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swallowed by the cracked ceiling of a backwoods deliver
e that started in her spine and crushed her entire body
given her nothing. Brianna had given her a home, paid for her schooling, trusted her with every bruised secret. And Seraphina had found this hidden clinic, so far from
o well, Brianna
oth as silk. Her hand dabbed a cool cloth
rough cracked lips. "Sera
. Seraphina's back partially turned. Her finge
sliced thro
hat did
place-but her eyes were chips of ice. "Just a
eath a sweet, poisonous whi
d would let a bastard like
blinked.
"why a stranger would be so kind to you? W
s blood
"My mother was your father's mistress. I am his daughter. His real daughter. The legitimate
had welcomed Seraphina into their home
very kind word I ever said to you was a lie. Every smile, every secr
s heart
to forget. We found a toothless, filthy old beggar for you. Paid him fifty dollars to
ng you carry that shame. Believing a beggar touched you, ruined you-whe
fog and terror. She had never known what was real. An
all?" Seraphina's lips brushed
oked
st as an afterthought. "That was part of the pla
eir expressions were blank. Their silence was consent. The death certificate was
monitor
her. Her body, acting on pur
t, wea
ba
ifted a smal
r hand over the infa
crying
e go still. Watched the life dr
it was too late. Her baby was gone. Murd
boy. He never ev
r face, but she had no
e limp, tiny body by one arm, her expression on
manded coldly in a whisper. "Ma
d arranged for her and stumbled into that powerful man's room instead. Brianna had no womb of her own. No way to birth an heir. If she wanted to secure her p
ss form. "And this one? Dump her in t
ided out without
consumed Brianna. She kill
nothing to do with the drug. It
her, a syringe in his ha
n scrubs rushed in. "Dr. Albright? My shift st
ine. She's all yours." He tossed the. His eyes swept the room-the pre-signe
lse. "Your vitals are cr
ced at her a
gainst her belly.
er one. Twins. They missed it."His con
monitor. He worked with frantic urgency. The wo
er, the one who wasn't supposed to exist. But he let o
nt in a clean sheet and thr
of dark hair. Small, clenched fists. One han
eal. He
ther is dead. Murdered by
hand over her baby's face. The crying stopping
ng-ignited in her chest. But bene
my child. S
he death certificate is signed. They're planning to dump your body in the mountains tonight. No one will ever look for you. Which means no one will e
ak. She nodded-a fie
hrough every muscle. She bit her lip, ta
y son will surviv
ake her pay for wh
shed it open, and disappeared into th
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