Chapter 19

• “ Mother? ” Lucy managed to choke out, her voice laced with disbelief. Alessa never dropped by unannounced. In fact, she rarely visited at all. Their relationship had always been strained—Lucy was used to the constant tension, the barbed comments, and the unspoken rivalry that seemed to define every interaction between them.
• Alessa didn’t waste time with pleasantries, “ You’re pregnant, ” she said flatly, her eyes narrowing as they settled on Lucy’s belly.
• Lucy’s heart pounded in her chest as she instinctively stepped back, her hand protectively covering her bump. She knew her mother wouldn’t react well to the news, but seeing that cold, judgmental stare directed at her stomach still sent a shiver down her spine. “ What are you doing here, Mom? ”