smell of antiseptic filling her nostrils. The

he said, his voice gentle but firm. "The cold and the s

rgery that only one person in the world could pe

t afford him. But there

ed Elean

rds tasting like poison. "I' ll sign any papers you want. I' ll leav

s cold, calculating voice. "Fine. But you will tell no one

stigator had uncovered the truth years ago. But a sick, crippled girl from the foster system, even one who had saved her son' s life, was still not good enoug

rey had always refused, believing their love was priceless. Now, she was begging fo

nd Connor walked in. He was ho

Your knees must be sore," he said, avoiding her eyes. He began to rub the cream o

rmured, as if that excused everything.

eak. "Do you believe me?" she w

d wall between them, built brick by brick

he baby is born, I can finally acknowledge you. We can be a real family." He laid out his twisted plan: Kassie would give birth, an

ook for? Be realistic. You' re a cripple from an orphanag

is partner, his soulmate of twenty years, but as

with a strength she didn' t know she

o argue when a loud clap of thunder rat

e said, already moving toward the

at her. "Just wait a little longer,

he wa

rom the accident where she' d pushed him out of the path of a car, always throbbed in the rain. He used to remember that. He u

s afraid of thunder. He had forgotten

e, holding a file with the baby' s latest ultrasound. He was glowing, his face lit up with a joy Aubrey hadn'

look he used to give he

ed. She turned to leav

her smile triumphant. She walked over, blocking Aubrey

ut I suppose that' s to be expected. People from your background don' t age well." She patted h

her own feet. The limp. The constant rem

aving his life. This body, the one you find so disgusting, gave him

. "I' m leaving. I hope you can keep him

a flash of rage. She raise

tation. Her expression changed in an instant. The raised hand that wa

, Kassie Whitney cr