Chapter 3

3.

That night, Beckett and Seraphina had a massive blowout.

I heard Beckett shouting at her in a low, muffled voice.

"Natalie is doing this for you! You have no right to stop the wedding!"

In the end, Seraphina had to watch us stand at the altar.

The wedding took place the day before the trial.

It was rushed, but Beckett made sure every detail was perfect.

We invited all our mutual friends.

During the reception, I stood up with tears in my eyes to address the guests.

"I don't have many friends, but everyone here means the world to us."

"I won't say much, but please... take care of Beckett for me in the future."

The room went quiet, then erupted into whispers.

Our friends rushed over to ask me what I meant.

I gave them a bittersweet smile.

"I'm going to do something that might save him."

"Please don't ask for details. Let's just keep it as our little secret for now."

Because I phrased it that way, they stopped prying, but the curiosity remained.

A few of Beckett's friends knew about his history with Seraphina.

I had hidden cameras in the house and watched them confront him later.

They told him and Seraphina that they were being cruel and immoral.

I could see Beckett's resolve wavering.

He looked at Seraphina with uncertainty.

Seraphina, seeing her friends turn on her, became hysterical.

"I've been your friend for fifteen years! You're taking the side of some woman you just met?"

"And you, Beckett! Did you forget why you even approached her? You said you loved me!"

"Is it really that easy for Natalie to steal your heart just by playing the martyr?"

The room fell into a heavy silence.

When no one answered her, Seraphina started screaming.

"Fine! If that's how it is, I'll just go kill myself right now!"

She started smashing things, throwing a full-blown tantrum.

The friends had no choice but to try and calm her down.

I watched the monitor, seeing Seraphina finally quiet down after being coddled.

I let out a cold, triumphant laugh where they couldn't see me.

Soon, I would finally be free.

When Beckett came back to our room, he had a fresh hickey on his neck.

I scoffed internally.

Seraphina really couldn't wait, could she?

She was so desperate to mark her territory.

I didn't mention the mark. I acted like I didn't see it.

That night, Beckett held me tighter than ever.

I even teased him a little.

"You're holding me so tight. What will you do if something happens to me tomorrow?"

His body stiffened instantly.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"Nothing will happen, Natalie. It's just a blood draw and some tests. It's like a regular check-up."

I buried my face in his chest and, for the first time, told him I was scared.

"I'm terrified I'll never see you again. Beckett, promise me you'll take care of yourself."

"I've labeled all your medications. Make sure you check them before you take them."

Before I could say anything else, he squeezed me until it hurt.

"Natalie..."

"Yes?" I whispered.

He didn't speak for a long time.

Just as I was drifting off to sleep, he whispered, "Thank you."

I smiled into the darkness.

"If it wasn't for you, those other people would have taken me for their experiments long ago. If I can save you now, it's worth it."

"Now, let's sleep."

Early the next morning, Seraphina arrived with two men to pick me up.

Before leaving, I excused myself to the bathroom.

I took the pill the faked-death agency had provided.

Beckett came with us to the lab.

That's when I realized the entire facility was funded by the Pierce family.

Seraphina ran a series of tests and then led me into a private lab.

She held the blood report, her eyes wild with excitement.

"Beckett! Natalie's markers are a perfect match for the trial!"

Beckett didn't look happy at all.

He looked at me with a heavy, troubled expression.

Seraphina handed me a few pills, her face glowing.

"Natalie, take these."

Before Beckett could even raise a hand to stop me, I swallowed them.

Seconds later, a metallic, salty taste flooded my throat.

"Cough!"

The moment blood sprayed from my mouth, I saw Beckett's face pale with horror.

"Natalie! Natalie!"

I forced a final, weak smile at him.

Then, the world went black, and I collapsed.

"Natalie!"