Mag-log inMary's POV I stretched my legs across the sofa, wincing as the movement tugged at my bruised arm. That Elizabeth Shaw had more strength than I'd ever given her credit for. The scratches on my face stung, a constant reminder of my humiliation at the hospital. My attention snapped to the foyer as the front door opened. George strode in with Pax Powell trailing behind him like some obedient lapdog. Neither spared me a glance as they headed straight for the staircase. "George," I called out, my voice sharper than intended. "The police came by today." He paused, one foot on the first step, and turned just enough to look at me over his shoulder. His expression could have frozen hell itself. "Perhaps I should be asking you that question." His gaze swept over my injured face, his lip curling in disgust. "Since you've managed to get yourselt mauled like some alley cat." The casual cruelty of his words struck like physical blows. After these years of marriage, this was what I'd be
Anna's POV I stood outside the operating room, feeling numb to my core. First Benedict’s kidnapping, I now Loga Fighting for his life after being stabbed while trying to save my son. Why did everyone who cared for me end up in danger? The question circled endlessly in my mind. Doris Porter and Oscar had rushed to the hospital. Doris held Elizabeth in her arms, both women fighting back tears, afraid to add to my burden. I stared blankly at the closed operating room doors, my thoughts scattered like broken glass. Oscar approached quietly, gently guiding my head to rest on his shoulder. I didn't resist or cry— I just accepted the small comfort in this moment of overwhelming despair. "Everything will be okay, Anna. Everything will be okay," he whispered, his words like a distant flicker of light in darkness, though we both knew things were far from simple. Oscar squeezed my hand. "I'm going to monitor the police search. I'll let you know immediately if there's any news." His d
Anna'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 pa
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.
Anna's POV The woman standing beside Catherine in our living room looked like she'd stepped out of a medical journal-crisp linen shirt tucked into tailored pants, not a single blonde hair out of place in her tight bun. Her posture screamed professional discipline. "Elizabeth, I heard you were l
I nearly dropped my phone, staring at those three simple words on the screen. My heart slammed against my ribs like it was trying to escape my chest. With trembling fingers, I hastily wrapped myself in my silk robe, not even bothering to call Lily for assistance. My damp hair clung to my neck a
Mary's POV My cheeks burned as Father's words cut through me like a serrated knife. How dare he scold me in front of everyone especially that insufferable Catherine? I straightened my silk blouse, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity. "I'm only trying to uphold the standards of this f
Anna's POV Sunlight streamed through the hospital window, casting a warm glow across Lucius's pale face. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, the beeping monitors confirming what the doctors had told us—he'd survived the critical forty-eight hours. Relief washed over me like a gentle tide.







