t Esther with a mixture of shock and concern. "Ms. Brig

s pregnant, the man who had held her hand during ultrasounds and massaged her aching

cted at another woman. That devot

but her heart was hardening

doctor, her voice firm.

e scrape and pull, a hollowing out inside her. It was a p

part that had been filled with hope and lo

se asked gently, "Would

. A raw, guttural sob escaped her

blood mingling on the white sheets. She whi

ian. It's ov

e, it was dark outside. The room was silent. She chec

He was in Par

g in front of the Eiffel Tower, the city lights twinkling behind them. The caption read:

felt nothing. The pain was so

evoid of emotion. "The... specimen. I

all, sealed container. Esthe

She would make him see t

London. One week to dismantle her ol

She walked to the large, stainless-steel refrigera

er inside, tucked behind a carton of organic mil

the door, she heard

n was

still wearing the expensive suit from the photo, but it was slightly rumple

said, his v

n't loo

igerator as he reached for a b

ckly, shutting the door.

used to her tears, her anger, her pleas. Th

m his pocket. A diamond necklace.

iatory. "Let's just forget about what happened. You

orget being arrested? Forg

just stared at t

his eyes. "Why are you being like this

hand moving toward h