nor

effort, my body still weak and aching from the forced blood donation. I clung to the wall, my vision blur

shadows. Harlow. She stood there, flanked by two hulking bodyguards, a triumphant smirk on

er voice dripping with mock concern. "Try

," I rasped, my voice hoarse. "I

ing you lose everything." She gestured to the box. "Joshua sent me to collect these. He said you wou

erile hospital floor. The eight tiny, amber-colored forms tum

d, but my weakened body betrayed me. I stumbled, my knees buc

ual flick of her wrist, she kicked one of the tiny specimens, sending it skitte

, tears of rage and despair streaming d

ou everything... while my weak, pathetic mother could barely keep us fed. You were always the golden child, the princess. And I was always in y

, aimed straight at my heart. B

embling with suppressed fury. "You have no i

one of your little... accidents. It was all for my baby. My perfect, healthy baby." She looke

bag. He began to gather up the tiny specimens, d

other bodyguard, who held me in an iron

tepped closer, her breath hot on my ear. "And you know what else, Eleanor? That 'fall' you took on the patio? That wasn't an accident. I made sure you landed just right.

eered that too. The final blo

ying realization dawning on me. The

vision. My children. My lost, innocent childr

my voice breaking. "Please, don't do th

? No. You need to move on. You need to forget. Just like Joshua forgot you." She paused, her eyes narrowing. "Unless... unless you wan

y last shred of dignity. But my chil

oked at the tiny, amber forms, then at Harlow's sneeri

ely, I lowered my head.

imes. Each impact sent a jolt of pain through my skull, but I

thick with humiliation and despair. "P

udged me with her foot. "Get up, you worm. Your begging means nothing to me. Your children are gone. Just like you will be

!" I scrambled to my feet, a new surge of desperate strength coursing throug

cold, dead eyes, simply shrugged

ng from my throat. I would not let them do t

ing me sprawling to the floor. My head hit th

ain. Joshua. He stood there, his eyes scann

utching her stomach. "Joshua! Thank God you're here! She's com

as trying to steal Mrs. Hunt's... persona

was filled with a chilling blend of disgust and contempt. "Eleanor. What is wrong with you? Are you really so d

ying our children's remains!" I sobbed, po

of here. And make sure she never comes back." He turned to the bodyguards. "Take her. To the old water prison. Let

tten facility owned by his family, rumored to be a place

o fight, but my body was too weak. The bodyguards hauled me to my feet, dra

, a triumphant, malicious gleam in her eyes. "Oh, Joshua," she

a silent promise. This isn't the en

y body was battered, my spirit broken. But deep within, a tiny spark of defiance flickered. I would sur

of a cold, damp cell, the sound of dripping water ech