At dawn, Sophia Laurent lay on the hospital bed as the stem cell collection began.

The nurse inserted a needle into the vein of her left arm. Crimson blood flowed through the transparent tube into the apheresis machine. The device hummed softly, separating the precious stem cells drop by drop.

The entire process lasted five grueling hours.

When the blood was returned through her right arm, a tingling numbness spread from her fingertips to her shoulders. Her lips felt wooden, her scalp tight. The nurse periodically handed her calcium tablets to dissolve under her tongue.

The ache in her lower back was worse than the day before.

She lay stiff as a marionette, even needing Ethan Sullivan to scratch an itch for her.

His slender fingers brushed lightly over her itchy neck, the tenderness making her heart tremble.

Years later, recalling this moment would still bring warmth to Sophia's eyes.

Some bonds grow more precious in times of adversity.

Vincent Grandelle's surgery was a success.

Outside the sterile isolation room, Sophia peered through the glass at the elderly man's peaceful sleeping face. Her lips curved into an unconscious smile.

Then tears spilled over.

Her hand drifted to her flat abdomen. An invisible fist seemed to squeeze her heart.

Back in her room, she buried her face against Ethan's shoulder, choking out endless apologies.

He wiped her tears with his thumb. "You did the right thing. Compared to Isabella, you're a hundred times braver."

His voice was steady, but his chest ached with suppressed pain.

At the end of the hallway, Vincent Laurent leaned against a window.

A cigarette glowed between his fingers—his first in years.

Watching sycamore leaves drift outside, he thought of his daughter's pallid face. His Adam's apple bobbed violently.

Three days later, police found Isabella Valentine in a remote mountain village.

She crouched in a crumbling shack, reeking of sour sweat. When escorted back to the city, she resembled a famine refugee.

Alexander Valentine broke one of her ribs on the spot.

Ethan contacted Detective Kevin North directly.

Malicious withdrawal from a life-saving donation constituted attempted murder—a charge that would give her ample time to reflect in detention.

The abortion was scheduled for a week later.

The early spring wind cut deeper than midwinter's chill.

Sophia hugged her down coat tighter, her fingertips still turning blue. Yet if given the choice again, she would still save that kind old man.

In her memories, Vincent Grandelle loved dragging her to Theodore Valentine's shop to show off.

He had poured his life's knowledge into her, yet stubbornly refused her tuition payments.

The phrase "kindred spirits" now felt like daggers to her heart.

The fluorescent lights in the ultrasound room made her dizzy.

When the doctor pointed to the report and said, "No gestational sac visible in the uterine cavity," Sophia froze.

"That's impossible!"

The female doctor adjusted her glasses. "Urine tests are inherently less accurate than blood tests. Severe stress can also cause false pregnancy symptoms."

Clutching the report, Sophia rushed out and nearly collided with Ethan in the hallway.

"I'm not pregnant!" Her voice shook with uncertain emotion.

Surprise flickered in his eyes before his brow smoothed. "With everything that's happened since New Year's, your stress levels have been extreme."

They bought three pregnancy tests from a pharmacy.

In a café restroom, Sophia stared at the third single line and finally laughed aloud.

With the storm clouds lifted, she skipped to the car arm-in-arm with Ethan, like a child who'd escaped punishment.

The CEO's office door burst open.

Theodore Valentine's temple veins bulged. "Ethan Sullivan, how dare you keep Isabella detained?"

Ethan hurled a crystal ashtray at him.

With a crash, blood snaked down Theodore's temple.

"Get out." Ethan's voice was ice-cold.

Theodore shot Sophia a venomous glare before leaving—a look that reminded her how this man had abandoned her and her mother over twenty years ago.

"Tomorrow I'll take you to see Mom." Ethan smoothed her furrowed brow.

Sophia rested her head against his shoulder, her heart pounding like thunder.