I wrenched free, fighting him. "Cornelius! That's a crime!"

He let out a scoff, contempt flickering across his face. "It's an accident. What crime?"

"Even if the cops do show up, the one they'd arrest is you, the ungrateful daughter."

Daisy leaned against the doorframe, scrolling through her phone, a lazy smile on her lips. "Mom asked you to go get it taken care of on your own. You refused. Now look where we are."

I forced myself to take a deep breath. Forced myself to stay calm. I turned to my mother. "Mom, I'll pay for a home nurse. Will that work?"

"A nurse would be more professional, more qualified to—"

She waved me off before I could finish. "A nurse? Those people are all scammers!"

"If you've got money to throw around, why not just give it to me? Your brother still needs gear for his trip."

Something heavy settled on my chest. I couldn't breathe.

It took me a long moment to find my voice again. I stared at her, disbelief written across my face. "Mom. Are you serious?"

She blinked, then stiffened her neck and doubled down. "Don't blame me. I'm going to be living with your brother from now on, so of course I have to look out for him."

"Besides, isn't your husband a doctor? You two can figure out the baby situation on your own. But my surgery is a one-time thing."

I couldn't hold it in anymore. The words tore out of me. "Do you even know that your disease needs my baby?!"

"Without my baby, your disease can't be cured!"

The room went dead silent.

But within seconds, Daisy let out a sharp little laugh. "Mom, she's threatening you."

"She's saying if you don't let her keep the baby, she won't let her husband do your surgery."

"She really knows how to twist your arm, doesn't she."

My mother's whole body shook. She jabbed a trembling finger at my face and screamed, "You! You'd threaten me over some shapeless clump that hasn't even formed yet?!"

"I'll ask you one more time! Are you getting rid of it or not!"

Cornelius still had my arm in a death grip. Behind us, the staircase dropped away, steep and unforgiving.

I thought about it. Actually, wouldn't a hospital be better? Rhys was on shift tonight. He would never let anything happen to me.

So I nodded. "Fine. Let's go to the hospital. As long as you won't regret it."