He clearly hadn’t considered that. But then his expression twisted—like something clicked.
He grabbed her chin, sneering.
“Afraid that once there’s a kid, you’ll lose your last excuse to beg me for sex?” His tone dripped with mockery. “You’d rather I do it myself? Sorry, not into you.”
Then he shoved her to the floor.
“I’m not asking, Lucia. If you want my kid, this is the only way.”
He turned to the staff.
“Hold her down. Prep the OR.”
Lucia fought, but they pinned her to the table.
The needle pierced her—white-hot pain exploded. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
‘Why…
‘Why do you have to treat me like this, Jared…’
The hormones hit hard. Everything spun. Then—darkness.
***
Lucia came to the next day, groggy and aching.
A doctor beside her let out a breath of relief.
“Good, you’re awake, Mrs. Dawson. You had a strong reaction to the hormones—acute stress response. Thankfully, nothing serious.”
Her voice came out hoarse. “Where’s Jared?”
The doctor paused.
“He left after… providing his sample.”
Lucia blinked. Then it hit her—what “sample” meant.
Her hands clenched the sheets.
Had he used Alice’s photo again?
Thinking about her while making a child with Lucia—
Her stomach turned.
The doctor kept going.
“The procedure was rough, but embryo creation went very smoothly. Look.”
He opened a chilled container. Inside sat five tiny test tubes.
Lucia stared.
These… were her children?
The doctor kept talking. “Once you’re stable, we’ll implant the strongest embryo. Then you—Mrs. Dawson! What are you—”
