baby echoed through

, his heart pounding. A nurse o

Mr. Edwards. It's

r him. He had done it. He had secured his b

on the bed, looking exhausted but triumphant.

," the doctor announced.

ve pride swelled in his chest. This child was the future

reaching out for her son.

relieved smile. "He's perf

t, feeling the fragile weight in his arms. This

e image flashed in his mind. Grace. Her face, twisted i

d himself her pain was an act, a performance. But Dr. Mil

nded Liam bac

, pulling out his phone. He had to know. He had to put the nagging worry to rest, to

Geoffrey came running down the hallway

Edw

licable dread creeping up his spine.

him, breathing heavily. He

t's Mrs.

ded, his patience snapping. "D

owed hard. "Sh

low. He stumbled back a step, his min

he whi

ith shock. "She and the baby. They're both gone.

ick. It's another one of her games. She's trying to

his couldn't be real. Grace wasn't dead. She wa

oftly. "I saw her. Dr. Miles... he did e

away from her. She

coldness in his own voice. The

r being squeezed from h

replaced by a roaring in his ears. Grace. Her face when he dragged her to the panic room. The t

d her a liar

vator, instead bursting through the door to the stairwell, taking the steps thre

idn't wait for his driver. He sprinted down the street, fla

he startled driver, giv

when she told him she was pregnant. Her excitement as they decorated the nursery. Th

t of the mansion, he threw a handful of c

ff members were gathered in the main hall, their faces grim. Dr. Miles s

ogan demanded, his

illed with a quiet contempt. "In the eas

ed marble floors. He flew through the hallways, his heart hammering against his

n I get there, she'll sit up and laugh

medical suite. It was sligh

ere dimmed. A single sheet was draped

mall. To

feeling like lead. His hands tre

imself, a final, desper

d the sh

as G

e was a dark, bloody wound on her arm. Her lips, which he had kissed a thousand times, were tinge

eathing. She w

was

floor rushed up to meet him as his legs gave out. He fell to his knees beside the table

voice breaking. "No. W

rmth back into it. "Grace, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. It

ent figure, making desp

the company, anything you want. It's yours. Just come back to me. Our son... we

ned still. Co

ing sobs. He had done this. His pride, his guilt, his blind obedience to a twisted se

the m

It was the sound of a man whose soul had just been ripped from his body. The sound o

. Miles appeare

should..." Geof

his grief turning to rag

into his arms. She felt so fragile. He pulled her against his chest

forth like a child. "I'm here now. I won't let anyo

es in a cold, silent room. He held the body of his wife and wept