nd this. She had to give him a reason he would accept, a reason that woul

the truth, but shar

er body went still. She looked him straigh

reason, Julian? F

I want to get married. I want a rea

a vulgar ultimatum. A part of her screamed at the risk-mentioning children was playing with fire-but she knew him. His pride, his arrogance, w

icker of something-surprise? -crossed his face,

. "A pathetic little power play. You thought you could pressure me into a prop

let him believe the worst.

for him. This, he understood. This was the world a

ving them flat and empty. He looked at her as if seeing

rist and stepping back, creating a chasm between them. "You

backward glance. It closed behind him wit

inally draining out of her. The tears she had held back for so long fina

way. She was finally

s shattered into

at NewYork-Presbyterian was a sanctuary of calm professionalism. Bethan

to do an ultrasound and some blood

tion table. She stared at the ceiling as Bethany moved the cold ultrasound wa

iet for a long

, a new kind of fear cr

mach. "Get dressed. Meet me back i

friend. Bethany wasn't looking at her. She was staring

nal tone doing little to hide her

stomach

is very clear. Your uterine wall... it's significantly t

ean?" Chloe asked

t the procedure... the D&C... it carries an extremely high risk

repeated, the wor

s, there is a very high probability that you will never be abl

force of a physical blow. The

, she had used her desire for a child to drive away the man she loved. Today,

ing a sick, twis

I can't do this procedure. As your doctor and as your friend, I can't. Th

the gray sky over the East Riv

is baby's father was a man who thought love wa

ed in an impo

said softly, and slipped out of the

a will of its own, crept to her stomach. This tiny cluster of cel

ur pa

ice, Bethany was waiting for h

s gaze, her own eyes

she said. "I'm goin