Chapter 8

In the prison hospital, Luna lay on the delivery bed, writhing in waves of pain that felt like steel spikes being driven from her head to her toes. Every contraction felt like her bones were shattering, and it was no exaggeration.

The pain was so intense, it broke through layers of buried memories, forcing them to resurface one by one.

Worried about the baby’s health and afraid of calcium deficiency, she had eaten everything she could, even chewing and swallowing crushed bones. This baby was so difficult to deliver, she felt like it might take her life.

The agony was unbearable, and she wished for death.

Luna’s breathing grew weaker.

A doctor shouted, "Do something! She’s about to pass out! If she loses consciousness, it could be fatal!"

The sharp smell of disinfectant and the distant voices of the doctors reached Luna’s ears. "It’s twins. A boy and a girl."

"The boy is too weak, but the girl is a bit stronger."

"Take the girl. Leave the boy with her. He won’t make it anyway. Make sure to hypnotize her, tell her she only had one child."

It was Stella’s voice!

Luna’s eyes snapped open.

The doctors were stunned. "This patient has incredible willpower. Just a moment ago, it looked like she wouldn’t make it, but she’s hanging on."

"A mother will always fight through hell for her child."

*

The day Luna was released from prison, it poured rain.

She didn’t let Bailey pick her up, worried that Felix might trace things back to him.

At Riverview Villa, Luna stood outside the iron gates. She knew Felix had probably moved Stella in by now.

In the garden, a five-year-old girl chased butterflies. Luna’s eyes reddened as she watched.

Stella hadn’t spared Orion, taking his life. How could Stella’s daughter, Lily, be allowed a happy ending?

"Lily," Luna called softly.

Lily saw her and cautiously ran over. "Aunt Luna."

Hearing Lily’s soft voice, Luna’s tears flowed. Lily still remembered her.

"Aunt Luna, why are you crying?"

"I got some dust in my eyes. Can you blow it out for me, Lily?"

"Sure!"

"It’s hard to do through the gate. Can you come out and help me?"

"Okay, Aunt Luna, wait for me."

Lily opened the gate and stepped outside. Luna scooped her up, kissing her repeatedly. "Lily, you’re such a good girl. How about we go get some treats?"

"Okay, thank you, Aunt Luna."

When Felix returned to Riverview Villa and realized Lily was missing, his anger flared like wildfire. He was ready to tear the place apart.

"There are so many of you, and not one of you can keep an eye on a child? You’re all useless! You might as well be dead!" Felix stormed into the surveillance room.

He saw on the screen that Lily had been talking to someone just outside the gate, in a blind spot, before opening the gate and walking out.

It was obvious that whoever took Lily was someone she knew, and they knew the surveillance system well enough to avoid the cameras.

Felix’s mind was in turmoil. He called the police, desperate for them to check the road cameras.

Lily was such a sweet little girl. The thought of her being kidnapped and sold made Felix’s blood run cold. His mind filled with horrific images of what could happen to her.

His stomach churned with anxiety, as if it were bleeding from the stress.

But even after the police reviewed the footage, no suspicious cars or people had been spotted near Riverview Villa.

"There’s a possibility," an officer said, "that the person knew the area well and avoided all the cameras. They probably came down the mountain road."

Felix suddenly relaxed, as if everything had clicked into place. He spoke calmly, "Luna’s out of prison."

All his tension faded. "I’ll wait for her to come and make her demands."

He figured she would ask for money, maybe even a divorce. He was sure Luna would contact him to negotiate.

But 12 hours passed, and there was no call from Luna. Instead, the police called, asking him to come in for a DNA test.

"A fire broke out in an old cabin on the outskirts of town. Inside, we found the remains of a woman and a five-year-old girl. They were burned to ashes. We’ll need DNA testing to confirm their identities. There was also a letter in a metal box, written by Luna."