Page 23 of Mercy Lake

I saw it coming, but didn’t do anything to prevent it. Barry’s solid fist launched towards my face and made direct contact. That pain was nothing compared to what was happening inside my chest.

I had losteverything. First, my wife, and now my unborn child, who wasn’t even mine to begin with.

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t fucking breathe.

I barely processed a team of medical staff surrounding me, sporting concerned expressions before everything went black.

What was the point?

Shatter.

Chapter 13

OWEN

Over four years later…

I walked the familiar hospital corridors, aiming for my office when a toddler barrelled around the corner at high speed, directly hitting my legs.

“Sorry,” the young fella rushed. He was distracted, constantly peeping over his shoulder as if someone was chasing him. There was no one nearby that I could determine.

I crouched in front of him, and as I reached his level, I was immediately arrested by his vibrant grey eyes—which were crinkled in amusement.

“You know, there’s a rule that you’re not supposed to run in the hallways,” I admonished, ruffling his silky black hair. “You could get hurt.”

“I know. That’s how I got this,” he said before thrusting up his leg for me to inspect, a healing graze tracking down his shin. If anything, he looked proud.

I smirked. “What’s your name?”

“Austin, and I’m three years old.” He finished by raising four fingers to reiterate his age.

“Well, Austin, do you know where your parents are?”

Austin pressed a finger to his lips to shush me. “I’m playing hide and seek. You know a place?”

My lips tried stretching into a grin.Nope, don’t laugh.“Austin… Does your motherknowyou’re playing hide and seek?”

His brow furrowed, thinking hard when a worried voice carried from afar. “Austin, where are you? Austin?!”

The young boy turned and sprinted towards the strained call that sounded almost familiar. Then Austin tackled someone who rounded the corner. She immediately dropped to pick him up, attention solely focused on him—whilst mine was focused onher.

My chest abruptly tightened, causing my nervous system to spasm from shock. Struck frozen as a statue, I couldn't move, even if I tried.

Alexis.God, she was beautiful.

Over the years, I had fawned over her memory, coveted every detail of the past life we shared. She was my favourite dream—one I simultaneously adored and loathed. Because of her, I could never move on—wouldnever move on.

Even then. Seeing her in the flesh for the first time in four and a half years had me losing all my faculties, all my damn senses.

Alexis is here.That’s when stark realisation whipped me across the face. After being in her presence again, I knew nothing would ever compare to therealher.

Awareness slowly filtered back into my arrested state as Austin giggled.

“You found me, Mama! I didn’t get to hide yet.”

Mama?

“Austin, I told you, you can’t run off like that. You can’t play hide and seek without the other person knowing. It’s dangerous, baby. What if you got lost? What if someone stole you?”

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