nor

Joshua. This is the

My consciousness flickered, caught on the edges of reality.

isingly calm. "But this one... it was perfect. The timing. Th

blow, even in my semi-conscious state. They had done it. They had st

er." Dr. Miller sounded pleased. "Your adoptive mother is a survivor, Joshua. Her body, despi

hey were talking about me as if I

Is she... stable?" Joshua asked,

n. And it's as I predicted before this last pregnancy, Joshua. She won't be able to ca

ath sentence for my deepest desire. They had not only taken my ba

purr, cut through the haze. She was here. In the ambulance. Why was she here? "No

," Joshua chided softly.

o sound escaped my lips. I was trapped in my own

ffed. "She always was so weak. Benjamin should h

. The one who had sold me out. "I regret letting you co

"A constant reminder of your past mistakes. The faster she's gone, the be

's still protective of her. He funds half my company. I ca

as filled with venom. "He always favored her,

genetic therapy works, once our child is healthy, and Benjamin sees my

me. My whole life, reduced to

ning?" Harlow asked, a note of triumph in her voice. "That

or her. Nothing legally binding. She's too emotional to think clearly. Besides, Benjamin wou

est. You fool. He had no idea what he had sign

handling her," Harlow cooed. "Alwa

hildhood sweetheart." His voice was soft, tender, a

w leaning over Joshua, kissing him. My husband

love, all my devotion, all my suffering... it was all a joke. A cruel

my temple. But it wasn't a tear of sorrow

hink I'm irrelevant? You

me, it was not an escape. It was a cocoon.