Chapter 1
“Zack, please, not again,” I begged, clutching the bedframe as he loomed over me. My voice cracked, each word scraping against the lump in my throat. “I can’t keep doing this. It’s hurting me—it’s hurting the baby.”
Zack‘ s face remained impassive as he pulled me out of the room.
“She’s not my responsibility!” I sobbed, clutching my belly protectively. “What about us? What about our baby?”
He paused, his gaze flickering to my rounded stomach for the briefest moment before hardening again. “The baby will be fine. Amber’s life is what matters right now.”
Of course, it did. It always had.
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Amber was his first love, the woman who had left him years ago and broken his heart. When she came back–sick, fragile, and helpless–Zack hadn’t hesitated to take her in. And ever since that day, I had become invisible. Worst of all, I became her blood
bank.
“Please, Zack,” I tried again. “I’ve already given so much–three transfusions this week alone. I can barely stand. If this keeps up, something will happen to the baby.”
His jaw tightened. “You‘ ll be fine, Harriet. Stop being so selfish.”
Selfish. The word hit me like a slap. My knees buckled, but Zack caught me before I could collapse, his grip on my arm firm as he dragged me toward the hallway.
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Amber was his first the sterile white room tleft him years ago was already waiting. When she came bace you sure about this?” she helpless–Zack hadi arting toward me. “Your wife in. And ever since fould rest.”
vinvisible. Worst of stof
bank.nk.
Zack snapped, his voice
make the nurse flinch. “Just
“Please, Zack,” I tried I tr
given so much th–th
he chair, my body trembling alone. I can barelyarehe nurse hesitated but something will will ha
e rubber band around my
His jaw tighterieteneierced my skin, and the Stop being sogso selling the bag made nausea Selfish. The Moe word
buckled, but but Zad, my vision darkening at collapse,phis, his gripi can’t…”
dragged gd me towarto
t on me–it was on the
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blood bag. The same detachment I’d seen
for weeks. I wanted to scream, to make him see me, but the world tilted violently, and darkness swallowed me whole.
When I opened my eyes, the room was dim. My body felt heavy, drained of every ounce of strength. For a moment, I lay there, disoriented, until the memory of Zack‘ s cold grip and the nurse’s needle hit me like a punch.
“Zack…” I croaked, pushing myself up on shaking arms.
He wasn’t here. Of course not.
I stumbled out of bed, leaning heavily against the wall for support. My legs trembled as I made my way down the hall, the faint sound of voices guiding me like a thread.
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The light spilling from Amber‘ s room stopped me in my tracks. I hesitated, my heart pounding in my chest.
“But Zack,” Amber‘ s tone turned hesitant, “what about Harriet? You can’t keep this up
forever.”
He didn’t answer immediately, and for a moment, I let myself hope. Maybe he‘ d defend me. Maybe he‘ d remember the promises we made, the life we’d built.
Then he spoke.
“Once she delivers the baby, I’ll get rid of her.” His words were cold, final. “She was always just a stand–in, Amber. You‘ re the one I love. You always have been.”
A strangled gasp escaped my lips before I could stop it. My vision blurred as I stumbled
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back from the door, Zack‘ s words echoing in my mind.
I clutched my stomach, tears spilling down my cheeks. My legs carried me back to my room on instinct, though I barely felt the ground beneath me.
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