Chapter 9

In just over a month, everything in Jedo had turned upside down. The once-untouchable Eight Families fell one after another. The newspapers were filled with shocking headlines every day. The young heirs who once shouted at Grace were now either groaning in hospital beds or shipped off overnight to asylums abroad. Grace was about to give birth. Right before she was pushed into the delivery room, she clutched my hand tightly and refused to let go. I had no choice but to change into scrubs and go in with her. When that weak and faint cry rang out, I froze and didn't dare to reach out and hold the baby. He was so tiny, red, and wrinkled, like a hairless little monkey. When he brushed against my finger and tried to suckle on it with his damp little mouth, something warm sparked in my chest. "He's so ugly," I said, turning my face away but holding him a little tighter. I took the baby to the hospital ward and waited for Grace. Behind me came the familiar scent of cedar. Gareth wra