mask, slipped into a discreet private clinic in a quiet part of t

she had gone to great lengths to acquire-the

pert interpret the data and assess the possibility of a successful conception using his stored sa

pe stairwell and called her best friend, Lauren Hayes. Lauren

g the specialist his records now," Aly

ker. "Alyssa, are you sure about this? It's in

id, leaning her head against the cool co

minutes before she hung up

He looked at the report on his desk, his expression f

otility is even lower than the 'severe' threshold indicated in the summary. From a medi

than her own reading of the report. It was a death sentence for her clinical

ring blank. If she couldn't get pregnant, her deal wit

lost in her despair that she didn't see the person w

familiar v

of Eddie. He looked haggard.

you sick?" he asked, his voice full of t

gy to deal with him. She

"Alyssa, I'm sorry. I was a jerk the other day

allout reached the press and the board. Hank had clearly read him th

and flat. "I've already told you-we are done. If yo

m. He couldn't understand how the meek, p

r all our yea

in the eye. She let a sliver of her true feelings show. "The moment I

he just talking about him and Jayleen, o

to respond. She shoved past h

d an unexpected effect. It

her. The clinical route was closed. The specialist had made it clear: a '

ere was only

d need more... cooperation. More freque

, but it was quickly consumed by a fiercer, more d

nd found the contact saved

hovered ove

eriment' may require

ore hitting send. The screen lit up

age