Chapter 2

Ethan found her by the shattered glass, her face pale.

"Clara? What happened? Are you alright?"

His voice was laced with concern, the same concern he' d shown her for three years.

A practiced lie.

She almost told him then. About the baby. About the life growing inside her, a life he was unknowingly planning to erase from any future.

But the words died, a cold dread gripping her heart.

"Just clumsy," she managed, her voice a hoarse whisper. "Tired."

He helped her up, his touch feeling alien, cold. "You should rest, my love. Big day tomorrow. Seraphina' s official welcome at the company gala."

Seraphina. Already being installed.

The next morning, the news was all over the financial channels. Seraphina Vance, Bishop Consolidated' s new "Chief Innovation Officer," had fumbled spectacularly during her first public address. Stocks were jittery.

An urgent call came for Ethan.

"It's Seraphina," he said, his face tight with worry. "She' s… not handling the pressure. They' re saying she' s having adverse effects."

He rushed out, barely a word for Clara.

Clara knew. This was the pretext. The "adverse effects" were the stage for her own slow dismantling.

He returned late that night, his face a mask of strained compassion.

"Clara, we need to talk."

He sat beside her on the bed, taking her hand. It felt like a trap.

"Seraphina… she' s in a bad way. The pressure is too much for her without… support. Real support."

He talked about his past with Seraphina, the "sacrifices" he made, the debt he felt he owed her.

"She needs this, Clara. To be whole again. To be strong."

"And what about me, Ethan?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Dr. Finch has a way," Ethan said, his eyes avoiding hers. "A way to help Seraphina. It involves… a transfer. Of energy. He says you' re uniquely suited to help."

She pulled her hand away. "No."

His face hardened. "Clara, don' t be difficult. This is important."

"No, Ethan. I won't do it."

His eyes turned to ice. "You will. Or things could become… difficult. For your family."

Her blood ran cold. Her mother, her father, her brother. Respected, stable, but not immune to the reach of Bishop Consolidated.

"My mother… she' s visiting. She arrived this afternoon."

"Yes," Ethan said, a cruel little smile playing on his lips. "She' s resting comfortably in the west wing. Under my care. We wouldn' t want anything to upset her, would we? Her health has been so fragile."

A hostage. Her own mother, a hostage in their home.

Tears welled, but she fought them back.

"What do you want me to do?" she whispered, defeated.