The silence in the hospital room was deafening.

The rhythmic, steady beep-beep-beep of her father’s heart monitor was the only sound cutting through the frozen air. Aurora felt the blood drain from her face, her body locking up in sheer, icy terror. Her hands, still holding the twins' fingers, gripped them so tightly that Leo let out a soft, confused whimper.

"Mommy?" Leo whispered, his little voice echoing in the quiet room.

The word seemed to shatter the spell holding Adrian in place.

Adrian’s gaze, which had been desperately drinking in the sight of Aurora’s face, snapped down to the two boys. His breath hitched, a sharp, ragged sound tearing...