LOGINBrian stood near the bedroom window, watching the snow fall across the grounds of his family’s estate.Lucy sat on the edge of the bed, holding their newborn against her chest. She had been quiet for several minutes, and Brian could tell exactly what was on her mind.“I’m doing this because of the love we share,” Brian said. “If not for that, your father honestly didn’t deserve to be forgiven.”Lucy looked up at him.Brian turned from the window.“I haven’t forgotten what he did to you. Sending you away while you were pregnant, taking your phone, cutting you off from me, and making you face everything alone…” His jaw tightened. “I haven’t forgotten any of it.”“I know.”“But you want to see him.” Brian sighed. “And if seeing your father will make you happy, then I’ll go with you.”Lucy slowly stood.She walked toward him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and kissed him.When she pulled away, her eyes were already filled with tears.“Thank you, baby. I will never take this love for g
Arthur Davidson stared at his phone. The transaction notification remained on the screen. $100,000 received. He checked the account number again—his corporate account. The money was real. Arthur slowly lowered himself into his leather chair, his eyes fixed on the screen. “One hundred thousand dollars…” He had expected Brian to argue. Perhaps beg for more time. Maybe even disappear after making that arrogant threat. Instead, the boy had asked for his account details and sent the money, just like that. Arthur's brows pulled together. “How?” The question slipped from his mouth. “How did that boy get this kind of money?” Brian had been his sales representative. Then his daughter's driver. Arthur had dismissed him as an insignificant young man who had been lucky enough to get close to Lucy. Yet the transfer had arrived without hesitation. Arthur opened the transaction details again. No error. No delay. No indication that the money had come from a loan. His mind went back to Brian's
The door to the master suite swung inward with a soft sigh, revealing a room that looked less like a recovery space and more like a private sanctuary. Downy cashmere throws swallowed the edges of a sprawling, low-slung king-sized bed, and a handcrafted mahogany cot stood near the bay window, catching the pale, filtered glare of a Canadian winter afternoon.Lucy stood frozen just inside the threshold, her breath hitching in her throat.Brian’s mother stepped up beside her, folding warm hands over Lucy’s tense shoulders. Her eyes were already shining with quiet emotion. "We were so terrified for you, sweetheart. But you're safe now. You're home."Lucy looked around, her eyes stinging with a sudden, traitorous heat. In her father's house, every square inch was measured by leverage, utility, and cold corporate optics. Nothing existed just to feel good. Here, every texture whispered of shelter and intention. "It's... it's incredible," she whispered, her voice rough. "Thank you.""Rest now,
Brian had barely finished saying, "Never," when the door opened again. His family moved closer to the bed, and his mother was the first to approach. She stopped beside Lucy and stared at her for a moment, her eyes already shining with tears. Lucy looked at her nervously as the woman reached down and gently stroked her hair. "Brian told us everything," she said in a soft, sobbing voice. "I'm sorry, sweetie. We love you already, even without getting to meet you first."Lucy's eyes immediately filled with tears. She hadn't expected that, not after everything she had been through. For months, she had been alone. She had carried her pregnancy without Brian and cried herself to sleep without knowing whether she would ever see him again. Now this woman, a complete stranger, was looking at her as though she had always belonged to the family."I'm sorry," Lucy whispered, quickly wiping beneath her eyes. Brian's mother shook her head and gently patted her cheek. "No. You don't have to apologize
The hospital room had finally gone quiet. Outside the window, the last streaks of sunlight disappeared behind the Canadian skyline, leaving the glass covered in the pale reflection of the room. Lucy lay beneath the white sheets, exhausted but unable to sleep. Her eyes kept drifting toward Brian. He sat beside her bed, one hand wrapped around hers. His mother stood a few feet away, holding the newborn baby while two young men stood nearby, watching the scene in silence. Lucy frowned. There was something strange about all of this. She looked at Brian again. "Brian." His eyes immediately met hers. "I'm here." She swallowed. "You still haven't answered me." Brian's expression softened. "About what?" "How did you find me?" He went silent. Lucy stared at him. "Don't tell me you're avoiding the question because I'm weak. I'm tired, Brian, but I'm not stupid." A faint smile touched his lips. "I know." "Then tell me." Before Brian could answer, Lucy's eyes moved toward the people gathered aro
The wail of police sirens tore through the sterile air outside Metro General, the red and blue emergency lights flashing violently against the high glass windows of the Mother-Baby unit.Two armed officers pushed through the double doors, boots heavy on the linoleum.Dr. Dennis stepped forward immediately, his badge and white coat establishing instant authority as he pointed directly at Catherine, who stood shivering against the supply cart with Kyrian and Jerry blocking every exit route."That's her," Dr. Dennis said, his voice flat, cold, and devoid of professional courtesy. "She attempted to administer a lethal neurotoxin to a postpartum patient in my facility."Catherine’s face drained of every drop of color."No—wait! Dennis, you can't—this is a mistake, they're lying—""No one lied against her," Lucy spoke up from the bed, her voice trembling with a tearful, shaken edge that cut sharply through the room. "She told me I needed the injections to subside my postpartum symptoms... I







