When Love Dies And Memories Fade

n Farm

eded, the astronomical cost, and the terrifyingly low chances of survival without it. My hands trembled as I clutched the crumpled hospital bill, the numbers blurring through my tear-filled eyes.

r pill to swallow, but I had no choice. Humiliation was a small p

rs-on, Cory draped across his lap, laughing at something he'd said. Just as I was about to approach, his voice, cold and detached, drifted from behind a pott

s voice low. "The bone marrow donation? The anonymous one, years ago, when you were so sick?" My blood ran c

ny fanfare." He paused, a strange, almost wistful look on his face. "Turns out, it was just another of Allison's pathetic attempts to make herself look good. T

ppeared for a while around then. And, Chris, what about all those times she helped you out? The scandals you nearly ruined yourself with? The way she stood by you when everyon

ory from me! And you think I'm not being fair?" He laughed, a harsh, humorless sound. "I'm not trying to be fair, Julian.

me because he believed I had taken Cory from him. He thought he was punishing me, but he was punishing hi

ter all this, I see it in her eyes. And you... sometimes, Chris, I see

I lost, of what she took from me. Every time I look at her, all I see is her conniving face, her calculating eyes, the way she stole my happiness." He took another

ould dismiss her suffering so casually. The rage that surged through me was unlike anything I had ever felt. It burned,

oom died as all eyes turned to me. Cory' s eyes, wide with surprise and a hint of panic,

ittle empathy, purred, her voice dripping with venom. "Still chasing after what's not yours, Allison? D

miliation of the false assault charges. "Some people just don't know when they're not wanted." Their word

g Cory off his lap, his gaze fixed on me, cold and hard. "What do you want, Allison? Ha

ite the tremor in my hands. I held out the crumpled hospital bill, my shame momentarily forgotten.

his eyes scanning the figures. "A million dollars? Chris, this

at makes you think I owe you anything?" He crumpled the paper in his fist, his anger flaring. "What is this, another one of yo

eal is off, and you get nothing. I couldn't jeopardize the billion dollars I was promised for a surrogacy arrangement after the birth of the baby. That money was my

gencies." He leaned closer, his voice a low growl. "Unless... unless you're finally ready to give me something in return. Something I actually want." His eyes raked over me, a predatory gl

dmother' s last chance. My hands clenched into fists, my nails digging into my palms. But my grandmother'

ng my stomach. "The doctors told me I need to be careful. I can't be under too m

Just drive her. Or don't. Your grandmother's fate is in your hands." He turned away, dismiss

ly. "Always making it about herself. Your grandmother's probably just fine." The laughter of his friends, the sneers, the judgmental star

new resolve. I would endure anything for her. Anything. I took a deep breath, my chin tremb

My head throbbed, and a dull, constant nausea twisted my stomach. I gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white, trying to focus on the road, trying

e something was being ripped apart inside me. My breath hitched, a silent scream caught in my throat. I pressed my hand against my stomach, trying to pus

, looking at me with disgust. "Are yo

y, the desperate need for it to stop. No, not now. Please, not now. I pulled the car over, my hands shaking uncontrollably

yelled, her voice shrill, pulling

n. My eyes rolled back, unable to focus. The world was spinning, a dizzying kaleidoscope of pain

, cut through the haze of pain. I heard footsteps, then his hand on my shoulder, shaking me. "Allison! Answer me!"