“You lying witch!”
She looked away like she couldn’t bear my cruelty, but I saw the flicker of satisfaction in her eyes.
Marshall’s voice dropped, low and sharp. “Get out of my sight before I lose control.”
“You believe her over me?” I felt my throat burn.
He didn’t even blink. “You’re not the same, Liora. Losing the baby years ago broke you. Now you’re just… bitter.”
A bitter laugh escaped before I could stop it. Blood ran down to my lip. I wiped it away with the back of my hand. His eyes flicked to the red smear, and for half a second, I thought I saw guilt.
“Li—” he started, but Daphne made a small whimper behind him.
“My head… it hurts, Marshall,” she whispered. “She hit me so hard.”
He turned to her instantly, his arm going around her like I didn’t exist anymore. And Daphne glanced at me over his shoulder, her lips curling into the tiniest smirk.
Three days. I just had to survive three more days.
***
The next morning, I slipped out early. The air was cool, but my chest felt heavy as I sat in the clinic’s waiting room. My hand rested on my stomach. It was still flat, but I knew what was inside. Two heartbeats. Two tiny lives I never thought I could have.
The nurse called my name. My legs felt weak as I followed her into the room. The doctor looked up, startled.
“Mrs. Celestino,” he said. “I remember you.”
I gave a faint smile.
He glanced at my file, then back at me. “Are you certain you want to go through with this?”
I stayed quiet.
“Liora,” he said softly, “this pregnancy is a miracle. If you end it, there will be no second chance.”
His words hit me like a punch. I pressed my palm to my stomach. I thought about all those years I cried myself to sleep, begging God for just one miracle. The way my heart cracked every time someone else announced a pregnancy. And now, when the impossible had finally happened, I was about to throw it away because of Marshall. Because of his betrayal.
The pressure in my chest broke, and I couldn’t hold it in anymore. Tears rolled down my cheeks before I could stop them. My voice came out shaky, almost a whisper. “I’m… I'm keeping them…”
“That’s the right choice, Liora.”
When I walked out of the clinic, it felt like the air was lighter. I wasn’t free yet, but in three days I would be gone. I would disappear with my children and start over far away from all this poison.
“Liora!”
The sound of my name made me freeze. I turned slowly and saw Marshall was striding toward me.
Before I could take a step back, his hand clamped around my arm. “Thank God I caught you,” he gripping me so hard I knew there would be bruises later.
“What is it now?” My voice came out flat, tired.
“It’s Daphne,” he said. “She’s in the hospital. High fever all night from the stress and from the way you attacked her.” His eyes were sharp with accusation. “You did this, Liora.”
My laugh was bitter and humorless. “I already fucking told you. I never touched her!”
He ignored me completely. “She passed out this morning. Doctors say her fever spiked, she’s too weak. And now she needs a blood transfusion.”
I frowned. “And that has what to do with me?”
Marshall’s jaw tightened. “You’re the match. You're her twin. You’re the only one who can save her.”
“You want my blood? After everything she’s done to me?” My stomach turned.
His grip on my arm tightened painfully. “This isn’t about your petty feelings. This is about saving two lives. You can be bitter later. Right now you’re going to do what’s right.”
I tried to pull away, but he started dragging me toward the parking lot. My heels scraped the ground. “There are other donors. Check another hospital. I’m not doing this.”
He stopped, turned to me, and his voice went cold. “You will, because this is your fault.”
“You will never believe me over her, will you?”
He didn’t answer. Just started pulling me again.
I swallowed hard, then blurted the words I’d been keeping to myself. “I’m pregnant.”
