Semua Bab TEMPORARY MATES, PERMANENT CRAVINGS : Bab 261 - Bab 270

Lisa POVThe hours crawled by, and I'd never felt more restless than I did after Joanna's visit. I couldn't bring myself to imagine seeing Evangeline again.I hadn't realized how deep the damage ran until now. The memories came all at once, like somebody had thrown open a door I'd fought to keep shut.Her calling me her sister, agreeing to make me her surrogate through natural conception, the guilt that followed, the attraction I never wanted to feel toward Cameron, finding out she wasn't who I thought she was, running from one safe house to another, almost losing the baby and my own life because someone poisoned me.Every road seemed to lead back to the day I signed that surrogacy contract. And now they expected me to sit there and listen to her confession, as though hearing her side could undo any of it.They'd spent so much time protecting my body that they'd forgotten what this had done to my mind. I wasn't even convinced I'd make it through childbirth without someone trying to co

Evangeline POV Lisa walked away without looking back, and I stayed where I was, watching her reflection disappear through the glass until the door closed behind her.Two guards stepped in behind me. Cassidy came in from outside and motioned for me to follow. Neither of us spoke as she led me into another room. The guards removed my restraints but remained close enough to intervene if I tried anything.Several middle-aged women sat around a mahogany table, speaking quietly among themselves. They acknowledged my presence with nothing more than a glance before returning to their discussion.They let me stand there.I bit the inside of my lip and swallowed against the knot in my throat.One of them turned to Cassidy."How did Lisa respond?"Cassidy shrugged."She doesn't believe her. She thinks she's acting out of desperation. She said if Meridian had never turned against her, she'd still be trying to destroy her."Quiet murmurs moved around the table."She doesn't want blood on her hand

Cameron POVCassidy excused herself and left with Evangeline, leaving me wondering what was supposed to happen next.Franklin and Nadia tried to keep things normal. They kept me talking, as though conversation alone could stop my mind from running."Do you think she's truly sorry?" Nadia asked.Franklin scoffed. "She can be sorry, but we're not buying it. We're not encouraging any closeness after this. Too much has happened.""I still hope she finds some kind of meaning in her life," Nadia said. "I can't imagine living after killing my own mother.""Maybe living with it is punishment enough."The woman who had welcomed us into the building returned."We're ready for you."Franklin took the lead while Nadia slipped her hand into mine and gave it a squeeze."I can't wait to have you back."My throat tightened. I couldn't answer.The second floor looked disappointingly ordinary. It could have passed for any hospital. White walls. Closed doors. Nurses walked past without paying us any att

Cameron POVMy head snapped up as a bandaged figure walked into the dining room. I looked at Franklin standing nearby, then back at her.It was Evangeline.She looked terrible. Her lip was split, bandages wrapped around one hand and across her head, and one eye had swollen almost shut. Franklin had told me Meridian beat her, but I hadn't imagined this.I hurried over and pulled out a chair.Her eyes stayed on me as she lowered herself into it with care, every movement stiff, as though even sitting hurt. She tugged her sleeve over her bruised knuckles, trying to hide what couldn't be hidden.We looked at each other without speaking, and when we finally did, we asked the same question."How are you?"Her face crumpled."What have I done?" she whispered.She buried her face in her hands and cried. I reached toward her without thinking, but my hand stopped halfway. Franklin remained where he was, giving us the space to talk. "I don't know who I am anymore." Her voice scraped against her

Lisa POVThe last month felt like a strange, quiet dream.Everything just... worked.We were finally through the worst of it. I was in the last stage of my pregnancy, which meant I had the grace of a refrigerator on legs. Everything ached, my feet hated me, and I treated every chair like a lifelong friend. I was tired after doing almost anything, but for the first time in months, hope didn't feel like a mistake.Mom did everything she could to keep me calm. Dr. Harry checked on me almost every day, and whenever fear crept back in, they always found a way to chase it away.“I trust the daughters,” Mom said. "If they could help Cameron after everything he went through, they can help you too."I sighed."I hope you're right."Tomorrow, Cameron and I would finally see each other again. His purification was over. Weeks of rituals, isolation, and endless rules had kept us apart. I missed the little things more than I'd expected; the way everything felt steadier when he was close.The waitin