Chapter 3
The moment the helicopter touched down, I saw Delphine standing in the garden.
She wore a soft, flowing dress, her eyes full of fake sympathy as she looked at me.
A two-year-old boy crouched beside her, playing in the sandbox.
My hand shot out, gripping Cassian’s arm. My voice trembled.
“The baby… I found out I was pregnant in my first month on that island.”
I swallowed hard.
“And then one day, I woke up… and he was gone.”
If he had lived, he would’ve been about that boy’s age.
The memory hit me all at once. My knees nearly gave out as tears streamed down my
For the first six months after losing him, I had been nothing but a walking corpse.
Cassian let out a quiet sigh, his tone calm, almost indifferent.
“At the time, Noah-mine and Delphine’s son-was diagnosed with leukemia.”
He paused, like it was nothing.
“We had no choice. We had to take your baby… to extract cord blood.”
Rage exploded through me.
I stared at him, searching his face, hoping for something-anything.
There was nothing there. Only cold, terrifying calm.
“Cassian,” I said hoarsely. “That was your child too.”
face.
Delphine hurried forward and buried herself in his arms, clinging to him like she needed
protection.
“Don’t worry, Aurelia,” she said sweetly. “Once I win my award, I’ll take you to visit his grave.”
She tilted her chin at me, smiling.
Chapter 3
33.33%
And if you help me win Best Director next time… I’ll have Cassian give you another baby.”
My parents took her hands, their faces full of affection.
“Delphine, you’re too kind,” my mother cooed. “Cassian was always meant to be yours anyway.”
My father nodded, satisfied.
“Now that Aurelia’s back, we should finalize the divorce.”
Cassian looked at me, at my bloodshot eyes, then pulled out the papers.
“We both know you love me too much to leave,” he said quietly.
“Delphine told me… if you’re willing to be my mistress, she’s fine with you staying.”
Nausea surged up my throat.
I snatched the papers from his hand and signed them without hesitation.
“No need,” I said flatly. “Just give me my child’s ashes. I’m taking him with me.”
Cassian’s brows tightened slightly, irritation flashing in his eyes.
Evander shoved me forward.
“Stop wasting time. Go get ready.”
“We still have shooting to do. Don’t hold Delphine back.”
His voice dropped, cold and threatening.
“If you mess up her award, you’ll regret it.”
They pushed me into the place I once called home.
Three years ago, I had already been erased from it.
My bedroom was gone-turned into Delphine’s walk-in closet.
And the tree outside, the one I used to cling to when I was sick, the one I called my safe place-
Gone.
Cut down because Delphine said it gave her nightmares.
32-334
I sat in front of the vanity mirror for an hour.
No one came.
Then the door burst open.
A group of security guards stormed in, not even bothering to ask questions before they started
hitting me.
“Who the hell let her in?”
“Look at what she’s wearing-did she just wander in off the street?”
Fists slammed into my body, one after another, until blood filled my mouth.
By the time they dragged me out like a corpse, my parents finally noticed.
“Stop! Who told you to lay hands on her?”
“And look at her-she’s bleeding!”
I lifted my head slowly, something fragile rising in my chest.
Hope.
Maybe
“Her face is swollen!” my mother snapped.
“How is she supposed to stand next to Delphine at the awards like this?”
My father’s voice followed, sharp and annoyed.
“What do you expect the media to say? Do you want Delphine embarrassed?”
33.33%
