Quinn''s body stiffened, a flush of heat rising to her cheeks as she purposefully averted her gaze from his. With a gentle strength, he lifted her, carrying her into the bathroom and gently cing her in the tub.


    Her fingers twitched anxiously, fiddling in a nervous dance. She was reluctant toply due to the difort gnawing at her abdomen. Yet, she knew she had no right to refuse.


    The warm water cascaded over her head, soaking her instantly. His actions were indeed to help her bathe, yet his intentions seemed to extend beyond the act itself.Quinn endured the difort, and by the end, she couldn''t recall how she''d fallen into a deep slumber.


    In her hazy state, she thought she heard him whisper something close to her ear.


    She wasn''t certain, but it sounded like "Let''s have a baby."


    With half-closed eyes, she stared at his blurred face hovering above her. Then, she lost all strength and sumbed to the encroaching darkness. ''He would never say something like that. I must be too exhausted and beginning to hear things.'' When she awoke again, daylight filled the room. She nced at her cell phone and realized it was already ten o''clock in the morning.


    A dull ache throbbed in her lower abdomen. Biting back the difort, she changed her clothes and popped some pain relievers without much thought.


    After freshening up in the bathroom, she was ready to head out for work. In the kitchen, Juliet was already prepping lunch. Quinn was about to tell her not to bother when suddenly, the doorbell rang.


    She answered the door to find a man and a woman standing outside, both around theirte forties or early fifties. They were bundled in down jackets, smiles adorning their faces.


    "Are you Quinn?" the man asked with a chuckle. "I''m Ariel. I''m looking for my mom. She''s here, isn''t she?"


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    Quinn furrowed her brow, unfamiliar with the name. She didn''t know who the man''s mother was. With a wave of her hand, she gestured, "I don''t know who you''re looking for." The man seemed surprised by her signnguage. ''Quinn is a mute? Or is she simply a housekeeper here?'' he wondered.


    That was when Juliet emerged, "Quinn, I thought I heard someone" Her words cut off as the spat she was holding ttered to the floor with a sharp noise. Turning, Quinn saw Juliet standing rigid and pale, her whole body shaking uncontrobly.


    Ariel strode past Quinn, making a beeline for her. "Mom, there you are! We''ve been looking all over for you."N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


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    It wasn''t just fear in Juliet''s eyes but also anger, her chest heaving wildly. "What are you doing here? Get out!" Juliet, picking up the fallen spat, started to shoo them away. The man calmly caught the spat. "Mom, what''s this about? We finally find you, and you want to throw us out? I''m your son!"


    "I have no son like you! Get out! I''ve suffered enough. Can''t you just let me be?!" Juliet protested.


    "Hey, I came because I need to talk to you," the man insisted, now gripping the spat more forcefully.


    "I can''t help you! Get out. This is someone else''s home. You can''t just barge in as you please!"