llway faded. Carlisle a

the door, feeling nothing but the cold tile again

pression as impassive as if he were observing a piece of faulty equipment. There

precise, unemotional instrume

up, baby. You're stronger than you know." But he

once so full of light and love, were now vacant, hollowed-out things. They

hat seemed to take all the energy she had left, s

scattered pages of the Bone Marrow Donation Informed Consent Form. Her eyes lingered on the words-th

Mason's face. He assumed she had

didn't go f

ason, and with a surge of raw, primal strength, she rip

rd of tiny white scraps, which fluttered down like snow, landing on her belly,

s eyes and felt a grim satisfaction. L

finally cracking to reveal a sliver of cold a

as fixed on the doorway, as if

, heavier this tim

himself strod

hair out of place-a cruel contrast to her own disheveled, broken state. He took in the scene-the confetti of torn paper on th

had faced each other since

had memorized, adored, and trusted. Now, it was the face of a strang

ed tear in the silence, scraped

reach. His tone was flat, as if discussing a minor st

hich stock to sell. She had

ugh her as she realized: he was looking at her the way a farmer assesses a crop before harvest. Not with love. With appraisal. The mom

scaped her lips. "The optimal time to harv

lightly, addressing the medical staff who had quietly entered behind

gery. Forced ind

nduced. T

kull. Termination. That was the word they used for en

going to kill their children. He was g

a volcanic eruption of rage and grief. Her whole body began t

k violently, as if they could feel her fu

a raw, broken scream. "Carlisle Reyes! You will go to h

flash of surprise. He seemed genuinely taken aback by the ferocity o

replaced by an even deeper,

ear. A sudden, warm gush of fluid broke free from between

, a futile attempt to hold back what was alrea

er had

ous, tearing pain far more intense than anyth

lly, a desperate, futile gesture of protection. Through a

pression unchanged. He adjusted his cufflink-a small, preci

oom," he commanded, his voic