The parade of visitors began: Emma and Liam, cooing over Truth with genuine adoration; my parents, my father trying unsuccessfully to hide his tears; and finally, James escorting his frail father.William Henderson Sr. looked shockingly old in the harsh hospital lighting, his once-commanding presenc
Chapter 41: Unexpected VisitorTruth's first month flew by in a blur of sleepless nights, diaper changes, and moments of breathtaking wonder. Our daughter grew more alert each day, her dark eyes—unmistakably Henderson eyes—tracking my movements with an intensity that sometimes unnerved me.We'd sett
Chapter 42: Blood TiesMy legs threatened to give way beneath me. I sank onto the couch, clutching Truth to my chest like a shield."You're James's half-sister?" The words felt foreign on my tongue, impossible despite the evidence standing before me. Yet looking at Rachel now—*really* looking—I coul
Chapter 43: Into the Dark"Get to the nursery—now," Marcus commanded, his voice barely above a whisper. His hand found mine in the darkness, squeezing once before he released me. "Take Truth and lock yourselves in."My heart hammered against my ribs as I clutched our daughter tighter. "Marcus—""Go,
Chapter 44: Blood and BetrayalMy blood ran cold. DNA results? What possible game was Victoria playing now?"This is absurd," Marcus said, voice steady despite the tension radiating from him. "Another desperate manipulation. Truth is our daughter."Victoria's laugh contained no warmth, just practice
Chapter 45: Sanctuary BreachedThe police interview lasted hours. I watched Truth sleep in her portable bassinet, positioned between Marcus and me, as detectives combed through Victoria's surprise visit. The clock on the wall ticked past midnight, each second feeling like an eternity."Ms. Mitchell,
Chapter 46: A cry in the darknessThe darkness isn't complete silence. It's alive—breathing, watching, waiting.Truth's cry pierces through the blackness, a high-pitched wail that sends electricity down my spine. My hand instinctively reaches for her, fingers searching for the familiar softness of h
Chapter 47: Sanctuary unfoldedMy own face stares back at me through the flames—not as I am now, but as I might be decades from now. Lined with age, eyes hardened by experience, mouth curved into a knowing smile that I've never worn. Yet unmistakably me."What is this?" I whisper, my voice barely au
Chapter 63: Beyond the VeilThe dimensional rift swallows us whole—William and me—tearing us away from the laboratory, from Marcus screaming my name, from Truth's desperate attempt to stabilize reality. We fall through cascading layers of existence, neither here nor there, our bodies dissolving into
Chapter 62: Betrayal's ShadowI stare at the pregnancy test, my third one today, still showing that unmistakable double line. My hands shake as I place it on the bathroom counter next to the others. Twelve weeks. The doctor confirmed it yesterday. Twelve weeks pregnant with Marcus's child while his
The nodule at my throat pulses hot against my skin. Of course. I'm whole now—mother and daughter, connected across dimensional barriers. I place my hand over the embedded convergence technology, closing my eyes to focus on that connection."Truth," I call, not with my voice but with my consciousness
Chapter 60: The Whole TruthReintegration feels like drowning and burning alive simultaneously. Seven consciousnesses crash together like tidal waves, memories flooding through me in a chaotic torrent. I am a police chief interrogating a suspect. I am a soldier crawling through mud under enemy fire.
Chapter 59: Convergence PointDimensional travel doesn't get easier the second time. If anything, it's worse—like being forced through the eye of a needle while fully conscious. My atoms scream as they're compressed, stretched, and reassembled. Marcus's grip on my arm is the only constant, an anchor
Chapter 58: Fractured ReflectionsDimensional travel feels like being torn apart and reassembled by a careless child. My atoms scatter, stretch across impossible distances, then snap back together in new configurations. I scream, but there's no sound in the void between realities—only endless pressu
Chapter 57: Dimensional CrossfireCatherine's smile chills me more than the pendant's icy burn against my palm. The hospital security uniforms worn by her team can't disguise their military precision as they fan out around us."We need to go," I whisper to Jacob, who stands frozen beside me, his eye
Chapter 56: Fractured ReunionI lunge from the hospital bed, ripping away IVs and sensors. The monitors scream in protest as Jacob grabs my arms."Sophie! What are you doing?" His face contorts with panic. "You need to rest!""Let me go!" I twist away, my unfamiliar body weaker than I expect. My leg
Chapter 55: Echoes of ExistenceI wake up.My consciousness returns like scattered puzzle pieces slowly assembling themselves. First sensation—soft sheets beneath my fingertips. Then sound—a rhythmic beeping nearby. Finally sight, as my eyelids flutter open to blinding fluorescent light.Hospital ro