Chapter 24

The embryo... I didn't fully understand these medical terms, but I knew enough to grasp their meaning. The child inside me had sprouted like a seedling and already had a heartbeat. Given time, it would grow day by day. One day, it would come into the world, soft and sweet, calling me "Mom", just as I used to call my mother. As these thoughts filled my mind, my nose began to sting, and my vision blurred with tears. "Dawn..." Dawn stepped forward immediately. "I'm here. I'm right here!" "This decision I've made... It's the right one, isn't it?" I took a deep breath, unsure if I was speaking to her or trying to convince myself. "Cutting ties cleanly... I can't afford to soften now, right?" She pressed her lips together, hesitating for a moment before nodding. "That's right, Grace. You're doing the right thing." It might hurt for a while now, but it was better than being tied to Gavin forever because of this child. I lowered my gaze, my eyes wet with tears. "My child, I'm sorry