She loathed her own greed for Mitchel's Love.

Had she left sooner, perhaps her unborn baby would've been spared.

But it was too late.

At this moment, a delicate, pale hand hovered over Raegan's ward's doorknob.

Mitchel's fingers quivered.

The anguished cries from inside the ward were like daggers to his heart, robbing him of the courage to enter.

Mitchel turned away, his back against the wall, struggling for breath.

Much later, when he finally mustered the courage to enter, Raegan was feigning asleep, tended to by a nurse.

Mitchel gestured for the nurse to leave, his eyes fixed on Raegan's profile.

Raegan's cheekbones were more pronounced, her frame fragile under the covers.

Mitchel extended a hand to touch her hair, but Raegan stirred and avoided his touch.

She had been awake, unable to drift into slumber.

She yearned for sleep, for dreams where her baby was with her.

But she never dreamed of her baby again.

She only pretended to be asleep to give the tired nurse a break.

She sensed Mitchel's entrance, his scent unmistakable.

Choosing to remain silent, she kept up the pretense until his touch broke her resolve.

In a raspy voice, Mitchel said her name, “Raegan..."

“Get out," Raegan replied, her voice devoid of emotion, unwilling to waste another word on him.

Mitchel felt a pang in his heart.