had tormented me throughout my marriage, always appearing

my dresses at parties, how she would tell stories of her

l me close and tell Ivonne to back off, his eyes hold

," Ivonne said now, her voice full o

y replied, his eyes cold as he glanc

e asked, her hand ti

her kid is dead now. Thinks

really...?" Ivonne's vo

ace, searching for any sign of doubt, any fl

e believed I was orchestra

ld her in his arms and cried, telling me she was the most beaut

an was

through his hair. "It's a trick. But I've handled it. Le

ng, but her eyes held a flicker

tching her stomach. "Elroy,

. He swept her into his arms and rushed he

e was attentive, worried, gentle. He held Ivo

"Congratulations, Mr. Ayala.

slightly. He doted on her, his face transformed by a love so profound it made m

ttle angel. I

oving father. For Emma, he was a murderer. I watche

nt. Before he left the room, he leaned

ght back. Y

ace with a horrifying certainty. This child... it was his. The timing, his devotion.

claw at his face, but I was

is expression grave. He was speaki

to tell you this. We've run

e vanished.

efect. Without a heart transplant, s

d. Just a second. Then, a slow, chi

" he mused, looking out the w

the orphanage. Retrieve Emma's body. T

ure, unadult

ly unde

his voice low and vicious. "It's time they paid t

und her. But Ivonne was there too, in the shadows, a smirk on her face. Elroy arrived to find me knee

d me, his fingers digging into my arms, while I was pregnant with Emma. "You and that thing inside you will pay for this.

d kept hi