t felt more like an art gallery than a place for families. The air was thick with a cloying, s

m murmur. "So tragic. And he's s

them well to

vely on my knee. "Jocelyn, darling,

ed concrete floor. The scent of her perfume, a cloying gard

's a single mother, going through a very hard time. I've been helping he

into mine. It was war

ttle boy's

smile. "H

g for me to adopt. My replacement's chi

ing Leo up for adoption. She wants a better life for him th

, her perfume suffocating me. She leaned down, her lips n

n't you think?" she hissed. "It's

g to its fragile, victim-like tone. "Mr

went for

ympathy, "it's funny how things work out. Years a

od ran

'd ruin me, send me to jail, unless I donated bone marrow to save the man I hit. She blackmailed me. Can you imagine?

s the one who found her. She knew I had forced her to save Ethan's hands, taking no credit, only wanting him to be whole

there was a tearing

hrieked. "My dress!

fabric, the frantic

yanked me to my feet. "She was just trying to be nice! I told

He accused me of being jealous, of lashing out in my grief. Maria was sobbing, playing the victim to perfection. The staff rus

miliate me, to paint me as an unhinged, bitter invalid. To prove to ever