n her ears as she stood m

muffled by distance and her pulse

Nova. Dono

mansion was a labyrinth of silence and darkness, but the murmured conversation

inct, sharp, and always ti

ine said. "If you do not divert he

ha

ched the r

s wit

confident. "She is too emotional. "She will s

was a

something that made

lize the donor w

ees almost

o

No

sps. She took a step back and pressed h

s the

ne designated to accomplish the miracle. The

li

not to make a sound, but her h

ea

tions below

seized as she neared her bedroom. She slammed the

eaving her kneeling on the flo

hispered. "Let

knew int

never foun

intended to

was abo

ll about

ut

r has

w

ien had given her. She had previously scanned the pages, but now she flipped through th

results were

dates did no

eported without ad

before the wedding, mentione

nd rose to

ating her sist

ng t

evotion to

head

on the door

tant, her hands cl

ans

manly, and recognizab

ed to un

d him. His demeanor was rigid, his jaw clenched,

happ

he has never owned one. Ethan and Katherine are f

ed as he browsed the

she said calmly. "I sacrificed eve

at her slowly.

d down her cheeks. "T

correct, they are not just manipulating you." They are committing medical

ng," she said.

ce before nodding. "You are

I wish I had r

e door caused the

, it was

hard.

ice was dark and hu

eath c

her away from the entrance. "I

he mattress just as Ethan

you are

n ope

ompressed. His eyes moved between the two of them, Layl

seemed e

reason you are in

aid. "Layla seemed pale duri

harp as a razor. "You

Nova's doctor, and Lay

aw muscle

e," h

ove. "She is not

She is safer than she will ever be s

d to Layla.

but her thro

ietly. Recall what

hen h

before returning his focus t

thi

ward. "Lies do no

She fired back before

truc

e side, and the sting

did no

ed back to face him, lif

the donor,"

ression did

ing in his

re what you bel

ely what I have sacrificed-and

kly that she did

uring her in place. The other grasped her neck, not

es, Layla?" he said g

yla retreated

n as she looked at the unope

ded to

not

f. Something she could pr

ow, Ethan wou

ess

a never be

ea crossed

va's illness, therapy, and ho

shook as she

et a DNA test with

ed withi

e it. Bring me a blo

: Ton

l suite at Ashford Medical

he night nurse knew h

antiseptic light. Layla bent down and gently

fore stabbing her sister's finger wit

She placed it in a plastic bag, tucked it

ound, Katherine st

et out

ze was intense

e you do

thing," Layla said, tryi

member? Head of

veni

not reach her eyes. "You are

ceiving

tly, coming closer. "Be ca

, w

cover something y

y her, chin up

not lo

ted the sampl

t," he said. "Gi

d. "What if

rsh. "Then Nova is in mor

n waited for her

ng a glass of scotch, his attenti

you visit

sister," s

said softly, and she under

ile. "That is what

ps twi

ated. "At one time, you w

," she mumbled.

hen I will simply have to remi

touch her, the

there, pallid and shiv

d anxiously. "W

oked bet

ind of

s voice

never been one. Katherine falsified th

lowly, his cou

cquire this," he

an internal email. Someon

heart

unrav

s too quick

Ethan could rapid

eded t

ni

, Layla pa

The file. Th

r coat and waited for the

t the side doo

across the backyard to the property's bo

gate just as headligh

UV glided

rned a

automobile

, dressed in

ld a phone to his

, clutching the

t touc

id not

d not h

grabbed

ividual reach

a ye

th

gunshot

was holding her

d dropped

ned and

ng in the trees, pistol lifte

ly, approaching from the