Chapter 8
The next year was the happiest of our lives.
Evelyn was in prison.
She couldn't hurt us.
We were free.
We focused on our marriage.
On our home.
On building our future.
And then...
I got pregnant.
We were overjoyed.
Mark cried when I told him.
He held me tight.
He talked to my stomach.
He told our baby how much he already loved him or her.
It was perfect.
My pregnancy was easy.
I was healthy. The baby was healthy.
We decorated the nursery.
We picked out names.
We told our friends and family.
Everyone was thrilled.
Well, almost everyone.
We didn't tell Evelyn.
She was still in prison.
And we didn't want her to have anything to do with our baby.
We didn't want her to poison our child's life.
Not like she had poisoned ours.
Our son was born on a beautiful spring day.
Seven pounds, eight ounces.
Perfect.
We named him Daniel.
After Mark's grandfather.
He was beautiful.
Ten fingers. Ten toes.
A head full of dark hair.
Mark held him for the first time.
And he cried.
"He's perfect," he whispered. "Our son is perfect."
I agreed.
He was perfect.
Our little family was complete.
We brought Daniel home a few days later.
Our house felt full.
Full of love. Full of joy. Full of hope.
For the first time in a long time, I felt completely at peace.
I felt safe.
I felt loved.
I felt like everything was going to be okay.
But then...
A letter arrived.
No return address.
But I recognized the handwriting immediately.
Evelyn's.
I opened it with shaking hands.
*Congratulations on the birth of my grandson. I know you didn't tell me. I know you're trying to keep him from me. But you can't. He's my flesh and blood. And I'll be out soon. And when I get out, I'm going to see him. I'm going to be part of his life. No matter what you do. No matter what you say. He's my grandson. And you can't keep him from me forever.*
I dropped the letter.
My blood ran cold.
She knew.
She knew about Daniel.
And she was planning to come for him.
Mark found me a few minutes later.
Pale. Shaking.
Staring at the letter on the floor.
He picked it up.
He read it.
His face hardened.
"She's not going to get near him," he said. "Never. I'll die before I let her hurt our son."
He held me tight.
But I couldn't stop shaking.
Because I knew Evelyn.
And I knew she would keep her promise.
She would be back.
May you like
And she would do everything in her power to get to our son.
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