The old woman’s words hit Anna like a physical blow.

A sharp, searing ache shot through her chest, so intense it stole her breath.

Her vision wavered, and everything around her blurred.

She froze, her heartbeat pounding so hard it felt impossible to steady. She tried to make sense of the words, but her mind refused to accept them.

Shaking her head, she stared at the old woman, and a strangled, choked laugh escaped her lips.

“No,” Anna whispered, the word escaping as a desperate puff ...