f the question, she cou

lackwood had his reach i

rossed Clara Walton's

call from the reh

er heart tightening. Had som

me Dr. Chin's voi

ight with my mom?" Clara's n

x for some time now; Clara visi

ted, but most of the time she

an, his call could only mean one t

ely," Dr. Chin sighed, sounding helpless.

a fr

t seen th

rehab center-it was th

n tumor; her surgery was sche

er City-no doctor in the country wou

exactly wha

d, forcing hers

, "I don't have the full pi

ath. "Understood. I

g up without

n. The pressure felt suffocating-as th

kind of power-the kind that could sever

bove" could only m

sharply and

head to Aurelux

a cab straight to

ded to

and, backing her into a corner

er head bowed. Had she really b

na

int and pressed it-leaving

erly pa

e cab pulled up in front

g at the entrance, posture st

ke you upstairs,"

escorted her to Ethan's offi

d was to wait three full

She sat there the entire ti

p.m. that the do

figure stoo

"Weren't you acting tough earlier? W

idn't r

ed, merely sharing the same sp

ruly stood a ch

mother stays at the hospital-she can't handle the st

ra spoke was c

nds in his pockets, his

n't flinch un

ripped her chin. His fingers were

ke you feel pathetic?" Ethan said, eas

ara replied quietl

ession d

no love in it, and just when I thought something might change, it ends like this? Do you

htened into some

rading her fiancé around, and now you're pulling this cheap stun

en the invisible wife, nearly

claws-always aiming

Ethan actually chuckled.

ne made the air aro

ipher what he wa

. But the Blackwoods still need an heir. A legitimate

ce shifted

e back eventually. And you? Once the baby is born, this farc

ll the one I'll marry, and I can give Grandfather a

ara, mocking every moment

at all, she gave a fai

n fr

p at him-her gaze clear, her voice even. "Ethan. all the

at her as thoug

t. Not just the three years of

in his life, Clara had been

as going abroad, Etha

t, guess who rem

ar

ach other for at

to form a bond with a

nswer was icy

perfectly st

, Clara? Hoping I'll magically

ered the final blow-sharp, cruel

cy. Ju