na

inding white ceiling of a corporate recovery suite stared down at me. My body ached with a dull, persis

lullaby? Nonsense. A hallucination from the cold. He'd always dismissed anything that didn't fit his narrow, amnesi

ore, nothing less. And you will remain so." His voice was flat, devoid of the earlier panic

e flower farm, the one I've been investing in and subtly expanding for you,

wouldn't give him the satisfaction of a re

e: the car my father had arranged would

Each passing day had chipped away at my spirit, eroding the vibrant woman I once was. The pain was a constant companio

was gone. Repla

Utterly, irr

screen, a soft smile touching his lips. It was Be

e. "Leo! Something's wrong! He can't breathe! He's covered in rashes! El

ith a terrifying rage, fixed on me. "You demon!" he roared. He yanked me f

or. We shot upwards to the penthouse, where he had built a state-of-the-art nursery

made-up face streaked with feigned tears. Her eyes, however, were triumph

my face. Her nails raked across my cheek, leavin

to push her away. "Check the surveillanc

pale and trembling. He knelt before Adrian, his voice shaking. "Mr. Foster! It's tru

ran cold.

ered, his voice cracking. "She offered me a large sum of money to... to look the oth

hestrated, malicious nightmare. "That's a lie!" I sc

e floor. The child's skin was covered in welts. He stared at me, his eyes burning with an inferno of ha

y!" Bella cried, clinging to his

ng mine. His voice dropped to a terrifying calm. "She used

lanket, descended upon me. "No," I whimpe

quick-dry cement from the construction site downstairs. And two casting

rabbed my arms, forcing my hands onto a table. The first mold was slammed over my right hand. The cold, wet cement was poured in, heavy and suffocating. I screamed, but the sound was a ragged, tearing noise. Anothe

the rough mold, bloomed on the grey surfa

muttered, his voice cold. "She needs to understand the consequen

r create, never touch, never feel again if you dare to cross me! This

ical laugh. I thought of my past choices. My blind love. My foolish hope.

m with everything I had. And he h