na'

blind date, and I had managed to push t

at was what

ening when my phone rang. I glanced at the s

lderly woman asked

es

emy. Your grandmot

alked toward my car.

requested to see y

hed q

ad returned from

I hadn't seen her the last time I visited the family mansi

nd I had neve

somehow, no matter what I did, I never s

ther hand, had alw

ther ad

reluctantly. "I'

ou, Miss

all e

or a moment, staring at

grandmother wasn't an option either. I got

ter, I pulled in

into the house, I kne

as in the

one of the sofas. Regina was beside h

e was t

r of them all sa

other

ck in one hand, her back

sence she had always had. Even sitting quietly, she had a

allo

everyo

other. Then I looked at my grandmot

my chest. My mind immed

about the

"You wanted to

it

wo

s all s

ly sat

ned silent for

rectly at me. "Your sister

knew what

about the problem

ained

te." She said, "And

ne. She immediatel

o hurt her," I said calmly. "I simp

ression hardened.

ned slightly agai

word fell i

ne wen

f what I had just said. No one

rowed. "What

aid

struck the table

ne fli

e challe

not challenging you, Grandma. I'm simply tellin

rned sharper, "Yo

give her the rig

his is exactly you

ed tow

ay with a woman like you." Regina continued. "You're thirty years old, un

you to do something without reason. Vivienne

at him. "

changed. "You k

y what you mea

e final

wanted Grandma to pressure you. I was just

oked genuinely hurt. Al

inally spok

ned t

wants to hurt you. Vivienne is desperate. If accepting this will

he one person in the room who still sounded rea

lready knew what

d slowly

"What if ther

her fr

if peace only exists when I'm

e ans

no peace because I refuse to give u

le

ute s

aint ticking of th

ever be anyone's surrogate. So stop t

t Vivienne. Her eye

surrogates. You can go through an agency. You can find someone who is

ed to

hurried after me. She stepp

I took a small

orce you again." She wiped her tears. "

ore I could react, Vivien

es wi

er hands toge

at her in

Her voice broke. "Can you at least sign

't understand what I h

I know. But if I have your shares, I can afford to pay f

everyone in the room. Not o

mach d

sed this. They

t Vivienne. "Yo

has done so much for you, an

ly has she

d!" Regina shouted. "

tried to stop her.

for you! She nearly died protecting you, and

g for her life,

ng her your shares is going t

You're being s

at him. "

nne was willing to put he

pay her by giving her some

shares,"

was immediate.

her stick against t

ne wen

e. "You will si

d at he

are becoming more disr

ing to give away w

m erupt

egan speak

I had no gratitude. My father asking everyone to

ase, stop fighting because of me. Diana doesn'

d only made m

ere and wa

sure. The constant reminder that Viv

t I had signed away

st tig

d and walked toward the s

lying on it. I picked

m went

ne ga

oward Vivienne and positio

ruptly. "Diana, wh

Their faces were

me selfish. They weren't accusing me. T

mbled aroun

had reminded me about countless times.The sacrific

llowe

pt going. "I am tired of everyone remi

ne s

her because she took a knife for

eyes widene

houlder, right beside the place

ce went pale.

ne it. Pain exploded

in. A sharp gasp escaped several people at onc

e body t

usation. Every time they had told me what I owed Vivienne. Every ti

fe deeper before

ble. Blood continued

t hit the floor with a

ne m

l staring at

enne. "I believe

. "What did you

ined steady. "Since I don't owe you anymor

father. His face wa

t my words remained firm. "So if you still have even a

ana

walked towa

My father's voi

t wal

I didn't

th blood running down my arm an

d to let the