The Baby They Killed Was Her Only Hope

Cornelius still had my arm in a death grip. Behind us, the staircase dropped away, steep and unforgiving.

I thought about it. Actually, wouldn't a hospital be better? Rhys was on shift tonight. He would never let anything happen to me.

So I nodded. "Fine. Let's go to the hospital. As long as you won't regret it."

The moment I gave in, my mother's tone softened. A smile even spread across her face. "See? I told you Sylvia wouldn't be that heartless. I raised her all these years. This is exactly how she should be."

I looked at her, and whatever shred of mother-daughter bond I'd been clinging to evaporated on the spot.

I was going to keep this baby.

But the cord blood donation consent form? I would never sign it.

Cornelius released my arm and hurried toward the door. "Then let's go. Stop wasting time."

I got in the car. I was about to give the address of Rhys's hospital when Cornelius let out a cold laugh, his eyes finding mine in the rearview mirror.

"Don't think I don't know what you're planning, Sis."

"We're going to the small-town clinic."

"Relax. They do clean work there too."

My heart plummeted.

My mother sat in the passenger seat and glanced back at me. "Your brother's right. Why bother with some big hospital? A small clinic is cheaper and more convenient."

Less than half an hour later, the car pulled up in front of a clinic.

My mother couldn't wait. She checked me in herself. "Doctor, she's here for an abortion. The sooner the better."

My head spun. I stumbled back two steps. "No! I'm not doing this!"

The doctor paused, then turned to my mother. "What's your relationship to her? If she doesn't consent, we can't proceed."

My mother's face went dark. Then she burst into tears in front of the doctor. "Doctor, I'll be honest with you. My daughter has some mental problems."

"She was assaulted and didn't even know to tell anyone. If I hadn't noticed she was pregnant, she might have just..."

"Doctor, please. She's my only daughter. I can't bear to let her give birth to a rapist's child."

What...

Just then, I spotted Rhys's car parked outside the clinic entrance.

I didn't think. I just screamed toward the door. "Rhys! I'm in here!"

The car door opened. It wasn't Rhys. It was his medical assistant, Marlene Matthews.

My mother whipped around to face the doctor. "See? I told you she has problems. She calls every man she sees her husband."

"Doctor, please just do it. The further along she gets, the harder it'll be."

Hesitation flickered across the doctor's face. I seized the moment and bolted for the door. "Marlene!"

"Sylvia!" Cornelius lunged and grabbed my sleeve.

I wrenched free and kept running.

I was almost at the entrance when my foot caught on something. My balance vanished. I hit the floor hard, stomach first.

A searing pain ripped upward from my abdomen.

My mind went blank. Nothing but white noise.

Then warmth. A slow, spreading warmth soaking through my pants.

I panicked.

Marlene was already at my side, crouching down. "Mrs. Henson?!"

"Get me to Asclepius." I clenched my teeth. My voice shook. "Find Rhys. Now."

My mother snapped out of it and rushed over. "Don't listen to her! She doesn't know what she's saying..."

Marlene didn't even look at her. She was already lifting me up. "You're losing a lot of blood. I'm taking you to Asclepius right now."

My mother gritted her teeth and followed us out the clinic door. "I'm her mother! I'm going with her!"

Cornelius and Daisy trailed behind. All four of them crammed into Marlene's car.