Chapter 4

I ran down the hall to my room, my breath feeling like a big lump in my throat. 

My child…my children. My own husband killed all of my three babies because they weren't boys. Oh my God!

“I need to get out of here. I need to leave before he finds out about the child I'm carrying,” I whispered while panting as I ran down the hall to my room. 

But just as I ran past Bianca's room which was close to mine, Bianca’s voice stopped me.

I wanted to ignore her, go to my room and just pack up to leave the city for good, but her next words stopped me dead.

“Yes, doctor… I need a new batch of hormones. The nausea has faded — I need to keep the symptoms going or Drake will notice something’s off.”

My chest tightened.

What was she talking about? I couldn't help but think that something was fishy.

Why would she need a new batch of hormones?

Was she__

“My bloated stomach is beginning to reduce, doctor. Can we increase the dosage? We need to make this pregnancy more believable.”

Hormones. Fake pregnancy symptoms.

Before I knew it, I was in her room, tears streaming down my face.

“You’re not pregnant,” I whispered, horror strangling me.

Bianca didn’t even flinch. Instead, she gave me a slow, mocking smile. “And yet everyone believes I am. Even Drake.”

“You’re evil,” I choked. I couldn't register everything at once. Everything seemed to have taken a complete 180 in just a day. 

Drake has been killing my unborn children.

Bianca was faking her pregnancy.

“Oh my God,” I choked out and began to gasp, my knees falling to the ground in exhaustation. My life was ruined. I had nothing left anymore.

No family who longed for me.

No husband who cared.

But still, I just couldn't let it go. I just couldn't let them destroy me like that. I had to do something.

I have to make Drake see what kind of woman Bianca was. I knew how much he longed for the child. How high his hopes had gotten for a child that didn't exist. 

I shouldn't feel for him, but I just couldn't stand by and watch him get deceived.

I looked up at her with disdain.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” She asked, eyeing me. “Oh…have you forgotten that I'm the one who brought back the light into Drake's eyes. It doesn't matter if this pregnancy is fake or not, what matters is that I made him happy again.”

“When__ when did you turn so selfish? You couldn't watch me be happy. You just couldn't stand someone loving me the way you never got to be loved, you had to take him away!” I screamed at her. “This is all your fault. You seduced him, told him a bunch of lies and made him hate me because of your jealousy! How could you, Bianca? You were supposed to be my best friend and sister!”

“Oh shut up! Don't act the villain now. I didn't do anything. Drake only became bored of you. You could not maintain the excitement in your marriage so I only helped you in bringing it back…too bad he fell for me on the way. And mind you…you were the one who had the best of all things. You had the life, more beautiful, kind and easy to love. As for me I had to work my way up there. I had to struggle two times to make our parents love. I had to deceive them just so they could stop choosing you over me and then give me what was rightfully mine. You were supposed to be their only heir. So I had to change that. You had the life, Avery. And I took it, because I deserved it .”

“What? But__but __”

“Enough, it doesn't matter now. Just pack your bags and leave. This is my family now. You are no longer wanted or needed here. I'm sure Drake would agree with me,” she said with a hard expression, her voice sounding like venom.

“No, no. I won't let you get away with this. I'll tell him everything. Drake has to know what you're doing to him. You don't have his child. I do,” I said, standing up on my feet.

“What are you talking about?” She asked, her eyes wide.

“I'm having Drake's first male child. His heir. I confirmed it yesterday. You pushed him to me that night, but luckily for me, he shot the jackpot into me. Now I'll be having what he's always been dreaming of,” I said smugly.

She stood there shocked, her mouth slightly opened before they closed into an evil smile.

Her expression twisted, then tears filled her eyes — fake, practiced tears.

“Drake!” she screamed suddenly, bolting toward the staircase.

“No!” I ran after her, panic rising in my throat.

But before I could stop her, Bianca tumbled dramatically down the stairs, landing in a crumpled heap just as Drake rushed out of his study.

He had seen everything, but not the scene where she was the one who fell herself.

Everything happened in a blur — the flashing lights of the ambulance, Drake’s cold hands gripping mine as he shoved me into the car, Bianca pale and unmoving beside me.

At the hospital, the doctor’s words sliced through me like a blade.

“She lost the baby.”

Lost the baby? A baby that never existed?

Drake’s shoulders stiffened. His jaw tightened, his chest rising and falling with fury.

“This was my son,” he said quietly — too quietly. “And you killed him.”

“No!” I dropped to my knees right there in the hallway, tears streaming. “I didn’t push her! And she wasn’t even pregnant, Drake! She’s been faking it — I heard her on the phone!”

For one brief, breathtaking moment, he looked at me — really looked.

“You… you’re saying she lied?”

“Yes!” I sobbed. “I’m the one who’s pregnant. And it’s a boy, Drake. Our boy!” I finally confessed out of desperation, hoping this time he would take my side.

For a moment, his expression softened. His lips even parted, as if to speak.

Then Bianca’s sobbing voice cut through the air from her hospital bed.

“She’s lying!” she wailed, clutching her stomach. “Even the doctor said she can’t give you a son! Drake, please… don’t let her take this from me!”

Drake’s face hardened again, his brief flicker of hope dying as he looked at Bianca’s tear-streaked face.

“You really won’t repent, will you?” he said, his voice low, deadly calm.

“Drake, please—”

He gripped my arm so hard I winced, dragging me toward the exit. “Then I’ll make you repent. Even if it breaks you.”

—

PRESENT DAY.

The memory snapped back to the present as rough hands shoved me forward, dragging me into the kennel.

I was undergoing a new punishment. Drake had dragged me away from the dark room to the dog's kennel. Not just ordinary dogs, but dogs that were big as me.

The smell of wet fur and raw meat hit me like a slap.

“Drake, please!” I screamed, thrashing. “I’m telling the truth!”

He didn’t even flinch.

“If you survive the night,” he said coldly, “maybe then you’ll remember how to beg.”

The door slammed shut behind me, and the dogs lunged.

The days blurred together.

The kennel stank of blood, wet fur, and despair. I didn’t know how long I had been locked in there — hours? Days? Time didn’t matter anymore.

Every time I tried to sit upright, my body ached from where the dogs had lunged at me, tearing my skin. My dress was in tatters, clinging to my body like wet paper. My lips were cracked, my stomach gnawed with hunger, and my unborn son’s faint kicks were the only thing keeping me sane.

At night, I would curl against the cold wall and hum softly, whispering lullabies.

“Don’t leave me, baby,” I murmured into the darkness. “Please… don’t leave me too.”

Through the small window above the kennel, I could hear her voice — soft, pitiful, dripping with venom.

“She still refuses to repent,” Bianca said one morning, her voice followed by a faint, fake sniffle. “I can’t sleep knowing she’s here plotting to hurt us again, Drake. Maybe we should just send her away forever.”

Drake didn’t respond at first, but I heard the scrape of his lighter — the sound of him lighting another cigarette.

“She’ll break,” he said finally, his voice cold. “And when she does, she’ll beg me for forgiveness.”

Tears burned my eyes. No matter how hard I tried, he would never believe me.

Three nights later, the door opened.

“Bring her food,” Drake ordered the guards.

My heart leapt. Real food. But I was too weak to even smile. My stomach cramps had gotten worse and I could already feel the darkness begging to close on me. My heart beat had reduced to a very dangerous range and I was sure I would soon give up.

But maybe Drake had finally come to his senses, I thought as I smelled the sweet aroma of food outside the room. Maybe he realised how much he loved me and believed in my innocence.

Maybe whatever spell Bianca cast had faded away.

They dropped a tray on the floor. The smell of rice and a sweet savoury chicken soup hit my nose and I fell to my knees, devouring every bite with shaking hands.

“Thank you…” I whispered to no one in particular, tears running down my dirty cheeks. “Thank you…”

But then — my throat began to itch.

No.

My hands flew to my neck as the burning sensation spread, my lips swelling, my airway closing.

“No—help—” I choked, gasping for air.

Drake’s footsteps pounded toward me. His face appeared through the bars, his eyes wide.

“Avery!” He kicked open the kennel door, dropping to his knees and cradling me.

His eyes widened as he looked at my form. My skin had gone pale white and my mouth opened wide gasping for air. But no matter how much I drawed in the air, I couldn't get enough. 

I was getting choked. 

My food had been poisoned with something I wasn't supposed to take.

Prawns. The only food I was allergic to.

“Stay with me,” he demanded, shaking me gently.

But I could barely hear him.

Bianca stood behind him, her hand over her mouth, pretending to be horrified.

I knew she did it. I could see the glint in her eyes. My best friend and sister poisoned me.

“She… someone must have added prawns to her food,” she whispered, her eyes glistening with fake tears.

I knew the truth.

She had planned this.

Drake tried to push air into my lungs with his mouth, but it didn't work. I tried to tell them I needed my epipen, but I couldn't speak. I could only watch in horror as my life began to slip away. 

I had gotten so weak I couldn't fight for my life or my child's.

My body convulsed as my vision dimmed, my last strength spent clutching Drake’s sleeve.

Though, bianca was the one who poisoned my good, Drake was the one who left me defenseless. They both killed me…in the worst possible way.

My gear aches tremendously. I had been wronged in this life. Killed by the people who were supposed to protect me.

But if I was given another chance, just one more fulfilling breath…I will make everyone pay. Every tear, every cut, every hit…they would feel it, in my own POV.

My breath cut, and I felt my heart finally stop. But before I could close my eyes, I saw Drake's expression. It was one of pain, horror and…regret. But it was too late to regret now.

“Please…” I whispered, barely audible. “…give me one more chance…” 

And then, darkness.

---

When I opened my eyes again, everything was golden.

The bed beneath me was soft, draped in satin sheets. The room smelled of roses, not blood. My hands flew to my stomach — my skin was smooth, unscarred, my body untouched by bruises.

For a moment, I thought I had woken in heaven.

Then the door opened and a maid stepped in, smiling gently.

“Miss Avery, you’re awake. Your father has been waiting for you.”

“My… father?” My voice was barely a whisper.

She nodded eagerly. “Yes, Miss. He’s asked for you to join him for dinner. He says it’s time you meet your three new brothers.”

My heart thudded.

Brothers?