Summary

Serafine calls in Chapter 16, but finds that Ismae and Wasik’s number has been disconnected. She calls Thema, their cousin, to ask about Ismae. Although Thema knows what happened to Abeo and was considering calling Serafine to tell her, she decides against it, remembering that her husband warned her it was none of her business. Thema saw pregnant Ismae in a department store, looking at expensive clothing, and when she asked about Abeo Ismae ignored her question.

Chapter 17 reveals Abeo’s true origin: She is the daughter of Serafine and her math teacher, Clark Forester. Serafine was sent to live with an aunt and uncle in Texas because her intelligence was noticed, but she soon fell in love with her math teacher. Forester’s advances were blatant and he took her to seedy hotel room where he seduced her. When Serafine got pregnant...