“Sign here,” she said, tapping the page with a long red nail. “Relinquishment of parental rights. My neighbor drafted it—he’s a notary, so it’s official.”
It was clumsy, full of errors, and legally laughable. The intent wasn’t. My eyes moved from the paper to her face, and my voice came out steady only because I forced it to. “These are my children. Both of them.”
“These are my children. Both of them.”She rolled her eyes like I was being dramatic. “Don’t be selfish. Your sister-in-law has been trying for five years. It’s a tragedy. And you have two at once—like it’s nothing.”
“Don’t be selfish. Your sister-in-law has been trying for five years. It’s a tragedy. And you have two at once—like it’s nothing.”Then she said the part that turned my blood cold. “Karen wants the boy.”
“Karen wants the boy.”I heard myself inhale.
Once.
Part 4 — The Reach, the Strike, and the Red Button
Mrs. Sterling moved toward Leo’s bassinet with the calm confidence of someone used to getting her way.
“We’ll do it quickly,” she said, voice bright with certainty. “She’s waiting in the car.”
“We’ll do it quickly,” “She’s waiting in the car.”“Don’t touch him,” I warned, pushing myself upright despite the pain that flashed through my abdomen.
“Don’t touch him,”She reached in anyway. I grabbed her wrist as she lifted Leo, and the sudden movement sent a sharp wave of agony through my body. Leo’s cry rose fast—small, shocked, frightened.
Mrs. Sterling yanked harder and swung her free hand. A slap cracked across my cheek, and my head snapped back against the pillows. The room spun for half a second. Then it steadied.
I didn’t beg.
I reached behind my head and slammed the red button labeled CODE GRAY / SECURITY.
Part 5 — When the Hallway Answered
The alarm blared. Lights flashed in the hallway. Footsteps thundered closer—fast, heavy, practiced.
Mrs. Sterling stepped back and smoothed her coat like she could reset the scene. “Turn that off,” she hissed. “You’ll embarrass us.”
“Turn that off,” “You’ll embarrass us.”
