Chapter 4

Queenie rushed out right behind Chris, pointing at me and sobbing uncontrollably. "How could you lay a hand on a six-year-old girl? If you have a problem with me, take it up with me, Hannah!"

She shoved me hard after saying that, causing my palms to scrape against the ground and leaving a searing pain.

"I was the one who saved her!" I exclaimed as I looked over at Jennie.

Jennie was pouting, her eyes bloodshot from crying. "I—"

Queenie asked hurriedly, "Did she push you? Did she try to kill you, Jennie?"

Jennie burst into tears at Queenie's harsh tone. "A-Aunt Hannah was the one who pushed me!"

In that instant, everyone around fell silent, with those watching nearby looking at me with contempt.

"What kind of person would do this to a child?"

Chris strode forward and grabbed my collar. "You can resent me all you want, but leave my daughter out of this!"

He slapped me hard across the face after saying that, leaving one side of my face throbbing and swollen.

Dad grabbed a water bottle and hit me over the head with it, while Mom gripped my arm tightly. "How did I end up raising a monster like you? Get lost! Get out of here this instant!"

I wanted to defend myself, but I couldn't get the words out.

Queenie held Jennie in her arms, standing behind the crowd and smiling at me. She had set this up deliberately.

Mom locked me up. "Queenie's wedding is in a few days, so I can't have you causing trouble for her! You'd better stay home and behave yourself for the next few days. We'll deal with this after the wedding!"

Queenie walked past my bedroom on the day of the wedding. "I'm worried about Hannah running her mouth if she shows up at the wedding, Mom. I'd rather she just not come at all. What if…"

Chris secured the lock and said, "You should just behave yourself and stay home. We'll let you out once we return from the wedding, Hannah."

I heard their footsteps gradually disappear into the distance.

I sat in the dark, squeezing the protective charm I had gotten for my unborn child so tightly that it crumpled and grew hot in my palm.

I couldn't help but throw up violently when I thought about how my unborn child had been killed by their own father.

I opened Twitter and drafted a post. "My husband faked his death for five years, got married to my older sister, and had a baby with her."

I posted it on Twitter, my hands trembling uncontrollably. I then turned around and pushed open the window, the cold wind blowing against my face as tears slowly streamed down.

I murmured to my unborn child, "I'm sorry for being so late…"

I closed my eyes briefly before climbing over without a second thought.

…

Third-Person's POV

In the meantime, every relative from the Stewart family had turned up for the wedding.

"Congratulations, Queenie! Here's to a happy marriage—and hopefully a little one soon!"

"You really lucked out with such a great son-in-law, Tabitha! Where's Hannah, though? Why haven't I seen her around?"

Tabitha Lane, Hannah's mother, cleared her throat twice, clearly trying to cover something up.

"Hannah stayed home since she's not feeling well."

She pulled Lily aside a while later. "When are you going to introduce Hannah to someone nice, Lily? She'll probably stop acting like it's the end of the world every single day if she has someone else in her life!"

Chris walked out holding Queenie's hand, his smile faltering momentarily after hearing that. He couldn't help but feel slightly unsettled about it.

Queenie looked somewhat displeased. "Let's go, Chris. Our wedding is about to start."

Halfway through the wedding ceremony, the officiant asked, "Do you take Queenie Stewart to be your lawful wife, Chris Graham?"

Just before Chris could reply, the doors were suddenly kicked open.

A group of police officers marched right in, instantly silencing the crowd.

"Hannah Stewart died in a fall. We're looking for her family since we need someone to come identify the remains."