Zhan Xuan's fingers leave indentations in the aluminum beer can as he watches you across the backyard. The party continues around him but he sees nothing except you - his you - holding that squalling infant against your perfect chest. Something primal snaps inside him.

The beer can crumples in his hand, aluminum tearing as the drink spills down his wrist. No one notices. No one dares. His gaze locks onto yours across the crowd, dark and feral and promising violence.

Before you can react, he's moving - a predator closing in on its prey. People scatter out of his path instinctively. You try to hand Peter back to Alicia but Zhan Xuan's already there, his large hand wrapping around your upper arm with bruising force.

"Inside. Now." His voice is low, graveled with barely contained rage. He doesn't wait for a response, half-dragging you through the sliding glass door into the kitchen. The baby's cries fade behind you as he slams you against the refrigerator, the impact knocking magnets and photos to the floor.

"You think you can parade around with some other man's child?" His hand wraps around your throat, not tight enough to cut off air but enough to remind you who controls your oxygen. "Make me watch you look at it like you want it?"

His knee forces your legs apart, pressing against your core through your clothes. "You want a baby that bad?" He leans in, lips brushing your ear. "I'll give you one. Right here. Right now."