Under The Seeing Moon

I couldn't help but smile the moment I took the $50 million check.

Finally, I was free.

Julian’s assistant completely misread the look on my face. Pity dripped from his eyes.

"Ms. Clara," he said, keeping his voice carefully neutral. "Mr. Brock told me he and Ms. Vivienne Cross are being discharged tonight. He expects you to be out of the penthouse before they arrive."

I folded the check and tucked it deep into the inner pocket of my purse.

"Understood," I said smoothly. "Wish him and Ms. Cross a happy ever after for me."

Now that his precious true love was back, it was time for the cheap knockoff to step off the stage.

Completely fair.

I hailed a cab straight to the best private hospital in the city.

I had spent three long years as Clara Reed, the body double for Julian's lost love.

If he hadn't paid so ridiculously well, no one in their right mind would have put up with that lunatic.

This baby didn't belong in the picture anyway.

Ending the pregnancy was the cleanest break possible.

With $50 million in my account, I could live like a queen anywhere in the world.

Why waste my life tied to Julian, or play the third wheel in his tragic, epic romance with Vivienne?

I checked in, paid the fee and waited in line.

Sitting on a plastic chair in the corridor, I stared at the screen as the numbers cycled through.

"Number 37. Clara. Please report to Operating Room 3."

The synthesized voice echoed through the quiet hallway.

I stood up and walked toward the heavy double doors.

Just as my hand touched the brass handle, translucent text flickered across my vision.

[Oh no, no, no! Those are literally the only two kids Julian will ever father!]

I froze.

What?

The floating words kept rolling.

[Blame that hack doctor! How do you mess up a routine kidney transplant? Julian donated a kidney to save Vivienne, but the surgeon accidentally rendered him completely sterile!]

[These two babies will inherit his multi-trillion-dollar empire! Is she insane? Why is she getting an abortion?]

[Don't judge her, she has no idea! But honestly, I've re-read this chapter ten times and I want to jump into the screen and shake Clara until she snaps out of it!]

[Same! Twins! A boy and a girl! With their parents' genes, those kids are going to be stunning. What a waste.]

My hand slipped off the door handle. My mind raced into overdrive.

Julian... was sterile?

I wasn't just pregnant with twins, I was carrying his only heirs?

And those two kids were set to inherit a multi-trillion-dollar fortune?

"Ms.?"

The nurse’s voice snapped me back to reality. I turned around and offered her a bright smile.

"Sorry," I said. "I'm canceling the procedure."

Without missing a beat, I turned on my heel and headed straight to Obstetrics.

While I lay on the exam bed waiting for the ultrasound, the floating text kept drifting across my eyes.

Some users were debating the plot, some were calling me dumb, and others were dropping wild spoilers.

They said the lead surgeon made a suspicious "mistake" during Julian's surgery.

They said that same surgeon owed $80 million to a Macao casino last year, but three days after the surgery, his entire debt was magically paid off by a mysterious donor.

I was so absorbed in reading the drama that I barely noticed the doctor turning the screen toward me with a smile.