finally dragged myself up, my muscles aching, my body feeling alien and bruised. The thought of the shower, of trying to scrub away the lingering touch of

in on my so

ierced me. This crushing humiliation, this feeling of being utterly unwanted... it wasn't new.

ne destined for greatness. I was the second daughter, the one with different eyes, a different, less vibrant spark. While Sofie shone, I learned to blend. To be inconspicuous. To ta

just the latest, most devastating iterat

e

putation. In the end, it was that reputation, the family name, that was crumbling. His eyes, when they met mine on his deathbed, were clouded by p

singly light, closing over mine. "You

nce. I was his last gamble. My marriage to Arthur Cecil wasn't a choice; it was a

alien. I walked to the bathroom, retrieved the small vial of birth control I'd hidden at the bottom of my travel bag,

ess and the bitter certainty that I was exactly what Arthur Cecil saw: a tainted, unwanted thing. This gil

shame. My body, a vessel of trauma, resisted every morning.

Jenkins entered, her preci

le for today." She paused, her gaze un

stomach. "Just a

nwavering. "I've taken the liberty of calling Dr. Thompson. Mr. Cec

is concern. Just another part of h

jarring warmth in the cold mansion. He move

rs. Cecil? Unu

gs are a little difficult

... when was your last cycle,

y stomach clenched, bile rising. "I... I'm not e

based on your symptoms, and a preliminary exa

word landed

re

o

m h

o

ouldn'

, of course," Dr. Thompson offered, his v

ank you, Doctor. Not yet. I... I need a mom

ecil. But you should know, early care is important. And I do b

He can't. Not this. This

iving area, reviewing documents with Mr. Davies. I

His voice was

" My reply

e. Absolutely paramount. My family name must be impeccable. Unstained." He finally lifted his head, his eyes pier

ion. He didn't just see me as temporary; he saw me as replaceable, disposable. And now, a life, a real, tiny life, was growing inside

uld be