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he ground would crumble, and I could only save one. Every time, I reached for Emerson, my fingers brushing against hers, only for her to sli

. The first thing I saw was Emerson. She was sitting in a chair by my bedside, her face pale and draw

nful, washed over me. "You're okay," I

but she pulled away as

er tone flat, devoid of any emotion. "And several fr

t, making it hard to breathe. "Emerson, I... I panicked.

ring. "And in your panic, you made a choice. You al

oxygen tanks. "No. Absolutely n

t a nego

my ribs was blinding. "I'll do anything. I'll get rid of her. I'

crossed her face. "You want me to forgi

pathetic, surged thr

st like mine. Make it happen, Barron. Make her lose the

t what shocked me more was that it came from her. My gentle, compassio

ld innocent? My fifth? My tenth? Were they not innocent enough f

my face. She knew. Go

ow

ain. You chose to protect her from a minor fall while I was bleeding to death. You chose to shield her from a runaway trolley whil

door, her back s

ng?" I called out,

aid, without turning back. "I wa

d her, leaving me alone wit

for Emerson... that was real, too. It was the one pure, undeniable thing in my life. It was an obsession, a possession, the very core of my b

out my own IV and staggered out of m

erson was standing by the bed, a serene, almost pleasant smile on he

appy she is for us. She understands that some women are just... barren. It's not her fault sh

aid, her voice smooth as silk. "I'm so thr

er from Cydney's bedside table. With a flick of her wrist, she emptied t

high-pitched sound

you doing?" I roare

eatific. "Just helping her cool down. Preg

l to dry off a sputtering, furious Cydney. "Are

d calmly. "You've had fiv

ic sobs. "She's trying to hurt the baby, Barron!

y face a thundercloud

sappointment. It was a look that said I had failed one final, cruci

ake. But Cydney was crying, clutching her stomach, and the primal, protective inst

again. And with every word, I could feel the invisible thread connecting m

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