CHAPTER TWO

MONTHS LATER 

The garden buzzed with activity as maids rushed about, carrying flowers, ribbons, and lanterns. Octavia stood in the center, her eyes scanning every detail. She refused to let her mind wander to anything else. 

This event had to be perfect. The entire Rothschild household will be present, she couldn't risk anything being amiss. 

Year after year, the Rothschild household gather together to celebrate the end of the year and since Octavia became Declan's wife, she has been the one organizing this annual party.

“Lady Octavia, where should we place the rose arrangements?” one of the maids, Anna, asked, her arms full of fresh red roses.

“Near the fountain,” Octavia instructed. “They’ll stand out beautifully there.”

Anna nodded and hurried off. Another maid, Clara, approached, holding a handful of silk ribbons. “My lady, should these go around the pillars or the chairs?”

Octavia glanced around, considering. “The pillars. Keep the chairs simple. The focus should be on the centerpieces.”

“Yes, my lady.” Clara turned and began tying the ribbons with quick, careful movements.

A gust of wind sent a flurry of petals from a nearby arrangement into the air. Octavia sighed, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.

For two months now she has successfully hidden her pregnancy from Declan and the entire Rothschild household. 

Her plan was simple. After the end of the year party, she would file for a divorce and end this sham of a marriage once and for all. She will never let her innocent child be seen and used as a means to secure an Empire.

She turned just as another voice cut through the air. “Milady, we have a problem.” It was Martha, one of the older maids. She looked distressed.

Octavia frowned. “What is it?”

“The lanterns,” Martha gestured toward a stack of glass lanterns sitting by the garden path. “Half of them arrived broken"

Octavia exhaled. “How many do we have left?”

“Maybe twenty. Not enough to cover the whole perimeter.”

“Then we adjust,” Octavia said firmly. “Focus on lighting up the entrance and the seating areas. The pathways can be decorated with candles instead.”

Martha nodded, looking slightly less worried. “A clever solution, my lady. I’ll see to it at once.”

As Martha left, a soft voice spoke beside her. “Everything is coming together beautifully, my lady.”

Octavia turned to see Lillian, her maid, standing nearby. “It must be exhausting overseeing it all.”

Octavia gave a small smile. “It keeps me busy.”

Lillian hesitated, then said quietly, “If you need to rest, I can handle the rest.”

“No,” Octavia said quickly. “I need to be here.”

Lillian nodded and left.

Another voice interrupted. “Oh, Octavia, how hard you’re working,” Vanessa’s smooth voice rang out as she approached. “I thought I’d lend a hand.”

Octavia’s expression hardened. “That won’t be necessary"

Vanessa smiled sweetly. “Oh, but I insist. After all, Declan tells me so much. I almost feel like I know more about his thoughts than you do.”

Octavia’s jaw clenched. “You overstep, Vanessa.”

Vanessa chuckled, feigning innocence. “Oh, I didn’t mean anything by it. Just that he trusts me when sadly, you are his wife”

Octavia’s eyes darkened. “Know your place, Vanessa. You are nothing but a nuisance.”

Vanessa’s expression flickered with irritation, but she quickly masked it with a grin. “If you say so.”

Trying to ignore Vanessa, Octavia climbed a ladder to adjust some hanging decorations in between the trees. As she reached up, she suddenly felt the ladder shake violently.

She gasped. “What—”

Vanessa stood below, holding the rope attached to the structure, a wicked glint in her eyes. With one sharp tug, the ladder wobbled wildly. Octavia lost her balance and fell, her stomach slamming against the hard ground.

Pain shot through her body. She gasped, clutching her abdomen. Then, she saw it—blood pooling between her legs.

A cold fear gripped her. “No… no…”

Vanessa crouched beside her, fake concern on her face. “Oh dear, how clumsy of you.”

Octavia’s breath came in short gasps as she tried to reach for help. “Help me…”

With her face contoured in rage, Vanessa spat "You should be the one to know your place, Octavia. You might be Declan's wife but only on paper. You think I will let you trap him with that bastard child you're carrying? In your wildest dreams!"

Octavia eyes widened. How did she know?

"Listen very carefully to me Octavia" Vanessa leaned closer. "In our world, power decides who stays and who gets replaced. The strong build Empires, the weak and faint hearted are used and discarded and that is all you ever are to Declan. Know your fucking place, Octavia" 

Standing up, Vanessa kicked Octavia in the stomach making her cry out in pain. "Please stop, my baby!"

"Next time you wouldn't dare get in my way" She kicked her stomach again and again until Octavia was covered in blood and could barely speak.

Octavia’s vision blurred as Vanessa walked away.

Desperate and using her last strength, Octavia fumbled for her phone, dialing Declan’s number. It rang. And rang...And rang. No answer.

Then it rang the sixth time but Declan quickly disconnected the call. 

Tears streamed down Octavia's face as she tried again. The call was disconnected even before it could ring a second time. But she kept calling until her eyes started closing. Her trembling fingers sent a voicemail.

“Declan… please… please call me back… I need you…My baby...” Her voice broke as darkness closed in. Her final whisper was barely audible. “Help me…”

Then everything went black.

- - -

Beep. Beep.

The steady sound of the monitor pulled Octavia from the darkness. Her eyes fluttered open. A dull, throbbing pain settled in her abdomen, and for a moment, she was confused.

Then, it hit her

Her hands flew to her stomach. “My baby,” she whispered, her throat dry and sore. “Where’s my baby?”

A soft voice answered. “Mrs Rothschild…”

She turned her head sharply, spotting a doctor standing beside the bed. His face was grim, his hands clasped together.

Octavia’s heart pounded. “Where is my baby?” she demanded, her voice rising. “Tell me!"

The doctor hesitated before speaking gently. “I’m so sorry, ma'am. We lost the baby.”