Chapter 1

I instinctively stepped back. I had no desire to tempt bad luck.

But the man's expression only darkened further.

The rain grew heavier.

He grabbed me and hauled me straight into the car.

I stumbled along behind him in my heels. He did not spare me a single glance, and my eyes burned with sudden tears.

Sure enough, the one he had never gotten over was back. He used to at least wait for me.

The voice in my womb spoke up again. 'Here it comes. If the last nine times are anything to go by, you're about to kick him with your heel, and then he's going to dump you on the side of the road.'

My breath caught. I had no intention of acting recklessly again.

The smartest move was to stay quiet, survive this ordeal, and then leave. I could not even understand why I had been so self-destructive the previous nine times.

My foot caught on a small stone, and I stumbled.

Joseph turned around and shoved me into the car, his voice cold. "Even an idiot knows to run when it rains. Sabrina, you really can't compare to Lenore. Not even a little."

My heart stung with a pain I had not expected.

I lowered my eyes. I wanted to snap back at him, but I restrained myself, mindful of Jamie's warning. This version of Joseph had already shown his true colors.

The car's air conditioning switched on.

He tossed a towel onto my face without a word.

I froze for a moment.

I reminded myself that he was the one who kept me, and I was nothing more than his little bird. The least I could do was dry him off.

Hence, despite my own dripping hair, I gripped the towel and began to wipe him down.

Joseph froze, but his expression only darkened further. He snatched the towel away and threw it back at me, his patience clearly exhausted. He did not even glance at me before he started the car.

'My sorry excuse of a father is saving himself for the one he never got over.'

I lowered my eyes as tears stung my nose.

Right. Now that Lenore was back, even the slightest touch from me disgusted him.

I raised a hand to wipe my hair.

The moment I moved, Jamie let out a shriek. 'It's happening! My foolish mother is about to grab the wheel like an idiot! She's going to smash the ornament on the dashboard, the gift from the one he never got over! And then he's going to kick you straight out of the car.'

My eyes shot up.

Sure enough, a small plaque sat on the dashboard, engraved with the letters "LEN," short for Lenore.

'Here it comes! This exact turn!

'Three, two, one!

'Huh? She didn't grab it? What's going on? Why is this different from the last nine times? Hey, Jesse, do you know?'

Another low, quiet voice drifted from my womb. 'It's no use. Even if she holds back for now, she'll eventually get herself killed again.'

Both voices sighed in unison. 'Ugh.'

I froze and looked down at my belly.

Twins?

I could not help but turn to look at Joseph.

What a shame. We were never meant to have a future.

…

An hour later, the car stopped in front of a beautiful villa he had bought specifically for me.

'What's the point of making it so beautiful? My sorry excuse of a father still won't let you set foot inside the family estate.'

I dug my nails into my palm.

Right. No matter how much he had spoiled me over the years, it had only ever been the kind of affection someone lavished on a pet.

He had never once taken me home to meet his parents.

Beside me, Joseph noticed my distant expression and frowned. "Still not getting out? Are you waiting for an invitation?"

I let out a quiet "Oh" and did not bother to snap back.

Just as I was about to shut the car door, he suddenly called out to stop me.

A complicated look flickered in his eyes. "Right. If anyone from the Sinclair family comes looking for you anytime soon, don't see them. Understand?"

'Because Lenore is back, and my sorry excuse of a father is about to take her to meet his parents, you silly mother.'

My face went pale.

Of course. I had never had that right to begin with.

"Mm."

With that, he turned and walked away without another word.

But I heard him answer a call, his voice unbearably gentle. "I know. Be good. I'm coming right away."

Beneath the thick darkness of the night, I took a deep breath and suppressed the bitterness that rose in my chest.

It did not matter. If the universe had allowed me to hear my children's voices, then it was giving me a chance. I would not repeat the same mistake again.