Chapter 1
Sophia Langford was eight months pregnant when her mother-in-law forced her to her knees beside the dog bowl.
Beatrice gripped the back of Sophia’s hair and shoved her face toward the cold leftovers.
Once.
Then again.
Then a third time.
“Eat what you wasted.”
Sophia braced one hand against the floor while the other protected her belly.
She was sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I just had a baby. I can’t eat the dog’s leftovers.”
Then Sophia made one mistake.
She looked toward the laundry room.
Beatrice noticed immediately.
Her expression changed.
Before she could say anything, the front door opened.
Adam stepped inside.
He froze.
His pregnant wife was kneeling beside a dog bowl, crying uncontrollably.
And his own mother still had one hand tangled in Sophia’s hair.
“Sophia?”
Beatrice released her instantly.
The cruelty disappeared from her face.
She went pale.
Adam rushed across the kitchen and crouched beside his wife, putting himself between her and Beatrice.
“What happened?”
Sophia didn’t answer him directly.
She pointed.
Straight toward the laundry room.
Adam turned.
The washing machine was already shaking violently.
Rattling against the floor.
Sophia’s voice broke through her tears.
“Please get Noah out of there!”
Adam stared at her.
May you like
“He was just born!”
Everything changed.
