A P

played on a loop in my head. I lay awake all night, sta

my pale face and my red, swollen eyes. She sigh

ospital bowl and put it into my mouth. It was ta

ack, unbidden, to how

permanent outsider. They provided food, shelt

star hockey player, bathed in the spotlight

eting my prince. Looking back now, he just needed a docile, obe

optive sister, she was an angel in public and a de

nto our home, using the excuse that "Kin

Bleu in Paris had mysteriously vanished. Later, I saw Kinley in a local fas

y home. Keenan's eyes always followed Kinle

out I was pregnant. "Anya, Kinley is pregnant with my child," he'd said. "We nee

naively believing that a ch

a j

aby in my arms, the other s

grow up in a loveless

I had to ge

s. Knight, the head of obstetrics,

y only visited VIPs or patients with specia

e coat entered. He was around fifty, with gold-rim

Julian

Mrs. Knight. How are you feeling?" His voice was wa

r. Sinclair," I replied

d his eyes instantly softened, a flicker of emot

ng at my son and daughter with

hey look like you." His eyes returned to

ble under his scrutiny and

ed to lighten the mood by smiling and telling me that the person who s

he person who signed that informed consent f

We had never seen him act like t

he walked to my bedside, "Ms. Hay

nfused b

gical parents. Do they have any pa

e in my mouth. "I don't know.

en he heard this answer. "And y

the Rh-negative factor. The

ed into a fist. He adjusted his gl

ould the Head of Obstetrics be so inte

someone else through me, and murmur

wildered. "Doctor,

reassuring smile. "No, nothing. Just confirming so

rd, his pace much quicker

ck. Something wasn't right, but I couldn't put my finger on what

notice of family consent, ess

oreboding se