CHAPTER THRE

Everything around Octavia froze.

“No,” she breathed. “That’s not true. My baby is fine. You’re wrong.”

The doctor sighed. “You suffered excessive bleeding from the fall and stress. By the time Miss Vanessa brought you here… we did everything we could.”

Octavia stared at him, unblinking. Her body felt numb, but a sharp, unbearable pain tore through her chest. “No… no, no, no.”

Her vision blurred as hot tears spilled down her cheeks. “It’s my fault,” she choked out. “I shouldn’t have climbed that ladder. I should’ve been more careful…”

A sob racked her body, her hands gripping the sheets.

She should have listened. Now her baby was no more. 

But as the grief consumed her, a different thought broke through,

Declan.

Her breath hitched.

"Wait, Doctor, where is my husband? Is he here?" 

"Well erm..." 

Octavia scrambled for her phone with trembling hands. Then she it. 19 calls. She had called him nineteen times and he picked not even one of her calls.

And the voicemail she sent? No reply.

Something inside Octavia shattered. Tears blurred her vision.

He didn't come. He never came.

The doctor shifted uncomfortably. “Mrs Rothschild you need to rest. Your body is still recovering—”

“I don’t care,” she snapped “Get out.”

The doctor hesitated but eventually nodded. “I’ll have the nurse check on you later.”

As he left, Octavia curled into herself, gripping the sheets so tightly her knuckles turned white and broke down in tears.

Her baby was gone.

And…Declan. He just had to show her time and again that she meant nothing to him. He never cared whether she lived or died. 

Why did she ever hope that anything would make Declan love her? Why did she waste five years loving a man who all he cared about was his empire and family legacy? How was she so blinded to see how heartless and insensitive he was? 

She had sacrificed so much just to be Declan's wife, giving up herself and dreams just to exist beside him and watch him soar higher. But this is where it all ends. 

This was the final straw. 

Octavia's grip turned into a fist as she recalled Vanessa's last words "In n the world of the elites, the powerful and hard hearted always win. The weak and faint hearted will always be used and discarded" 

She bit her lips hard to hold back her tears. Vanessa will pay for killing her baby and so will Declan. She, Octavia Lancaster, will destroy the very legacy and empire they've both dedicated their entire life building until they're left with nothing. Until they're both crawling on their knees, begging her for forgiveness. 

×. ×. ×

The room was dark when the door opened again.

Octavia sat by the window, staring at the city lights. She didn’t turn when she heard the footsteps behind her. 

“Octavia.” Declan's cold voice called. “I came as soon as I heard.”

She didn’t respond.

He took a step closer. “Vanessa told me you had an accident—”

At that, she let out a short, bitter laugh. “An accident.”

"You should have been more careful. What would I have told everyone was the reason we couldn't hold the family gathering this year?" He demanded.

 Of course, the gathering, that was his only concern.

"You shouldn't have climbed that ladder to begin with. There's a reason we have lots of maids. You should have let them do their job. What would have happened if you had fractured a bone or something, huh? What were you trying to accomplish..."

"I want a divorce" she cut him off.

"What?" Declan was momentarily stunned.

Octavia finally turned to face him "I said, I want a divorce"

Declan's expression darkened "Are you out of your mind, Octavia? Where is that coming from?" 

"Which part of what I said do you not understand, Declan? I said I want a divorce!" Octavia glared.

"Do you understand what you're asking for right now?! You know that I'm so close to making my Empire stand and you're demanding a divorce? That is never going to happen, Octavia " Declan gritted.

Running a hand through his hair, he added "You know what, I don't have time for your childish tantrums right now. Let's talk about this when you've had time to think"

"There is nothing left for us to talk about, Declan. And I am not requesting your permission" Octavia stood up from the bed "A divorce is what I want" she stepped closer, glaring right into his cold eyes "A divorce is what I will get"

×. ×. ×

The moment she was discharged from the hospital, Octavia went to her lawyer and signed the divorce papers, where she clearly stated she didn't need alimony from Declan.

Instead of going back to her marital home, she took a cab to her family house. This was home. Not the cold, empty mansion she had lived in for five years.

The door opened before she could knock. Eleni Lancaster, Octavia's mother, stood there, eyes lighting up in surprise. “Octavia! What are you doing here?"

Octavia tried to force a smile. “I needed to see you, Mom”

Her mother stepped aside, ushering her in. “Come in, sweetheart. Are you alright?”

Octavia nodded stiffly, avoiding her mother’s eyes. She wasn’t ready for questions.

Once inside, her mother led her to the living room. “You look tired. Sit, I’ll make tea.

“Mom, I…” Octavia swallowed hard. “I need to talk to you.”

Her mother paused, eyes softening. She sat beside Octavia, taking her hand. “What’s wrong, darling?”

At first, Octavia couldn’t find the words. But then, as if a dam had broken, everything poured out.

“I lost my baby.”

Her mother’s face paled. “Oh my God…”

Tears spilled down Octavia’s cheeks. “I didn’t even get to tell Declan. And I was alone. I called him, I begged him to come, but he didn’t.”

Her mother pulled her into a tight embrace, tears rolling down her own eyes. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”

Octavia’s shoulders shook as she cried. “Vanessa… she did this. She—she pulled the rope. She made me fall" 

Her mother’s grip tightened. “That vile woman. And Declan… does he know?”

Octavia shook her head. “No. And I don’t want him to.”

Her mother cupped her face gently. “You deserve more than this, my child. You deserve happiness. I'm so sorry I wasn't there to help”

“No, Mom. None of this is your fault" Octavia wiped her mother's tears. 

Her mother exhaled, nodding slowly. “My baby, you've suffered so much. But not anymore. That family never deserved you to begin with" She pulled Octavia to another tight embrace, letting her cry her eyes out.

Meanwhile, Octavia’s elder brother, Alexander Lancaster, overheard the conversation. He stormed into the room, his face dark with anger.

“Octavia, what the hell is going on?” he demanded.

Octavia wiped her tears and looked away. “Nothing, Alex. Just leave it alone.”

“Nothing?” His voice rose. “I just heard you say that Vanessa did something to you. And Declan? He wasn’t even there when you needed him? Do you think I’m going to let this slide?”

Their mother stepped between them, her face filled with worry. “Alex, calm down. Let Octavia speak.”

Octavia sniffed back her tears and stood up “I don’t want to drag this whole thing. I’ve already decided what to do.”

Alexander clenched his fists. “And what’s that? Because if it’s letting Declan get away with this, I swear—”

“I’m divorcing him,” Octavia said.

Silence filled the room. Her mother’s eyes widened, and Alexander looked momentarily stunned.

“You… you mean it?” her mother asked softly.

Octavia nodded. “There’s nothing left for me in that marriage.”

Alexander exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Good. That bastard never deserved you in the first place.”

 “Sweetheart, I support you. Whatever you need, I’ll be here.”

 "Thank you, Mama.”

Alexander folded his arms. “I'm still going to make that bastard pay" 

Octavia shook her head. “There's no need, Alex. I'll settle the scores myself. But to do that, I need to leave" 

"You’re leaving the country?" her mother gasped, eyes filled with sadness.

Octavia nodded. "I need to start over. Away from here. Away from everything."

Her mother reached for her hand. "Darling, I understand you’re hurting, but running away—"

"It’s not running away," Octavia cut in. "It’s taking back my life."

Alexander crossed his arms "Where will you go?

"Somewhere Declan would never be able to find me...

A MONTH LATER 

Early in the morning, Octavia was busy packing her luggage for her departure tomorrow. These few weeks has been hell for her, dealing with the divorce procedures and bawling her eyes out every night at the loss of her baby.

But this morning came with a heavy exhaustion she couldn't shake off. " Maybe it's because I haven't slept properly in weeks" she thought to herself. She was yet to zip up her bag when it suddenly hit her - nausea.

Octavia immediately ran to the bathroom and bent over the sink, retching lightly. When it was over, she leaned against the sink, breathing heavily. This has been going on for weeks now and she couldn't wrap her head around what could be making her sick.

Without even realizing, her hand instinctively went to her stomach. She froze, eyes widening in shock when she saw her reflection in the mirror.

"No, it's nothing" she whispered, shaking her head. Yet, her hand lingered on her belly for too long. 

What is this feeling?

Something isn't right...