One Hundred Pranks, One True End

ocedure that left me feeling hollowed out and raw, Lia

, his voice full of that infuriating, man

hloe would be there. I almost refused, but then a cold though

nds, a pack of grinning hyenas in designer clothes, greeted me with air kisses that felt l

a woman named Tiffany, said with fake sympathy. "Hav

ass of what looked

ank you," I said, my

ed in, slinging an arm over Liam' s shoul

me. "Just one

brought it to my lips but didn't drink, just held it. That seemed

Ava? You know, Liam's been planning this little ge

n my hand and then back to my face. A

round a tray of appetizers. Oyster

m urged, picking one up fo

lt a wave of nausea, the aftermath of the morning's procedure mixing with the sea-s

it down, the slimy texture making my stom

faces were my small

stomach. A sharp cramp seized my abdomen, making m

he restroom," I mumbl

he cramping intensified, sharp and vicious. I made it to the small, sterile b

ugh the pain, I heard their voices from the hallway

fany giggled. "She looked l

ters, just like I told him to. It should start working soon. A strong enough emetic to

e. A delicate conditi

is way better than just spilling wine on her art. You getti

to happen. He didn't want a child with her tying him down, obviously. He was just wait

s in my abdomen turning into a searing, tearing pain. I looked down

act of them poisoning me to cause a miscarriage, was a new level of hell. They were trying to take f

. Liam stood there, his face a ma

ehind him, their faces p

words barely a whisper.

arling, she's probably just sea

rst time, I saw a flicker of genuine anger in

e a low growl. He pushed past her and knelt besi

o fade. The last thing I heard was the hushed, urgen

asked. "Did he kno

e laced with venom. "But he was supposed to be h

n't look relie

voice was a mix of disbelief and fury. "Af

a panic that sounded terrifyingly real. "She

d and final, drilled int

the game. Don't you dare forget who you're

ence. Then Liam' s repl

Chloe. I.

thought, maybe, just maybe, there was something real there. The bleeding, the pain, it was all their doing. They had taken my baby from me. They had killed my ch