

Born From Bone Marrow, Bound By Love
Yvonne, the illegitimate daughter of the Yates family, was forced to break up with her boyfriend and bear a child with Trevor, her sister Scarlett's fiancé, in order to provide a bone marrow transplant for Scarlett, who was suffering from leukemia. Under intense pressure from her family, Yvonne complied with the arrangement. Though her relationship with Trevor was cold and distant at first, feelings slowly grew bet……The ultrasound wand glides over my bare stomach, cold and clinical, but all I can feel is the weight of Trevor’s eyes on me. He’s not supposed to be here—this is my appointment, my body, my burden—but Eleanor insisted he witness the ‘progress.’
The technician smiles. ‘Strong heartbeat. And… look here—twins.’
My breath catches. Two lives. Two reasons they’ll never let me leave.
Trevor reaches out, hesitates, then gently takes my hand. His touch sends a jolt through me, unwanted and undeniable. ‘You’re doing amazing,’ he whispers.
I want to scream. I want to cry. I want to kiss him.
On the screen, two tiny forms pulse with life. One of them might save Scarlett. The other? No one’s talking about the other.
The doctor asks if I want to know the genders.
I open my mouth—but Trevor squeezes my hand.
‘Wait,’ he says. ‘Let’s decide together.’
Together.
As if we’re a real couple. As if any of this is consensual.
I have to choose now: pull away and assert what little control I have left, demand answers about the second baby, or pretend this fragile illusion is enough.
