cold contemplation of the night sky. The scent of an all-too-familia

f dread through me. "You shouldn't be out here. You'll catch a

and now, Ethan," I spat, the words laced with pure venom. "You lost that privilege years ago. Or did you forget all t

ly strong, almost bruising. "What has gotten into you?" he hissed, his eyes narrowed. He looked ar

und. "Understanding? That was the old Alize,

uld process his intention, he yanked at the collar of my dress, pulling the fabric taut acro

manic glint replacing the anger. His fingers,

gainst my ribs. Wha

rossing the skin just where the fabric strained. The stretch marks. The inde

hed, his voice raw, almost a whisper, "did you... did you have a ba

, carrying his words away, making them sound distant, unreal. My vision swam. All I could

shb

adrift. No job, no savings, no home. Just a fragile, fluttering hope deep inside me: a baby

y, and I couldn't bear to face their disappointment, the

Cleaning houses, waiting tables, anything to make a few dollars. My marketing degree, my years

at choice did I have now? How could I raise a child alone, with nothing? Desperation gnawed at me. I tried everything I'd heard of in hushed whispers from other

shed. And slowly, imperceptibly, that stubbornness began to melt the ice around my heart.

y, tears streaming down my face in the lonely darknes

rom thrift stores. I imagined holding this child, feeling its warmth

seemed, had

blood. I collapsed on the floor, calling out, but there was no one to hear. I managed

cations," I heard one say. "Pre-term labor. She needs to be admitted immedia

I choked out, my voice barely

ns. Without payment, without insurance, the best they could offer was basic car

might offer a lifeline. Ethan's number. It rang and rang, an eternity of u

voice, slurred an

's Alize. I'm... I'm in the hospital. The b

n, a low, feminine moan in the background. Je

od ran

"What do you want? I'm busy. And don't call me abou

the phone, my hand trembling so violently I almost dropped it. The last

ed. Uncared for. Just a broken woman in a cold ho

that my body had once cradled a life, that I had almost been a mother

Flas

s still holding my wrist, his grip tighter now, his eyes

s eyes overshadowing the initial shock. "You had a baby. My baby.

" I scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. "There is no 'your' child, Ethan. Not with me. Yo

before. This is recent. This is my baby. You kept my child from me." His gaze, filled with a terrif

the tears fall. Not in front of him. "Just an emptiness where a life should have been. Tha

his grip fiercely possessive. "Don't you da

led tight around her head, shivering slightly. She looked at Ethan's hand on my arm, then at his wild eyes, a flicker of suspicion crossing

e. The thought of another second alone with him was unbearable. Jenna'

ible, my body stiff with a sudden,