r smoothie I'd made, then h

oat. "Oh! Ethan! I..

r side, all concer

you put

for, kale and ginger,"

ed. He grabbed the tall glass from

ing severe, but enough to cause discomfort,

no," I

mmanded, his face

refuse. I saw the s

s and drank the thick gre

y arms, a familiar heat spreading across

ll, triumphant smile

usted. "See? You're al

their master bedroo

felt more like a servant's quarters, and t

ching and the turmoil in my mind, I walked pa

Ethan' s and Chloe'

an," Chloe murmured. "So much

agreed. "He' ll ha

everything I already knew. I was an in

an' s doctor friend, a man I once t

sat me down in the formal livi

fortunately, very high-risk. The baby requires a specific type of stem

e' ve done some preliminary tests. You ar

od ran

ing a hand on my shoulder t

Leo' s... accident... shows you' re not fit. This donation can be your

ilded cage, wit

eft unsaid: refuse,

ok me to a private c

was sedated. I remember a br

, Ethan was gone. A nurse told

more determined than ever,

king to Ethan in the hallway

ed to understand. Given the nature of the cells harvested, and the... intensity of

s a shor

. She doesn' t deserve more children after what h