Chapter 22 – Ella’s Nightmares

Ella

“Wait, what!” I exclaim, not believing my own ears. “You got your job back?”

“It sounds like somebody very important called in some favors for me.” My sister confirms. “They even gave me a raise to compensate for my troubles.”

She doesn’t need to say more. There’s only one person with enough power to undo a command issued by Dominic Sinclair – and that’s Dominic Sinclair himself. “I can’t believe this. Why didn’t he tell me?”

“You mean you didn’t ask?” I can imagine the precise look on Cora’s face. Stunned and reeling at once.

“I mean, not after that first time.” I relate, wondering if I should have tried harder to help her. Did I misperceive my importance to Sinclair, or the power I hold now that I’m carrying his child?

“Well apparently that’s all it took.” She relates, her voice full of elation. “Thank you, Ella.”

“Don’t thank me,” I object. “I’m the one who got us into this situation to begin with.” I remind her ruefully.

“Of course you didn’t.” She refutes. “Listen, I don’t know how it happened, but either I made a mistake or…”

“Or what?” I press.

“Or someone did this on purpose.” She sounds uncertain now, as if she can’t fathom the motive for such an act. I find myself equally confused.

“Why would they?” I fret, not wanting to believe my sister messed up so badly, but not seeing any logic in the alternative.

You get your baby, I get my career… the only thing we

to solve before he fled halfway across the country.” I share. “I’m not

Sinclair’s help.” Cora suggests, a note of teasing in her voice – the same one children use on the

sidle back towards the entrance, lowering my voice to a whisper. “If I start to seem like too much trouble he might change his mind about letting me have visitation rights with the baby. It’s honestly driving me crazy – I’ve got to censor every single word that comes out of my

you were an

weak or fragile, too annoying to put up with. It’s exhausting.” I drag my hand through my hair. “I end up over-analyzing everything I do with him. I shouldn’t have cried, I was too sassy, too timid, too bold. It’s like walking an emotional tightrope. And the worst part is that he can read me so dam ned well that even when I try to hide what I’m feeling, he still works

sweetie.”

get my bearings. Once I figure Sinclair out I’ll understand what I need to do to

pause on the other end of

knowing she wants

I hear you talk that way.” Cora admits. “It’s like you’re still in survival mode – ‘keeping

if I do perfectly is visitation rights after Sinclair finds his mate, and even that could mean anything from every weekend to once a year. I don’t want to risk landing with the latter or bungling the

drop. “How are you otherwise?

all morning in the bathroom… but I’ve never been happier

happier for you to feel miserable either.”

presence known, the

gotta run. Sinclair brought me to meet his father.” I confess. “It

________________

his family with genuine warmth. I could see the shadow of a powerful leader in his stoic demeanor, but also the humility of a man whose

spent the rest of the day napping and reading my pregnancy books. I can’t believe how tired I’ve been, or how hungry. I expected the changes, I just didn’t think they’d happen so fast. Of course after so much rest, I couldn’t sleep when night finally fell. It took me ages to finally drift off,

parents. In my dreams I’m always running away from someone, trying to protect Cora and my other surrogate siblings. The dreams have gotten worse since I

me back to one of the worst days of my life. The sounds of my own screams and pleading tears fill my head, as dreadful images

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255