Chapter 4 : Want your life

Struggling, Bianca forced her eyes to open, hoping and praying that it had all been a bad dream. But the blue dress she had worn yesterday was still on her. That could only mean one thing… it wasn’t a nightmare. They had left her in the room, unchecked, to rot. This wasn’t like Charles; he would have sat beside her through every cough, and every shiver…

Fear gripped her and she stumbled almost immediately. Shivering, shaking, she rushed to the drawer where she had hidden the package, the proof she was pregnant.

Clutching it to her chest, a spark of hope ignited. This could change everything. If the reason he had acted like that yesterday was that she hadn’t given him a child, this would solve it. He would be happy. Things could go back to normal.

Breathless, Bianca ran from her room, searching the house for him.

“Charles! Charles!” she called, holding the package like a lifeline.

Spotting a maid with a tray, she ran toward her.

“Oh! Mrs Warren, you’re awake,” the maid said, noticing Bianca’s frantic state.

“… where is my husband?” Bianca demanded with a shaky voice..

The maid hesitated. “He went for a horse ride early this morning…”

The realization hit her. Charles had always ridden in the mornings to keep fit.

“Alright, thanks,” Bianca said quickly, already rushing past her, determined to go after Charles..

She had just reached the hallway when she saw Rosina.

Rosina was walking slowly in a robe, one hand resting on her belly.

Bianca slowed herself, watching her for a second.

Then panic took over. Her thoughts crashed into each other, and before she could stop herself, she ran desperately toward her.

“Rosina!” Bianca called.

Rosina turned. Her face carried that calm, masked look, like someone who'd gotten exactly what they wanted. But Bianca wasn't having it…

“Please,” Bianca begged. “Can you all just stop this joke? It’s gone too far. I’m losing my mind.”

She gestured weakly, tears slipping down her cheeks. “Okay… okay, you guys win.”

“Play?” Rosina scoffed. “Why would I play about something I’ve always wanted and dreamed of?"

Bianca stared at her, refusing and fighting her not to understand.

“I’ve always wanted to be you, Bianca,” Rosina continued softly. “And thank God, dreams do come true. Good things really do come to those who wait.”

She rubbed her belly slowly. “Now the love of my life and I are expecting our little joy.’’

Bianca’s breath hitched…“How can that be Charles’s child when you said it was Maxwell’s?” she whispered. “You told me yourself.”

Rosina burst into laughter, “I did, sweetheart. But it was all a lie.”

“Maxwell is no different from your sweet ex husband,” Rosina went on coldly. “Who is now mine?”

Bianca’s face drained of color as Rosina revealed the truth that Charles had been with her all those months in Spain and it wasn't any deal he'd won for their company, but so they could both live freely in another country without bother. Another tear slipped from her eyes as she looked at Rosina with eyes full of tears. She could hear her heart beating in her ears...

Then she heard a guard’s voice greet Charles, confirming he had returned from his morning horse ride.

Bianca smiled faintly to herself…She was ready to rush to him and beg him to stop all this madness. Maybe he would finally drop the act. Maybe he would see how much she was hurting. Charles had never wanted to see her in pain…But before she could move

A scream tore through the air….“Ahhh!”

Bianca froze and turned.

Rosina was on her knees, clutching her belly, screaming in agony.

“Oh my God… Rosina!” Bianca cried, rushing to her side. “What’s wrong?”

She dropped down, trying to support her, her voice filled with real fear. But Rosina screamed again, louder this time. The sound was so piercing that it dragged Mrs Camilla out of her room.

Mrs Camilla who never came out before 11am. The woman who claimed her skin needed to marinate in morning meditation and that nothing..nothing could pull her out early. Yet this scream broke every rule she had set for herself.

Charles came running too, his voice was heard from behind “What’s going on?” he demanded.

Rosina suddenly shoved Bianca’s hands away and bent forward, screaming even harder.

“She… she punched me!” Rosina cried. “She punched me in the belly!”

Bianca’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at Rosina. The pain must be making her say nonsense…

“What? No… I didn’t,” Bianca whispered, reaching out instinctively.

But Charles didn’t listen…He shoved Bianca violently away from Rosina.

She fell hard, her back slamming into the floor. Pain exploded through her body, forcing a sharp gasp from her lips. Instinctively, she clutched her stomach, groaning.

“Charles…” she whispered, hoping just hoping he would help her up.

He didn’t even look at her.

All his attention was on Rosina.

He lifted Rosina, checking her face, her arms, and her stomach over and over.

“Are you okay? Talk to me. Where does it hurt?”

Bianca sat helplessly on the floor, tears filling her eyes as pain pulsed through her back and belly.

Mrs Camilla finally reached them and instantly blamed her.

“I knew it!” she snapped angrily. “I knew you were evil! How could you be so cruel?”

She pointed at Bianca. “How dare you hit a pregnant woman’s stomach? Are you trying to kill her child?”

Bianca tried to speak and explain , but as she struggled to stand, a sharp pain ripped through her stomach.

“Ah…” she cried softly and sank back down.

Still, no one looked at her.

The package lay on the floor.

Mrs Camilla noticed it and, with a look of disgust, nudged it aside with her foot, as if it meant nothing. Without a second thought, she turned to one of the maids.

“Throw that away.”

Bianca wanted to stop her. Her lips trembled, but no words came out.

The next thing she heard was Charles’s voice as he lifted Rosina into his arms.

“She might be in severe pain,” he said urgently. “I’m taking her to the hospital.”

Then his voice hardened.

“And call the police on that woman. Take her out of my house.”