshole!" she hissed now, her shoulders shaking as all the repressed emotions threatened to overwhelm her. "I've never forgotten Liam! I was locked up in a bloody cupboard because YOU wanted to punish me!"

He should go to hell! She wasn't going to be played this time. She ... knew what kind of cards Dylan liked to play. He'd been winning these kinds of games far too long and far too easily ... and every time he found himself in a position he didn't like, all his good intentions collapsed like a house of cards. Five minutes ago, he had been apologizing and begging ... and now he was threatening her. Whether it was desperation or whether Dylan couldn't lose, she didn't care.

"In the hospital and at the doctor's, you might have been able to tell your pathetic story. About the clumsy mother who hurts her child and herself, and the exemplary Seal, the great soldier and father!" she spat out.

Eve had to fight the urge to vent her anger and hit him, as he had always loved to do. He deserved it. But she was better than that. Better than him! So she would win completely differently: by playing to HER advantage.

"But you're here in Canada, not Oregon! Here, the authorities don't give a shit that you're such a damn fantastic seal, and nobody here believes your filthy lies!"

He was wrong.

She had support.

She was not alone.

She wasn't intimidated.

Eve said it to herself like a mantra.

"Some people stopped believing your excuses and lies long ago, Dylan. And I'm no longer defending you; that's over! I covered for you all the time. Hurting ME was one thing - I've put up with that for far too long, as well as your pretense of being better and sorry. But you hurt Liam! You went too far! YOU can't control yourself, and it's time you woke up!" Eve crossed her arms before her chest so he couldn't see her trembling hands. "Be sensible for once because your goddamn thick head isn't going to help you this time. Sign the fucking divorce papers, take responsibility for your actions, and REALLY change something instead of just making empty promises!"

"I sure as hell won't," Dylan roughly grabbed her arm. "Don't act like you've never made mistakes, Eve!" he groaned, and she didn't know what was on his face. Anger or despair because he seemed to be slowly realizing that she meant it. "We're not getting divorced! And you're not going to take Liam away from me. Do you think I'm just going to let that happen?"

"What are you going to do, Dylan? Go to the authorities? You can read how long custody disputes take across national borders!" This time, it was Eve who smiled bitterly. "They can't even get anything done across state borders in America. And you think you'll get anything done with Canada, let alone here in this dump? It'll take YEARS, Dylan! And I can still take him to Ireland, to my family. When you find us there, Liam will be grown enough to decide. Do you really think that would end well for you? Do you want to put our son through a messy separation now - after everything? And then what? Will you take him away from me and give him to a nanny while you're on assignment? Are you going to fight for him only to dump him like an annoying pet?«

"I'm trying to save our marriage here!" Then he narrowed his eyes and let his gaze wander over her again. "This is all because of that bloke, isn't it?" Dylan let out a growl that made the hairs on her neck stand up. Eve's heart seemed to skip a beat. The last thing she wanted was to drag Ray into this sordid affair...

"The chick in the café told me when I asked for directions ... It's because of the doctor sneaking around you, isn't it?" Dylan gripped her wrist so tightly that she let out a pained gasp. "Since when are you such a whore? Do you think he's serious about you? Did you dye your hair and dress like that because of him? Do you think this guy is better than ME? Did you fuck with him while I was on a mission?"

"Ow, you're hurting me! Dylan! Let go of me! NOW!"

"I am your husband! YOU are MY wife! And you get your arse upstairs now, pack your things and Liam's, and come home with me!" His voice grew louder with every word, his jealousy bubbling over.

Eve didn't manage to clear up the misunderstanding that nothing had happened between her and the doctor. But to be honest, she didn't want to. It was simply none of Dylan's business anymore. Dylan had the divorce papers, and she couldn't make it clearer to him that she was leaving him. Apart from that, she had been alone in her heart for a long time. She had hope for something new. And she didn't want Dylan, perhaps in an overflowing rage, to go after Ray...

"No!" Eve shouted again and pulled at her wrist, but Dylan grabbed her and dragged her towards the stairs. She immediately felt dizzy. Oh no, there was no way Liam and Ray would see this drama! "Dylan! Let go of me! Now!" she demanded louder. She tried to sound firm but could hear her voice breaking under the growing fear. What would he do if she refused? Would he grab Liam and drag her into the car by her hair or ...

"Pack your things! Or I'll..."

"Or you'll do WHAT?" Ray's voice cut between them like a knife through soft butter.

Eve and Dylan's eyes darted around - and lingered on Ray, whose broad-shouldered figure stood at the top of the stairs. His hair fell into his face, and the light at his back cast a dark shadow over his eyes, which were fixed on Dylan. Slowly, almost as if in slow motion, his gaze slid down - first over Eve and then to Dylan's fingers, which gripped her wrist so tightly that red welts appeared on her skin, and tears stood in her eyes.

Eve could see the former soldier inhale deeply, and his muscles tighten into his fists. She almost expected Ray to pounce on Dylan like a wolf, just as he had done to Hawkins in the forest to protect Liam. That thought only made her panic more. Dylan was a trained Seal. Ray was injured and had limitations. In her mind's eye, she could already see both men, fists flying and Ray injured...

But something seemed to be holding Ray back.

Instead, he bridged the distance with quick steps and grabbed Dylan's wrist while his other hand gripped her arm much more gently. She felt the growing pressure before Dylan finally released his fingers - and Ray pushed her behind him in one fluid motion, shielding her with his body.

"I suggest you leave now. This conversation is over," Ray's voice rumbled strangely. She had never heard him like that before. "There's the door. Get out," Ray said slowly and pointed meaningfully towards the exit.

Dylan bared his teeth. "It's not over yet," he promised coldly. "I'll be back. And then you'd better have your bags packed..." His jaw tightened, and he clenched his fist. He and Ray stared at each other like wild animals that would have gone at each other at the tiny crack of a branch... but then, to their unbelievable surprise, Dylan turned away.

"I'll make sure he goes away for real," Ray grumbled, following Dylan with tight steps.

Eve only managed a slight nod. As soon as the two men were out of the door, she leaned her shoulder against the wall. Her fingertips were ice-cold as she rubbed her wrist to banish the echo of pain, and her legs felt like they would give way at any moment.

Shit... Eve felt like her whole body was made of jello ... but she had done it. She had defended her son and home and hadn't given in. Eve almost burst into tears. Partly out of satisfaction and relief. Another part because, despite all her anger and pride, she could feel her chest tightening at having to throw out a once beloved person like that. It was never easy to draw a line under things. Especially not with someone you have shared so many years with.

Hadn't you sworn to each other in marriage, "for better or for worse"?

But... even such an oath had its limits. She had done her duty and endured more than could be asked of her. It was obvious that Dylan had no intention of simply giving up.

But one thing was sure: she would not return on her decision.