The Child I Carried Secretly

Freder

down. For me, it was a moment of brutal clarity. The romantic ideal of love had died a painful d

splaced confidence. Her eyes, bright and guileless, hel

You just... you don't understand him anymore." She leaned forward, a conspiratorial smirk on her face. "You know, if you ju

t. "You think this is about money, Kandy?" My voice was low, but carried

ble anymore. You've grown apart." She stammered, clearly unnerved by my co

now nothing about love, or honesty, or basic human decency.

on't you dare moralize me! You're just jealous! You

s a wild, untamed thing, and I knew exactly how to use it. I reached into

ake it believable. Don't get greedy, though. You wouldn't want to get caught fo

of gold digger?!" She snatched the check, tearing it into tiny pieces, letting them flu

what morality is. And neither of those things are what you and Braden have." I

at me. Her hands connected with my chest,

n my lower abdomen as my body hit the hard floor. A sickening warm

shing over. Kandy' s face, moments ago conto

illing my nostrils. I vaguely heard Kandy' s tearful voice, muffled through the door. "

eside my bed, his face pale and drawn, his eyes red

my voice cracked. "Is t

meet my gaze. He just shook hi

ife I' d been secretly nurturing, the miracle I' d been

oice toneless. "You practically begged for

head snapping up.

my voice gaining strength, cold and steady. "The one

ng from it. His eyes were wide with a pri

t fault here. You've destroyed everything. And you know what that mean

he guilt. "No! Erika, please don't! You can't! I love you! I s

ur love is cheap. It' s a discount emotion, available to anyone who wants it." My voice was a whip, lash

ng mask of shock and despair. The man who had once been