Charlotte's mind was in turmoil as she tried to comprehend the shocking revelations that had been thrust upon her. The betrayal and cruelty of Benjamin, the man she had once loved, left her feeling utterly helpless and alone. Her family, her child, her very life—all taken away from her in one fell swoop. As the weight of the truth settled upon her, Charlotte felt a strange mixture of grief, anger, and determination stirring within her. She knew she had to survive, not only for herself but for the innocent child now in her care. The child that Lucia had entrusted to her, the child who would forever connect them in a web of secrecy and shared pain Charlotte looked down at the newborn in her arms, whose cries echoed through the room. He was a small, fragile being, completely dependent on her
