Page 51 of Shattered Cradle (Makarova Bratva Duet)

“Sweetheart, don’t worry,” her mom says, smoothing her hair back. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

Olivia was right—her family is pushing her towards this. Even her own mother. If they show a united front, if they show that they’re all on the same page, they think they can manipulate Olivia into believing they know what’s best for her.

But I can see the newfound determination in her eyes.

Olivia is not going to just let them extinguish our child.

More importantly, neither am I.

“How will I ever be okay if you make me do this? Mom, this is an abortion. You don’t even believe in them.”

“I do in cases of rape, honey.”

“I did not get raped!” Olivia practically screams.

“You were with him so long. It’s natural that you grew… sympathetic. It doesn’t change the sin of what he did to you.”

“Not you, too,” Olivia whimpers. “Mom, I’m not a child and I’m not so naïve that I can be brainwashed. I don’t want to do this.”

“Your brother and sister think—”

“Fuck them,” she says, shoving back the white sheets thrown over her legs. “Fuck them both.”

“Olivia!”

“I mean it, Mom. If they make me do this, I will never forgive them. And I’ll never forgive you, either.”

I can’t see her mother’s face, but I notice the way her shoulders sag. Defeat. It’s written all over the woman.

“Honey—”

“Olivia.” The sister’s voice slices through the air. She strides into the room, all confidence and control.

I can see her face in profile from my vantage point. Her expression is grim, determined. “The doctor will have the room ready in a few minutes,” she says. “They’ll apply anesthesia and—”

“Mia, look at me,” Olivia interjects. This time, her voice doesn’t shake. “What are you doing to me?”

“I’m trying to protect you, honey,” she says. “You can’t have this baby. You cannot have his child.”

“I don’t believe he’s guilty.”

“That’s just the lie you’re telling yourself because you don’t want to believe he did it,” Mia scoffs. Her tone is convincing. Of course it is—she believes every filthy lie she’s spewing. “Donnie is going to blow this case wide open. It’s bad enough that you’re legally married to that monster, but at least a marriage can be covered up. We won’t be able to hide a baby. And trust me, love, you don’t want the publicity.”

“Fuck you,” Olivia hisses, and I feel pride surging up inside me. “Fuck you for thinking you know better than I do.”

Mia flinches but stiffens and smooths her face back out into iron. “In this case, I do.”

“Where’s Rob?”

“He’s out in the hallway talking to Donnie.”

“You brought Donnie?!”

“He’s a benefactor to this hospital, Liv. He cleared out the entire floor so that you would have privacy while—”

“While my own family ruins my life.”

“We’re trying to save you, Olivia,” Mia repeats with mounting frustration. “I just never suspected you were in so deep with him.”

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