Chapter 3
On moving day, I was stuffing the last few old sweaters into a cardboard box when Isabella pushed open the door without knocking.
Her gaze swept over the bedroom I’d lived in for three years, equal parts disdain and triumph mingled in her eyes. “Still keeping these ratty things, Evelyn?”
Suddenly, her attention snapped to the photo frame on the desk-the only picture of Frederick and me together. Without hesitation, she snatched it up and tossed it into the trash bin.
“What are you doing?” I lunged forward, anger surged, a thousand needles stabbing through my skull.
“Taking out the garbage.” She stepped closer, voice threaded with a twisted thrill.
“Forgot to mention,I’m pregnant with Frederick’s child. The last trace of the Sterling line. As for you, the ‘rightful wife’ who’s been nothing but a placeholder… it’s time you disappeared.”
Rage ignited.I shoved her back hard, but darkness swam across my vision before I could retort.
My legs buckled,my body plunged down.
Just then, the door swung open. Frederick stepped in and froze at the sight of me, deathly pále and collapsing.
In that split second, he rushed forward and caught me. “Evelyn,what’s wrong?”
His fingers brushed my sweat-drenched forehead, his usually cold tone fraying with alarm.
“You’re burning up. Are you sick?”
At the same instant,Isabella cried out sharply, slumping against the wall.
“Ah-blood! Frederick, help me… the baby-”
Frederick stiffened, whipping around. Isabella clutched her stomach, a vivid red stain spreading rapidly across her light dress. Her face blanched as she wailed, “Evelyn pushed me! I only came to comfort her…”
Frederick’s pupils contracted. All concern for me vanished. He released me abruptly,my weakened body crashed into the cabinet corner with a heavy thud.
Agony exploded from the back of my skull. I curled on the floor, unable to form a single word of defense.
Frederick scooped Isabella into his arms. At the doorway, he shot me a look of pure revulsion.
“Evelyn, even your jealousy has limits! That child is Arthur’s only remaining bloodline. If anything happens to it, I’ll make you pay with your life.”
Arthur Caldwell,his friend, gone forever.
I tried to speak, but the world tilted, syllables lost in the fog.
Chapter 3
33.33%
The door slammed shut, taking the last warmth from the room.
Face pressed to the cold floor, I felt warmth trickle from the back of my head.
2 a.m., the rental apartment.
I lay on the living room floor, skin scorching, vision nearly black. In the haze of delirium, weakness won-l dialed Frederick’s number.
It rang endlessly before he answered.
“Evelyn. How dare you call?” His voice was glacial, laced with hatred. “Isabella lost the baby. It’s gone. Happy
now?”
My lips parted, a whisper escaping. “Frederick… it hurts…”
“Hurts?” A short, cruel laugh crackled down the line. “Spare me the pathetic sick act. A viper like you,even if you died right in front of me, I wouldn’t bat an eye.”
The call cut off.
Listening to the dead tone, the last warm place in my chest went cold.
How humiliating, Evelyn.
Frederick, you got your wish.
I’ll never disgust you again.
