y P

a glass of warm milk, something he used to do when I

n?" he asked,

ent, blockin

I didn' t move. His eyes, full of a counterfeit sorrow, met m

sterilized to raise your love child?

hat. It' s the best solution

The words

say no?" I aske

e ruthless businessman he was. "Then we can' t get married, Jod

pain lanced through my chest, so intense it made me gasp. He was willing to throw away

ng easily from my lips. I needed time. I needed

in to kiss me, but I turned my head, and his lips brushed against my hair. "I know this is hard, but it' s the only

fe. The words

I said, my voice hollo

ust nodded, placing the glass of milk on the n

s of milk, a symbol of a care that was never real. I wanted to sm

er knock. My heart sank. I thought it was Ar

laudia standing there, a sm

ur proposal," she said, her eyes glin

her. "What do yo

e sure you understood the situation clearly. You see, this baby..." she paused, letting the silence

. A wave of nausea rolled over me. It felt like a phy

spered, though a cold pa

aceholder. A convenient, pretty little placeholder until he realized who he really wanted." She leaned closer, her voice d

th a rage so profound it felt like it wo

nerves. "Of course." She sauntered away, her hips s

ed around me. The late-night calls he' d take in another room. The way his arm would linger around her waist

They were siblings. They were

A truth so ugly, so twisted, I hadn' t allowed myself to see it. Thinking o

his face contorted in anger. "What did you say to Claud

ask for my sid

a strange calm settled over me. The pain was still t

id, my voice even. "I' ll do i

lliant, relieved smile. "Oh, Jody. B

into a hug. I stood stiffly in

is voice giddy with his victory. "Tomorrow,

e should wait," I said, my voice still eerily calm. "Claudia' s health is the mo

g with adoration. He thought I w

That kiss, which once felt like a promise, now felt

the corner, her face a mask of shock. She hadn' t e

o Arthur' s arm. "Since Jody is feeling better, can we

n looking at me. "Jody, you' ll come with us

ay happy family was nauseating. But I nodde

ng and whispering like a real couple. I trailed behind them, an invisible ghost. We were supposed to be

life of quiet desperation, of watching the man I loved love someone else. A pain so sharp and sudden p

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