Chapter 0005

Emily opened her eyes slowly, the world around her still blurry and unfocused. All her blood had been drained out of her.

As her vision cleared, she saw a familiar face sitting next to her. It was Amelia, with a relieved smile on her face.

"Thank goodness you're alive," she said, reaching out to take Emily's hand. Emily could smell malice that she tried to pull her hand away, but Amelia's grip was strong. "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you," Amelia said, her smile fading. "I just want to talk."

Emily wasn't sure if she could trust her, but she knew she didn't have a choice. Emily eyes looked around in panic.

Where was Jackson and why was she left alone with Amelia?

Emily's heart was racing, and her mind was spinning. "Where's Jackson?" she asked, her voice trembling. Amelia's smile was gone, replaced by a look of cold determination.

"He went out to get something," she said. "He'll be back soon." Emily tried to pull her hand away again, but Amelia held on even tighter.

"Please, just let me go," Emily pleaded. But Amelia only shook her head. "You're not going anywhere," she said. "Not until we've talked."

"What do you want to talk about?" Emily asked, her voice shaking. Amelia's face was cold and emotionless, but her eyes were blazing.

Emily had never felt sacred in this way. She knew that Amelia was a bad person and remaining in this small room with her, she could kill her.

Emily had no strength. She had lost a number of blood.

"I want to talk about the baby," Amelia said, her voice calm and controlled. She was trying to mock Emily of her loss. "The baby you just lost."

Emily's heart sank. She didn’t want to think about it."That's none of your business!" she shouted, pushing Amelia away from her. But Amelia only stood her ground, returning back to Emily bedside.

"I thought we were friends, no?" she said, her tone slightly mocking. "But it seems like you don't want my help after all."

Emily closed her eyes and turned away from Amelia, trying to block out the woman's cold, heartless words. But then, she felt a hand on her arm. She opened her eyes to see Amelia standing over her, adjusting the IV drip.

"What are you doing?" Emily asked, her voice shaking. Amelia smiled, her eyes hard and cold.

"I'm just making sure you're comfortable," she said, but her voice was cold and mocking. Emily struggled to free herself, but Amelia's grip was firm.

"It must have been so painful," Amelia said, her voice low and menacing. "When they drained all your blood out of your body. You should have been dead, I wonder how you’re still alive.”

The IV needle pierced Emily's skin, and she cried out in pain. In a flash of anger and fear, she struck out at Amelia, slapping her across the face. The sound echoed through the room, and for a moment, everything was still. Then, Jackson burst into the room, his eyes wide with shock.

"What's going on here?" he asked, his voice thick with confusion. He pulled Amelia away from Emily, his grip firm but gentle. "Why would you do that? Why did you slap Amelia?" he asked Emily, his voice full of hurt.

Emily's heart was pounding, and she felt a wave of terror wash over her. She had never seen Jackson look so angry, and she was afraid of what he would do next. But then, she heard Amelia's voice, whiny and childish, "I just came to see how Emily was doing and she cursed at me and slapped me." It was a flimsy excuse, and Emily knew it. But she couldn't think of anything to say to defend herself. All she could do was lay there, shaking, as Jackson looked from one woman to the other, his eyes burning with rage.

Emily's voice was trembling, and her eyes were wide with fear.

"I didn't do it, Jackson," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Amelia is lying, look at what she did to me." Jackson's gaze turned to Amelia, his eyes narrowing. But before he could say anything, he noticed something strange: a bruise on Emily's neck, a dark purple mark that hadn't been there before. His hands hovered over her neck, and for a moment, it seemed like he was about to strangle her. Emily's heart was pounding, and she couldn't speak, couldn't breathe. She was frozen in terror.

As Amelia watched Jackson's gaze settle on the bruise on Emily's neck, she quickly tried to cover her tracks.

"Ohh that mark. It was Emily… it looks like," she said, her voice trembling. "Emily was trying to hurt herself. I was just trying to stop her." But Emily wasn't having it. "That's not true!" she said, her voice rising. "Amelia is a liar!"

Jackson's patience snapped. "Enough!" he yelled, his voice loud and commanding. "Emily, stop this right now!”

Jackson hands pressed hard on Emily’s neck that she gulped the invisible saliva in her mouth.

Jackson's voice was low and dangerous, and Emily could feel her courage ebbing away.

"Don't push your luck," he said, his eyes fixed on her. "You're not the one in charge here, and you'd do well to remember that."

Emily felt her breath catch in her throat, and she couldn't find the words to respond. She knew she was trapped, that she couldn't leave, couldn't defend herself. And then, Jackson said something that made her blood run cold.

"You're here for one reason, and one reason only," he said. "Your blood. Always remember why I married you. It was never for love."

“Em-.” Emily was about to say something, but Jackson finger rushed to her lips and silenced her.

“Careful with what you’re going to say next.” His voice sent chills. “One step out of your way, you say something offensive or you spill insults, I won’t hold myself back anymore and I’ll kill you.”