LOGINThe 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
The iron gates of the Vance estate didn't screech this time; they parted with a smooth mechanical hum that made Cathy's stomach twist into a hard, cold knot.She pulled her gray cloth face mask higher up her nose, the fabric trapping the nervous, shallow heat of her breath. Underneath it, her lips were bitten raw. She couldn't afford to look weak. Not under the watchful eyes of the guards stationed by the gatehouse, who had received Garrison’s strict morning directive: Mirage is expected today. Let her through immediately without a single word. They tracked her entry with a stiff, professional stillness—the kind reserved for the corporate elite's most vital, hidden assets.Every single step up the polished stone stairs felt like dragging lead weights through wet cement. Her worn sneakers made a dull scuff against the pristine marble. She loathed the sprawling glass-and-steel monstrosity looming over her, loathed Garrison Vance's clinical manipulation, and most of all, loathed that she
The door to the adjoining prep room clicked shut, sealing Catherine off from the quiet hum of the recovery ward. The harsh, fluorescent lights overhead cast a sterile, glaring white glow across the stainless steel counters. In her arms, the newborn boy let out a few soft, ragged whimpers before settling into a shallow, exhausted sleep.Gently, Catherine placed the infant inside a cushioned mobile bassinet, tucking the thin hospital blanket securely around his tiny frame. For a fleeting second, her eyes lingered on the baby’s face—the distinct features of the family line she intended to hijack and weaponize for her own future. But sentimentality was a luxury she couldn't afford.She turned sharply toward the locked supply cabinets lining the back wall.Pulling a small, silver key from her pocket, she unlocked the lower narcotic and specialized drug vault. Her gloved fingers bypassed the standard sedatives, painkillers, and routine emergency medications, reaching instead into the dark,
Back inside the delivery suite, the heavy, metallic smell of antiseptic and sweat hung thick in the air. Lucy let out a raw, broken sob as another fierce contraction tore through her body.Catherine slipped through the swinging doors, a cold triumph sparking in her chest. Thank goodness. She hasn't delivered yet.Her objective was simple: stay right here, hands-on, to manage the newborn and assist Dr. Dennis so she could control the narrative. But her eyes darted frantically around the room, and a knot tightened in her stomach. Dr. Miller was nowhere to be found. There was no turning back. Catherine smoothed down her uniform, put on a calm, professional mask, and stepped toward the center of the room.Dr. Dennis stood beside the bed, his face set with fierce concentration. He managed the active labor with steady, focused hands. Seeing her chance, Catherine hurried over and extended the folder."Here's the card, sir," Catherine said.Dr. Dennis didn't look up or spare a hand to take i
Catherine turned on her heel and sprinted toward the parking lot. She unlocked her car and tore out of the hospital gates at breakneck speed, driving toward her house with a sinking feeling of dread.Her entire elaborate scheme with Dr. Miller was collapsing before her eyes, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.Back inside the delivery suite, the harsh fluorescent lights buzzed quietly. Lucy clutched the edge of the mattress, a sharp wave of pain tearing through her body, causing her to cry out.Dr. Dennis stepped closer, his expression softening completely. He looked down at the trembling, exhausted young woman."Beautiful lady," he spoke softly, his voice rich with genuine warmth and empathy. "Don't you worry, your baby will soon be born. You're going to be okay."Lucy froze through her pain, blinking tears from her lashes. It was the first time anyone had spoken to her with such gentle kindness since the day she found out she was pregnant. For months, she had known nothin
The afternoon sunlight slanted harshly through the windows of the Dennis family home, casting long, dusty shadows across the living room rug. Dr. Dennis, Brian’s father, picked up his leather briefcase from the couch, gave it a firm zip, and turned to look at his son.Brian sat slumped on the edge of the armchair, his eyes bloodshot, his shoulders weighed down by a relentless, grinding exhaustion. He hadn’t slept properly in days, his mind trapped entirely in an endless loop of panic over where Lucy might be and how she was surviving her father's tyranny."Take it easy on how you go every day, Brian," Dr. Dennis said gently, his voice carrying the deep, steady cadence of a physician who had seen too much grief. "You're burning yourself out thinking about Lucy constantly."He sighed, his expression shifting from sympathy to mild exasperation as he adjusted his glasses."And frankly, I'm angry with you for going to such lengths to disguise yourself," Dr. Dennis continued, shaking his he







