But my brother wasn't born disabled. He'd fallen and hit his head as a child. His reactions were a little slow—that was all. It wasn't genetic.
A sharp, twisting pain spread through my chest, like a blade lodged sideways between my ribs.
Around me, my former classmates chattered on without restraint.
"Congratulations! Push out the old hag and you'll be the real lady of the house."
"Your benefactor's ruthless, though. Taking care of a 'problem' before it even became one? That was his own flesh and blood."
"Honestly, I wouldn't let the first wife have kids either. What if the baby really was defective? Can't abandon it, can't raise it—nightmare. He made the smart call."
"Exactly. Everyone wants a healthy, beautiful child. With Fiona's genes? If I were him, I'd want her to be the mother too."
Fiona basked in the flattery, her posture growing more regal by the minute, like a woman already crowned.
The door opened. A server approached Fiona with exaggerated courtesy.
"Ms. Lawson, Mr. Rivera has already covered the bill for this table. He also asked me to deliver this jade bracelet to you."
The moment I saw it, my pupils contracted sharply.
My entire body went rigid.