Chapter 2

2.

"Dr. Sterling, tell me the truth. Has my baby been dead for a long time?"

I was surprised by how calm I sounded. Perhaps my heart had already turned to stone.

Dr. Sterling pushed his glasses up his nose, his eyes darting away from mine. Finally, he let out a long, heavy sigh.

"Mrs. Lockwood, I shouldn't tell you this without your husband's consent, but... the fetus stopped showing signs of life two months ago."

He couldn't even finish the sentence.

Alistair knew. He knew I was carrying a lifeless body inside me for eight weeks. He wanted the toxins to break me down so I'd be desperate enough to accept any child he offered.

"Dr. Sterling, I need you to do something for me," I said, my voice steady. "After the surgery, tell him I died on the table."

The doctor looked at me with immense guilt and nodded. "I'll do it. I owe you that much."

As I walked out of the office, I ran into Alistair and Flora taking a stroll. He was patiently supporting her weight.

The moment our eyes met, Alistair panicked. He shoved Flora aside and rushed toward me, grabbing my arms.

"Sera! I've been looking everywhere for you. Why are you out here alone? It's dangerous!"

I saw the faint red scratches on his neck, barely hidden by his collar. They were fresh marks from his passionate encounter with Flora.

I forced a sarcastic smile. "Dangerous? You mean dangerous for your secrets?"

"I felt a bit off. I went to see Dr. Sterling," I said coldly, pulling my arm out of his grasp.

Flora stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with a malice she didn't bother to hide.

"Genevieve, Mr. Lockwood cares about you so much. He was only gone for two minutes and he acted like the world was ending."

The mockery in her voice was loud and clear.

Before I could respond, Alistair turned on her with a dark, thunderous expression.

"Mind your own business, Flora! Get lost!"

He used anger to hide their illicit connection, but as she stomped away, his eyes followed her with a concern he couldn't mask.

I noticed a small gold protective charm hanging from her waist. It looked almost identical to the one I wore, but something was different.

Back in my room, I looked up the charms on my phone.

The one I had was a fake―a decorative piece meant to look spiritual but actually contained materials known to interfere with a healthy pregnancy in certain folklore.

Flora's charm was the real one.

When I first got pregnant, Alistair was indifferent. Then, he suddenly claimed he spent three days fasting and praying at a secluded monastery to get me this charm.

I had been so touched. I told myself he just struggled to express his emotions.

It was all a lie. The real protection was for Flora. The curse was for me.

Alistair sliced an apple and tried to feed me, but I turned my head away. He looked confused.

After a moment, he asked tentatively, "Sera, did you... answer my phone this morning?"

His brow furrowed as he waited for my answer. The longer I stayed silent, the more he fidgeted.

"What did you hear?" he pressed.

I stared at the wall, feeling exhausted. "Nothing. Your phone was on the nightstand. I tried to reach for it, but it fell on the floor."

Alistair exhaled a long breath of relief. He tucked the blanket around me, his fake smile returning.

"Sweetheart... if something goes wrong with the delivery... if the baby doesn't make it... would you be open to adopting?"

He was already laying the groundwork for his promise to Flora.

I looked him straight in the eye. "Do you remember the vows we took on our wedding day?"

"You said that if you ever betrayed me, you would live the rest of your life in misery. You said you'd never find peace."

The irony was suffocating. Vows are like shooting stars―beautiful for a second before they burn out and vanish.

Alistair's face went pale. "Sera, I would never do anything to hurt you! You have to believe me!"

I closed my eyes and pulled the covers over my head. "I'm tired, Alistair."

Tired of the lies. Tired of this pathetic performance.