THE BILLIONAIRE'S SECRET SON: BETRAYAL AND BLOODLINE

racked as I held the cold hands of my mother and shook her soft

silence i

nurses stood stock still, their faces filled with

you just stand there for? I have the money now-look! Here's the

eyes flashed with something

ntle, but I didn't want gentleness

as if my own could compel her back. "Doctor, do something! See-sh

hose two words sliced through

on

as only a few minutes late. I rushed

ou can't do that! Do yo

ody

he things I coveted-every battle, every reason I'd ever had

mother's body against mine. She'd been my diamond, my only r

body convulsing with shuddering spasms. "Mother, please... don't

reel in my sorrow, a hand brush

arter, w

cold hospital room. My chest labored hard, the weigh

ldn't

ldn't

t in a world tha

could possibly hurt anymore,

er shattering reality sl

s pre

did not even know, a man who v

from the viciousness of it all. How was I going to get through this? How was I going to bear a child

my hands pressed against my face. No-I couldn'

hough I knew it was all just a memory, I could sense her strength, her heat, her total belief in me for one final time. And I said to myself,

ing inside me, I had to be brave. I had to k

ual hell. The streets around me began to blur. The horns and voices faded into a distant

d. "I struggled for this money. I prostitut

ical. I opened the door, and it was all as we had left it-the old

with my mother, but

s actua

hter, her scent, her presence-all disappeared too soon. I slapped my hand a

't ready for. A child who would grow up witho

ace as I spoke, "I don'

he door. I did not move. Who could it be? The knock

empted to get up. My legs were sh

ttie-my be

l. "Oh my God...," she cried, embracing me

om head to toe. "Kattie, I was too late with the money. She's dead. My moth

y, Sophia. Please... don't cry." B

Her arms were the only ones that k

ears away. "You're not alone in this. You have me.

ear of surviving this alone still lingered. Yes

o be strong. I had to

ing else, then fo