called my mother

xcited and slightly secretive. "Dr. Alex Chen. He's a specialist in e

ow he ran a private, under-the-table clinic in a dingy office building, preying on the desperate and the delusional for cash. He was perfect. I' d fed

diately transferred a ludicrous sum of money to an offshore

t was nothing more than a cocktail of powerful female hormones and a few p

mportance, started th

ks, the effect

"I' m bloated all the time, and I' m so tired. And I

Chen said your body needs to adapt. It' s creating a new biological environment. The hormon

word "purpose" was enough to soothe his fragi

the next

Kevin came downstairs wearing a thick, baggy hoodie, despite the

ith you?" Eleano

uttered, refusing

tle, but I saw it. Throughout dinner, he kept squirming. Finally, as he reached for the salt, his

s eyes wide

evin, what is that?

is chest, his face a mask of panicked revul

akable truth. He was lactating. The high doses of est

ours was struggling with postpartum depression and the difficulties of breastfeeding. Kevin had openly mocked

ugh his sweatshirt in a state of p

er face etched with worry.

her arm. "Mom

ng with him? He l

ords carefully. "Remember what Kevin said a

. "What does that have

, echoing his own cruel words back at him. "It' s not that hard.

eyes. The direct quote was unsettling, even to her.

ign that the 'gestational environment' is becoming fully active. It' s a g

Her worry instantly dissolved, repl

relaxing. "A good sign. You' re

xpression was no longer one of concern for her son' s wel

ppy little smile on her face.

d. The wet spot on the tablecloth where Kevin had been sitting was a small,

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