Detrimental.

" I'm going to hurt you so bad , your own mother won't be able to recognize you." He held Louis by the collar and used his body to slam Dwayne's door open .

The women , now nude , screamed as the door came crashing in. Dwayne was unfazed. He just sat there with a satisfied grin on his face.

" Ryan, I wonder what brings you here?" He rose as he fastened his robe. " You seem troubled. "

Ryan gritted his teeth and fought the urge to smash his face in. " What happened?"

He managed to squeeze a few words out without exploding.

" What happened, Ryan?" Dwayne crossed his arms over his chest and acted oblivious. He turned to Louis , who was still on the floor, and asked him , " Do you know what happened?

" This wasn't how it was supposed to go! You fucking bastard! You betrayed me!" Ryan pounced on Dwayne and started to choke him.

" You- you...you're in my den and you dare to do this?" He laughed as he gasped for air. " I've got hundreds of men waiting to rip you apart if I wished. "

Ryan threw him to floor and spat. Dwayne sucked in all the air he could before he spoke again. " What did you think ? Just because we have been partners for so long , I'd be loyal to you? " He laughed. " This was my chance to ruin my competition. During this family mess of yours , I made a plan. I've been raiding your warehouses , taking down your men , making new partners..."

He lay on his back and sighed. " To be honest , I'm content. "

" If this was about business , why did you hurt my wife?" Ryan growled.

" Uh uh..ex-wife. Ryan, this was your plan all along. Instigate the kid...get someone hurt...create a rift in relationships and so on..." He supported himself on a chair and stood. " I just , made a few changes here and there. And believe me , I had no idea Freya would be home-"

" Do not say her name with those filthy lips!" Ryan hissed.

" Pardon me. " Dwyane threw his hands in the air . " But trust me , I had no idea. "

" So you used me?" Louis was dumbfounded.

" Derrick, take Gwen home. Let her get some rest. " It's not good for her and the baby. She's been up all night. "

" You don't look too good yourself Alec. " Derrick squeezed his arm. " Get some rest. I can stay and take care of things. "

" I'm fine. " He was cold and distant.

" I know you're fighting hundreds of feelings and thoughts right now. That's why you're not talking to Gwen either. You don't want to break down infront of her. You're not used to being weak."

Alec didn't say much. He just kept looking out the window.

" Alec ..."

" How do you think Mom felt when...when the flames slowly sizzled her skin off...when...when the smoke filled her lungs..." He bit his lip and shut his eyes tightly. " Did she call for me? Did...did she scream? Did..."

Derrick wrapped his arms around him as tightly as he could.

" It's not your fault. "

" I know. " Alec breathed. " But I'll make sure whoever did this lives to regret it. "

" Mr. Reinster. " The doctor stood behind them with a blank face. He'd probably faced hundreds of similar cases. " We will perform surgery on the patient. But I'll have to warn you , it will be a delicate and painfully long procedure. We'll do our best and try to make her life normal again. There will be several surgeries after different intervals. "

" It'll never be normal again. " Alec swallowed at the weight of his own words. He knew she'd be scarred for life.

" How many weeks?" Ruth sat by Gwen.

" What?" Gwen was distracted and didn't get what she said.

" My nephew or niece. " Ruth eyed her belly. " Alec told me a few days back. He was ecstatic. He's always wanted a mini version of himself. How narcissistic. "

She was joking around. Gwen was shocked for a moment. She couldn't remember a single time they'd had a normal conversation.

Gwen didn't even notice that she was hugging her tummy. She was already so attached to this little one.

" Just a few weeks." Gwen smiled.

" You must be happy. " Ruth noted bitterly. She fought back her tears and put on a smile. She wished her situation could be the same but she was sure Leo wouldn't be happy about this. She held her tummy.

This was just a result of an accident. Their little mistake and nothing more.

" Look , I know we haven't been close at all. Infact I'd almost call us enemies..." Gwen held Ruth's hand. " But , you can tell me what's bothering you. If it's a secret , then you can kill me once your done telling me."

Ruth gave a brief laugh and a tear escaped her eye. Without her consent , her body shook as she cried. She put her hand over her mouth and tried to hide her sobs but when Gwen embraced her , it only made her resolve fade the more.

" Ssh...it's okay. " Gwen hugged her and patted her back gently.

Gwen couldn't help but smile at her own situation. So much and happened in the past few weeks. She was exhausted and her body felt like it was falling apart.

She glanced at Ruth and smiled. She was hugging her soon to be sister-in-law. Though she seemed troubled , the moment was cute.

If her sixteen year old self had met her now , she'd be shocked.

She'd met the love of her life. She'd left the dirty business behind. She was pregnant. She'd lost Leo.

The last thought lingered on her mind for a while and a bitter coldness gulped her body up.

" I made a mistake , Gwen." Ruth's cries brought her mind back from wherever it was lingering. " Leo will never love me. "

" What are you talking about? What happened exactly?" Gwen rubbed her back harder as her sobs got louder.

" I..." Ruth wiped her tears with the back of her hand and composed herself. " You know , I've always gotten exactly what I wanted since I was a kid. I've been spoilt rotten. I'm not used to rejection. "

" But...but when I met Leo for the first time , he didn't seem to care. No matter how many times I shamelessly threw myself at him , he didn't care."

" And foolishly , I took it as a challenge. I had to have him. And in the process , I lost what I had..."

She briefly inspected where Derrick stood and shame washed over her. She looked to the floor and sighed.

" I mistook my fucking pride for love. I made a mistake. Now I've even involved someone innocent in this. " She clutched her tummy.

Gwen frowned in realization. She combed Ruth's eyes for a bit of doubt but there was none.

" Are you..."

She finished the sentence for her. " I'm pregnant. "