Chapter 17

Chloe felt like she'd run out of strength. She wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes, then clumsily pushed herself off the bed, barely steady on her feet. Her body drenched in cold sweat, she finally found it—tucked away in a filthy, icy trash bin. That tiny bundle, loosely wrapped in a medical plastic bag. She barely glanced at it before her breath caught in her throat, and she broke down, sobbing like she couldn't breathe. He had been taken from this world so cruelly. Not even a cloth to cover his body. Just dumped into a cheap plastic bag, thrown away like nothing… She hugged the bag close, her voice shaking as tears choked every word. "Baby, I'm sorry… Mommy failed you, Mommy didn't protect you." Hank—I'll never forgive you for this. Not in this lifetime! Outside the hospital room, Hank walked ahead with big strides, not once looking back. He didn't care if Irene could keep up. "Slow down, Hank!" Irene jogged after him, calling out. Only then did he seem to snap out of it