Chapter 4

"John, how dare you treat my daughter like this! You've got some nerve!"

Just before the needle could pierce Mom's skin, the door opened again.

My grandfather, Don Vincent Brunetti, stood in the doorway, his face thunderous, his heavily armed men behind him.

Mom burst into tears and cried out desperately, "Dad, help me!

"John brought in the baby he had with his stepsister and swapped him for my daughter. And he's hidden her somewhere so I can't find her!"

Grandpa's face hardened.

He gave a small wave of his hand, and one of his men pulled a gun and pressed it to Trash Dad's head.

Trash Dad went white with panic. "Don Brunetti, please, let me explain. Serena's sick.

"She's imagining all of this.

"She had a boy, but she keeps insisting it was a girl. She says she can hear her daughter talking. How is that even possible?"

Trash Dad sounded more heartbroken with every word.

He carefully picked up the baby boy, who was wailing his head off, and held him out to Grandpa.

Mom shook her head wildly. "Dad, this boy really isn't mine. Look at his eyes. One green and one brown, just like Sophie's!"

Grandpa looked down at the baby's eyes, and his expression changed.

"Don Brunetti, his eyes surprised me too. I asked several doctors about it. It's just a genetic mutation. It doesn't prove anything.

"If anything, Serena's been jealous of my stepsister's looks since the day she met her.

"But I never thought she'd make up lies about me and my stepsister. We're just siblings, nothing more. I swear!"

Mom clung to the hem of Grandpa's jacket, tears pouring down her face. "Dad, you have to believe me. My daughter told me all of this.

"She said she's here in the hospital right now.

"She said she's cold. She said she's scared. She said she hasn't even met me or you yet, and she doesn't want to die.

"Please help me find her. I'm begging you!"

Grandpa took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the tears from Mom's cheeks. "...All right, Serena. I'll help you find her!"

Grandpa's men immediately searched every inch of the hospital.

Grandpa, I'm right here. Come save me!

I'd been without air for so long that I was drifting in and out, but I fought to stay awake.

The minutes ticked by, and no one found me.

"Don, there's no newborn girl anywhere."

Mom refused to believe it. "That's impossible... it can't be!"

Weak as she was, she wouldn't give up. She searched every waste bin on the floor, one after another.

But there was nothing inside them except waste.

Grandpa pulled Mom into his arms and spoke softly. "Serena, you just want a daughter too badly.

"You and John are still young. Get your strength back, and in a couple of years you can have a girl."

Trash Dad jumped at the chance and pushed the baby boy into Mom's arms.

"He's right, sweetheart. You got overexcited after the baby came, and you started hearing things."

Mom stared down at the baby boy in her arms.

She was clearly starting to doubt herself.

"...But I heard my daughter call me 'Mom.' I know I did. Could it be... is something really wrong with my head?"

Trash Dad shot the doctor a look, and the doctor stepped right up.

"Ms. Brunetti is having severe postpartum mood swings. She needs to rest right now."

Mom, don't... don't give up on me! I'm right here!

I called out to her weakly, over and over.

But Mom just kept looking down at the baby boy, like she hadn't heard a thing.

No! I was not going to die!

This was my eighth chance to be born, and I'd never once been held by Mom or tasted a single drop of milk. I refused to let it end like this!

With the very last of my strength, I twisted my body, kicking my legs and flailing my arms.

Suddenly, I felt my hiding place tip over and plummet.

There was a sharp crack.

The statue of the Virgin Mary that had been standing on a shelf smashed to pieces on the floor.

And inside the broken statue was a newborn baby girl, her mouth stuffed with bloody gauze, her whole body blue and purple from lack of air!