Shadows of deceipt

s pa

-fleeting, reckless, a balm on an open wound. But the memory clung to her skin like the sc

sicknes

ess nights. But the nausea persisted-morning after morning, like clockwork. The realiza

onfirmed what her

as pr

ding, lips parting in disbelief. A hollow laug

night. A memory. But now-connected to h

ped at the edges of her mind-this wasn't planned. It wasn't right. And yet, somewher

o

lingering in their bedroom. The way Steven had become a ghost in his own home long before he phy

looked at her like

w. But his number sat in her phone with unanswered

thinking about you

ace, I'll give it. Just..

ds stayed

In the same bar. Different nigh

, the same gentleness beneath the steel. And something new: a lightness. Like

next morning, sh

pregn

ft her mouth. She braced for

tian didn

the table, his han

stay by you no matter

nside her, it was no longer

-

sped toward St. Agnes Memorial Hospital, her other hand pressed to her swollen belly. Her long chestnut hair clung to her damp for

as calm, composed-more for her than for himself. His sandy-brown hair was tousled, his deep-set b

escent lights buzzed faintly, and the rhythm of beeping monitors and the

nto the delivery room, Sebastian was left behind, pacing the hallway like a trapped an

storm of a differen

contorted. Her lipstick was smeared, and her once-carefully done hair now clung to her temples in w

napped at the receptionist, voice sha

ew Steven wasn't coming. He hadn't an

abandoned on the day she was to give birth to his child, ignite

-

body trembled, soaked in sweat, but her spirit held firm. The nurse-

g amazing. J

d her teeth

cr

iraculous cry

her voice full of emotion. "A

ce glowing with exhausted joy. Her finge

from his eyes as he knelt beside the bed, brushing sweat-matted hair from Helen's

Helen said softly, her voice

-

ospital, sil

streaked down her cheeks. There was no joy.

damp with sweat, held a st

make it," he

sing her baby to inherit Steven's wealth and to get into Steven's life of wealth seems to be destroyed.Valerie knew that Steven only slept with her without protection because he was frustrated and this gave her the o

d at the doctor with cold deter

itated. "This is... not somet

t. "Eighty thousand dollars. You get paid, and this never happene

he check... and then a

nod

nd silence, a baby was taken from one

eathed was passed i

lasting than either

-

that first struck Hele

e breath held too long, like the p

eat, face pale and luminous with the sheen of exertion and something deeper-exhaustion laced with

ms was th

e-young, with bright green scrubs and tired kindness in her features-walk

ticed, automatic smile, the kind nurses w

down, her a

had the faint bluish tint of something not quite right. Her dark lashes rested again

st

her

sn't

le as glass. Her gaze locked on the tiny,

build was lean but strong, wrapped in a worn navy hoodie and jeans. He had a day's stubble

ot-she cried. I

Helen's arms with sudden urgency, her lips pressed tight, and rushed from the r

r slamm

me fra

ith phantom weight. Her chest heaved. Her face crumpled as the shock de

and, clutched it like a lifeline. His face was ghost-w

nd surreal. The room smelled faintly of antiseptic and roses

e door

s temples, his face carved with solemn profes

s," he said softly. "I'm so

scre

ce deeper, some primal part of her soul that cracked open in th

t Sebastian. At the space whe

e was real-I felt her kick. I name

sobs ripping through the quiet. His arms wrapped around her with trembling str

e months," Helen choke

is voice was hoarse, breaking. "

-

t followed b

s the pavement, wind sighing through greening trees-but

," "So sorry for your loss," "Our thoughts are wit

reless braid, her eyes dull and shadowed. She looked like a ghost in a pale blue robe, h

they

d black curls piled high on her head. She wore a burgundy sc

e green eyes. She entered like a storm, but knelt by Helen'

er clothes. Her touch was always feather-light. She didn't speak unless s

try to fill

with he

feed her platitudes. They made tea.

usky evening, brushing Helen's hair from he

fierce with conviction. "Sharon mattered.

d, her eyes shining with shared sorrow.

-

an neve

jaw tightened when her name was spoken. In the way he folded the hospital bracelet and

erry trees. Helen wore black. She couldn't speak. Seb

broken-but

re she used to walk, hand on her belly. The little corner bar w

But so did something else-

o

real truth-r

.But Kenneth and Valerie only knew that their still born baby was swapped but

or their twisted plan-the one they tho

iv

st

thed. Her heart beat. Her eyes open

uth wou

not

Helen

he su