LOGINAnna's POV The head nurse stepped forward, tear tracks staining her face. "Ms. Shaw, I'm so sorry. We took the babies for their bath, everything was normal. Both babies were quiet throughout." "It's chilly in the corridor between the bath area and nursery," she continued, voice trembling. "We always wrap them tightly before bringing them back. When we unwrapped Benedict, his eyes were closed. We thought he was sleeping." "It wasn't until Rachel came to check that we realized Benedict had been... switched." She gestured to another nurse holding an unfamiliar infant. "We don't know exactly when the substitution occurred." I stepped closer to the strange baby, studying his features. Definitely not my son. Benedict's chin was more pointed, his eye shape longer, his nose bridge higher. 'Take Sophia to my private room," I instructed Betty, no longer trusting the hospital security. My daughter's tiny cries cut through the chaos, as if she sensed her twin's absence. When I touched
Logan's POV I launched after him without thinking, my body moving on pure adrenaline. The cold night air hit my face as we burst through the hospital doors. The fake doctor was heading toward a black sedan with its engine running. "Stop!" I shouted, lunging forward to grab his white coat. I caught the fabric, yanking hard enough to throw us both off balance. We crashed onto the freezing pavement, the impact knocking the wind from my lungs. In the struggle, I caught a glimpse of the tiny bundle being passed to someone in the waiting car. "Give back that child!" I demanded, scrambling to my feet. The sedan's tires squealed against the asphalt as it peeled away, taking the infant with it. A wave of despair washed over mel'd failed to stop them. Cold metal suddenly pressed against my abdomen, followed by searing pain that stole my breath. The fake doctor twisted the knife before yanking it out, his face contorted with rage. "You should have minded your own business," he
– – – After everyone left, I pulled out my tablet and secretly searched European news about Marcus Murphy's disappearance. Surprisingly, Ascend Group showed no signs of chaos-a mysterious acting CEO had emerged to maintain operations. All signs suggested Marcus might still be alive, yet my worry remained. Logan's POV The early winter air sliced through my wool coat as I paced back and forth across hospital's visitor parking lot. The concrete beneath my feet had grown familiar over the past hour, each step wearing deeper grooves into my indecision. My breath formed small clouds that disappeared as quickly as my resolve to go inside. *Just go upstairs, Porter. What's the worst that could happen?* Actually, I knew exactly what could happen. Anna's dismissive glance. The awkward silence. The pity in her eyes when she realized I still cared too much. The twins-Marcus Murphy's twins-crying in the background. My fingers tightened around the small jewelry box in my pocket. A p
Anna's POV The morning light filtered through the blinds of my private hospital suite, casting golden stripes across the pristine white sheets. I gripped the metal rail of my IV stand, focusing on each careful step forward. Every movement sent a dull ache radiating from my abdomen, but I was determined to reach the nursery. "Easy does it, Ms. Shaw," the nurse encouraged, hovering nearby. "Just a few more steps." My fingers tightened around the pain pump button, though I resisted pressing it. The fog of medication made it harder to think clearly, and I needed my wits about me. Each shuffling step was a small victory against my body's protests. "They're doing wonderfully," the nurse chatted as we approached the viewing window. "Your little ones are quite the celebrities in the nursery." Behind the glass, two tiny bundles lay swaddled in the finest Egyptian cotton blankets—gifts from Grandpa William, of course. Benedict's shock of blonde hair was visible even from a distance.
Mary's POV The echo of Jack's footsteps faded down the hallway. I trembled with indignation, pointing toward the doorway he'd just exited. "He says I've embarrassed him! Has he forgotten everything I've done was for him?" My voice cracked with emotion. "Marcus Murphy has billions in assets, and now that he's dead, shouldn't his own nephew inherit at least a few hundred million?" Lucy's eyes widened momentarily, and I caught the flash of raw greed that passed through them before she quickly composed herself. _Even this social-climbing nobody can't resist the allure of that kind of money._ She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Mrs. Simpson, please don't say these things in front of Jack or any Murphy family member. Especially not William. Remember, even to inherit anything from Marcus, you'd need William's approval." I knew she was right, but just thinking about the Shaw family made my blood boil. The memory of that photograph I'd discovered i
Elizabeth's POV As the Murphy family filed out of Anna's hospital room, I noticed Jack Simpson lingering behind. He'd been so quiet throughout the visit that his presence had been almost forgotten. Looking at him now, all the rage I felt toward Mary Simpson bubbled up again, burning through my chest like acid. "You should leave too," I said, my voice sharper than I'd ever heard it. "Annie needs rest." My feelings toward this former son-in- law were painfully complex. Jack himself wasn't evil—just a man who hadn't loved my daughter enough. But his mother? My fingers curled into fists at the mere thought of her. "I wanted to apologize on behalf of my mother," Jack said, his voice barely above a whisper. Something inside me snapped. The words erupted before I could temper them. "Your apology means nothing. Even if she knelt before us and begged forgiveness, it wouldn't matter." My voice trembled with unleashed fury. 'Tell your mother to cross the street if she sees me c
Anna's POV I arrived at Murphy Estate just as the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the manicured gardens. The sprawling mansion with its imposing facade looked quieter than usual-the winter chill had driven even the most dedicated groundskeepers indoors. Walking past the empty gazebo, I f
Anna's POV Fifteen days of physical therapy had finally paid off. My shoulders no longer screamed in protest with every movement, and I could button my own blouse without wincing. I checked my watch—7:45 PM. Kieran Green was already forty-five minutes late to our dinner meeting. The luxurious p
Anna's POV Logan's hand unexpectedly reached up to cup my face. His familiar features suddenly seemed alien, transformed by an intensity I'd never witnessed before. "Because I don't want to be the nice guy anymore, Anna. I'm tired of always being considerate of others," Logan said, his eyes bur
Anna's POV I stared at the six-digit number on that small note card, my brain racing through possible combinations until everything suddenly clicked. Wait a minute—that was my birthday. Catherine's eyes widened with recognition. "Hold on, isn't that your birthday?" She examined the card more cl







