se

room, her movements efficient, her face kind but distant. I lay

ea. He stretched, kicked, a perfect miniature human. "He's beautiful, Elyse," she

with this, Elyse? At eight months, it's not only dangerous for you, but we also have t

feeling pain. The thought was unbearable. I closed my eyes, a sil

my voice barely a whisper. "Just

ng. "Of course. Just be careful, Elyse. Any s

ing me feel colder than ever. My body felt like ice. I

ay

ached, regal, and dangerous. My breath caught in my throat. He looked up, his eyes meeting mine. R

ied. Before I could react, his hand shot out, grab

bed his temples, a gesture of annoyance. "The will, the divorce papers, this stunt at the clinic. It's

t, her precious needs. And what about me? What

my throat. My voice, when it came out, was a ragged whisper. "And what about me, Grays

tightening. For onc

elf. The years of suppressed hurt, the anger, the bitter d

ere when you almost died from that ulcer, remember? You were 'too busy' for our anniversary, but I found

one prenatal appointment? One? No. You were always off with Kira, making sure she was taken

stood there, frozen, his face draining of color. His

mmered, his voice choked.

But that doesn't mean I was stupid. I just kept hoping. Hoping you would wake up. Hoping you would remember who I was, what we were." I dug my

kin to shame, crossed his face.

ared, each word a hammer blow. "And he w

d away. He reached out, his hand hovering in

n the road ahead. I would

to sign the divorce papers." My heart sank. "He's threatening to fight fo

ul man, Elyse. A custody battle could drag on fo

I to do? Grayson had the money, the power, the connections. I had noth

Dalton," I said, my voice firm, clear. "My child will not b