Chapter 3

Kate's POV

"The fetal development is normal, heartbeat is strong."

The doctor's words brought me relief. I lay on the examination table, looking at that tiny life on the ultrasound screen, my emotions a tangled mess.

My baby was safe. But my marriage was completely destroyed.

Alex stood in the corner, hands clenched into fists, his expression so complex it was heartbreaking. Ever since discovering he'd been drugging my food, the rift between us could never heal.

"Ma'am, you need to maintain a good mood," the doctor said gently. "Stress is harmful to the fetus."

Maintain a good mood? I almost laughed out loud. My husband was drugging me, my neighbor was psychotic, and our marriage was dying a slow death.

On the drive home, we didn't say a single word.

Two months later.

Three months pregnant. My belly had a slight curve, but I felt no maternal joy, only endless fear.

Alex had stopped drugging me, but the surveillance became even tighter. My phone had tracking software installed, my car keys were confiscated, even the kitchen knives were locked away.

We'd become two strangers, living carefully under the same roof.

Tonight, sudden sharp pain shot through my lower abdomen.

"Ah!" I sat up abruptly, the book falling to the floor. Pain tore through my abdomen like a knife, cold sweat instantly soaking my nightgown.

This pain wasn't normal. I knew what normal discomfort felt like, and this definitely wasn't it.

"Kate? What's wrong?" Alex rushed out of his study, seeing me bent over clutching my stomach, his face instantly pale.

"My stomach... it hurts so bad..." I could barely speak through the pain. "Get me to the hospital, NOW!"

But Alex didn't move immediately. What flashed in his eyes wasn't worry—it was hesitation.

"Wait," he pulled out his phone, "let me ask Anna first..."

"Ask Anna?" I couldn't believe it. "Alex, this is an EMERGENCY! I need a doctor, not that crazy woman!"

But he was already dialing.

"Anna? Kate's having severe abdominal pain... What? ...Are you sure? ...Okay."

Listening to this call, desperate fear rose in my heart. Even in this moment, his first instinct was still to seek Anna's "guidance."

"What did Anna say?" I asked through gritted teeth as another wave of pain hit.

Alex hung up, his expression resolute: "She said this is a purification process. The negative energy in your body is being cleansed, which is good for both you and the baby. Going to the hospital would interrupt this sacred process."

"What purification?" I roared, tears streaming from the pain. "Alex, this is OUR CHILD! I need a doctor!"

"Anna's coming right over." Alex's eyes held twisted conviction. "She knows how to handle this. Hospital drugs would interfere with God's plan."

Looking at this man who used to be a Stanford CEO, now spouting absurd nonsense, I felt despair beyond anger.

"PLEASE, Alex!" I grabbed his arm. "Whatever Anna says, this is our child! Take me to the hospital!"

He shook his head firmly: "I can't go against God's will, Kate."

Twenty minutes later, Anna arrived.

She carried a basket filled with candles and herbs, her face wearing a bone-chilling smile.

"I can feel the purification energy." She looked at my agonized state and nodded with satisfaction. "This is a good sign."

"What good sign?" I roared. "I'm DYING!"

Anna began lighting candles, chanting incantations: "Death and rebirth are two sides of the same process, Kate. You must release the things that block true happiness."

"Are those things my CHILD?" I asked desperately.

Anna stopped, staring directly at me: "If this baby obstructs your true love with Alex, then yes."

I looked at Alex, hoping to see reason in his eyes, but he just nodded numbly.

2 AM.

The pain became unbearable. I lay in bed, my whole body soaked in sweat, bleeding from below.

I knew what was happening. I could feel life flowing out of my body.

"Alex!" I screamed. "SAVE ME! Save our baby! It's not too late!"

But Alex knelt beside the bed with Anna, "praying" together, chanting disgusting incantations. Candlelight cast shadows on their faces, like two demons performing an evil ritual.

"Oh God, please complete the purification," Anna's voice echoed in the darkness. "Please remove all obstacles to true love..."

I trembled as I reached for the nightstand, secretly grabbing my phone while they prayed with closed eyes. My fingers barely obeyed me, but I had to send this text.

"Mom, save me. Alex and Anna won't let me go to the hospital, I'm bleeding, I'm going to lose the baby."

The moment I hit send, I nearly passed out. But I knew this might be my only hope.

Suddenly, tearing pain struck. I felt the last signs of life disappear from my body, warm liquid soaking the sheets.

I knew it was all over.

I had lost my child.

"My baby!" I let out a desperate wail. "My baby is GONE!"

I trembled as I touched my abdomen, where life should have been beating, now only emptiness and blood remained.

Anna slowly opened her eyes, her face showing satisfied smile: "The purification is complete. God has removed the obstacle to your true love."

"What?" I glared at her, anger burning in my eyes.

"This is God saving your marriage." Anna continued with her sickening words. "Now nothing can separate you and Alex. You should thank God's mercy."

I turned to Alex, hoping one last time to see humanity in his eyes: "Alex, that was our child. Our child is DEAD."

His face was pale, but he still said the words that completely destroyed me: "Maybe Anna's right. Maybe this way we can start over, without any... complications."

Complications. He called our child complications.

In that instant, I felt the entire world collapse.

"You're MONSTERS!" I roared, my voice hoarse. "You killed my baby! You're MURDERERS!"

I struggled to get up, but blood loss made me weak enough to die. The smell of blood filled the air, mixed with the burnt scent of candles, the entire room like hell.

"Kate, calm down." Alex tried to touch my forehead, I violently knocked his hand away.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" My voice was soul-crushing. "Never touch me again! You're a murderer!"

Anna stood up, straightening her white robe, her face showing a victor's satisfaction: "My work is done. Now this family can have true peace."

She walked toward the door, glancing back at me with cold triumph in her eyes: "Kate, you'll thank me. When you and Alex find true love again, you'll understand that everything that happened tonight was necessary."

The door closed, leaving only Alex and me in the room.

I looked at this man who was once the most important person in my life, now become my child's killer.

"Kate, I know this is painful, but..." Alex said quietly.

"But what?" I coldly interrupted him. "But this is God's will? But this is better for our marriage?"

Alex opened his mouth but couldn't find any justification.

Because he knew no excuse could cover up what happened tonight.

I desperately closed my eyes, feeling life force draining from my body. I had lost my dreams, my career, and now even my child.

And the one who caused all this was the person I loved most.

"Alex," I opened my eyes, my gaze ice-cold, "from today on, we're DONE."

His body shook violently, like being struck by lightning.

"Kate, don't say that... we can start over..."

"Start over?" I laughed bitterly. "Start over on our child's blood?"

"I didn't want this outcome..."

"But you CHOSE this outcome." I turned away, no longer looking at him. "Get out. Leave me alone."

Alex stood there for a long time, finally leaving the room.

I lay alone in the pool of blood, holding everything I'd lost, crying silently in the darkness.