Annabelle sent Sophia the location of a Quinn–family–owned private clinic. She’d already called in the best OB–GYN on standby. Now, she paced at the entrance, her stomach in knots. Finally, a white Mercedes swerved into view.
The car lurched to a stop. Through the window, Annabelle saw Sophia’s trembling hands fall from the steering wheel. The door opened, and Sophia poured out like liquid, crimson trailing. Annabelle caught her mid–collapse. “Sophie!”
The medical team sprang into action, transferring Sophia’s limp form onto a gurney and sprinting toward the OR
The lower half of Sophia’s clothes was drenched in a terrifying, dark red. Annabelle ran alongside, tears blurring the hallway lights. ‘She drove herself like this? What did Lucas do to her? That monster will pay in teeth.”
The ER doors slammed shut, leaving Annabelle alone in the sterile hallway. She paced like a caged tiger, running shaky hands through her hair.
Clang! The doors burst open again. A nurse rushed out, her face grim. “Ms. Quinn, the fetus… It’s not viable. We need to perform a D&C now, or we’ll lose the mother. We need a family member to sign the consent form.”
Annabelle squeezed her eyes shut, forcing a calm she didn’t feel. “Give it to me. I’ll sign.”
The nurse hesitated. But Annabelle was the only family Sophia got.
Annabelle snatched the clipboard, scrawling her signature with a furious slash. Then she grabbed the nurse’s arm, pulling her close and whispering urgent, harsh words.
The nurse paled. “Ms. Quinn, I–I can’t do that. It’s against every rule!”
“Do it,” Annabelle hissed, her eyes blazing with protective fury. “I want that bastard to feel a fraction of the hell she’s going through. I want him to know exactly what he’s lost today. I’ll take full responsibility.”
Sophia drifted in a hazy twilight between consciousness and oblivion. A wisp of white, a formless, ethereal cloud, detached from her bloodied form and floated toward her.
“They said you were bleeding out in the car. A few minutes later, and we could have lost you…” Annabelle swallowed. “That kid wasn’t meant for this world.”
Sophia squeezed her eyes shut, a fresh wave of tears escaping. “It’s fine. I wasn’t planning to keep them anyway.” The lie tasted like ash in her mouth, the finality of the loss carving a deeper wound with every beat of her heart.
1/2
Hearing the rasp in her friend’s voice, Annabelle brought a cup of water and held it to her lips. “What happened? Just last week, you were talking about raising this child on your own. How did it come to this?”
Ignoring the throbbing pain radiating from her core, Sophia’s voice was a broken whisper. “Lucas… he wants me to use Emily’s eggs for IVF.”
“What the actual hell? That’s twisted! Is he insane?” Annabelle’s anger ignited, hot and immediate.

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