Chapter3

Cassian yanked me off the tiny bed and dragged me toward the door.

He moved so fast that my stiffening leg slammed into the wooden doorframe.

Pain shot through my nerves, making me screamed and yanked.

He didn't stop , just threw an irritated glare over his shoulder and kept dragging me.

When we reached the clinic’s main hall, he shoved me.

I hit the floor and felt like my bone was shattering.

Before I could brace my hands on the freezing floor to stand, a shadow loomed over me.

Smack!

My mother slapped me across the face with all her strength.

A thick, metallic taste flooded my throat and ears rang.

I forced my head up.

Selene was curled in my father’s arms, crying softly.

Above me, my mother stared down, her eyes were filled with absolute disgust.

Perhaps seeing that I didn’t react at all, she raised her hand to strike again.

I couldn’t hold it back anymore. A mouthful of blood erupted from my lips.

It splattered across her hands.

She froze. Her raised hand dropped automatically, resting lightly against my cheek.

For one fleeting second, it felt like a caress.

My frozen heart twitched.

I leaned into her palm, rubbing my cheek against it as tears fell.

I just wanted my mother to hold my face the way she held Selene's. Just once, instead of greeting me with icy slaps.

My mother jerked her hand back like she had touched a filth .

Exhausted, I collapsed backward .

Blood was still dripping from the corner of my mouth.

Panic finally flashed across Cassian’s face. He rushed forward, his hands trembling as he knelt beside me. "Evelyn? Why are you coughing up so much blood?"

I stared up at him. He almost looked like he cared.

I slapped his hand away. I gritted my teeth, trying to push myself up on my rigid elbows, but my chest convulsed. I slumped back down, throwing up more dark blood onto the polished tiles.

Fear flickered in my mother’s eyes. She took a step back, shaking her head. "I... I only slapped her! I didn't hit her that hard!"

She stammered, her voice trembling. "Evelyn, what’s wrong? I’ll get a Healer..."

My father finally let go of Selene and stepped forward. "What is going on? Hurry, help her up."

Even my five-year-old son, Noah, ran toward me with tears in his eyes. "Mommy! You're bleeding so much! Are you going to die?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" my mother snapped.

Just then, Selene’s maid , Helena, rushed into the hall.

She held up a torn plastic pouch dripping with red fluid.

"Madam!" Helena cried out. "Don't let her deceive you! She used a blood pouch to scare you!"

A blood pouch? What blood pouch?

Before my sluggish mind could process the words, my mother snatched the packet from Helena. She inspected the fake red dye and hurled it onto the ground.

The fear in her eyes instantly turned back into fury.

"Evelyn! You manipulative wretch! You actually used fake blood to trick us?"

I lay in my own real blood, a bitter smile curving my lips.

I had nothing left. Why couldn't they just let me die in peace?

Cassian stood up slowly. He looked down at me with bottomless disappointment. "When did you become sohateful , Evelyn?"

My father walked back to Selene’s side, throwing a look of utter disgust over his shoulder. " You’d actually make such a cruel joke just to compete for our favor with your sister. You don't deserve a single strand of Selene's hair."

I didn't speak. I just bit my inner lip, forcing the next surge of blood back down my throat.

Noah, who had been crying for me seconds ago, wiped his tears angrily. He shoved my shoulder hard, and my stiff body hit the floor again.

"I thought you were really hurt! You're a liar! I hate you!" he screamed.

He turned and ran straight back to Selene, hiding his face in her lap. "I want Auntie to be my mommy!"

The last hope in my heart died.

I dug my fingernails into my palms , but it couldn't stop the silent tears.

The physical agony of turning to stone was nothing compared to my own son choosing her over me.

Cassian sighed heavily. He pulled out a handkerchief, crouched down, and roughly wiped the tears from my face.

"I know it hurts feeling betrayed," he said coldly. "But you brought this on yourself. Your stunt ruined Selene's reputation and crashed our Guild’s stocks. You will apologize, and you will make amends."

I wanted to say I didn't do anything. But from the bed, Selene began to cry.

"Forget it, Cassian..." she choked out, pressing a hand to her chest. "Sister tries to ruin me every time. If you force her to apologize, she’ll just hate me more."

"I'll endure it... for the family. For Mom, Dad, and you, Cassian. I don't want to fight with her."

My mother hurried to her side, her face full of heartache. "Selene, you are far too kind. That is why she keeps bullying you."

She glared at me. "Don't worry. Mom and Dad will always protect you."

My mother turned her focus to me, her voice dropping to a cold command. "Listen carefully. To save our family's honor, we have made a decision."

"You and Cassian will divorce tomorrow. Then, he and Selene will publicly register their marriage."

"We will tell the public they were secretly married for years, but kept it hidden out of pity for your failing health and your obsession with him."

My mind went blank.

I slowly turned to Cassian. "You agreed to this?"

Cassian avoided my gaze. He frowned, his tone impatient. "We have no choice. Who told you to leak the news?"

He lowered his voice. "It's just a temporary measure to calm the public. Once the fallout blows over, I'll quietly annul the marriage with Selene. Just endure it for a while."

Endure it.

I stared at the man I had loved for ten years. The father of my child.

I didn't know what to say.

Perhaps my silence made him feel guilty, or maybe it just made him angry. His expression hardened. "Whether you agree or not, I will—"

"Congratulations."

The word scraped out of my throat, harsh and unnatural.

I stared at the people I had spent my life trying to love .

I felt absolutely numb.

"Congratulations," I repeated and added. "Happy wedding."