Chapter 1

"Congratulations, Mrs. Salvatore, your pregnancy report came positive this time." The Alchemist of our Coven announced while pushing the paternity test toward me.

Tears of joy rolled through my eyes.

Finally, the moment came I was so desperately waiting for. Now, Damien and I could take our Eternal Vow, receive blessings of the Elders and raise our lineage.

Damien and I, had been together for five years yet our blood union was still due. It's because his parents still had not accepted me because of my poor background.

Damien had always been there to comfort me and tell me that his parents will eventually recognise me once I give them the heir to the house, considering I was still a pure blood vampire like them.

Then, he will hold a big ceremony for me, announce me his blood-bound and take eternal vow with me.

Clutching the paternity test in my hands, I rushed to see Damien at his parents' house. However, my legs got frozen before they could step inside as his mother's voice echoed through the hallway.

"Since Lia is pregnant with your child, why tagging that parasite along? Get rid of her quickly!"

"A girl with no estate, no backing. But Lia... she carries the Salvatore name in her womb now. The Elders are already ecstatic. The lineage is secured."

I felt the paper of the paternity test crinkle in my trembling grip. Lia? Damien’s childhood friend? She had been away for months.

"Mom..." Damien pressed her hand softly, "Serene knows no one. If I kick her out, where would she go? I don't want Lia to take anyone's curse. So, let her be in the house for a while."

"Besides, she is as obedient as a servant in the house. Why must you be against her every time?"

Though Damien took my side in front of his mother, however the words he used, ripped my heart.

So, that was what I had been in his eyes. A servant.

"Besides..." He turned to face Lia. Gently wrapping his hands around Lia's belly, he said, "Having more women at home will be good for my baby to be well taken care of."

I watched his eyes fixed at Lia's belly, the affection in his eyes. The very same affection I wanted him to have for our baby. But, not anymore.

I turned to leave. But, Damien's gaze caught my sight and he chased after me immediately.

Holding my hands outside his parents' house, he said, his voice almost hoarse, "Wh-When did you arrive, Serene?"

"Soon enough to see your true face, Damien." I said, my voice sharp.

He quickly grabbed me in his arms, saying, "Don't take me wrong, Serene. The child Lia is carrying, is not mine."

"She has been raped by a vampire hunter to save me from them. But, the child is innocent, and she wants to give birth."

"Our Clan will not accept his child, not when someone claims it as his." He said, his heart beating against mine.

"Must it be you then, sacrificing our relationship for the sake of your old love?" I asked.

"Don't be so petty, Serene!" He broke our hug, "She saved my life! I thought you would understand."

"Understand?" I smirked, "Yes, I understand, Damien. But, what about my baby then? What will come out of it now?"

"Wh-What?" Damien's eyes widened. It was hard to depict if it was shock or excitement, "Serene, you-"

"I'm pregnant." I declared. I saw his lips curling up to form a smile before a pitiful voice sounded from behind.

"Damien..." Lia came in between us, her eyes filled with tears and her hands wrapped against her belly, "You said... you will take my baby as yours and will never let anyone know that it's-"

"And, I'm still standing by my words, Lia." Damien said, his voice firm. "But, Serene is my blood bound. She deserves to know the truth. I can't lie to her."

Her lips curled up into a smug smirk, her eyes laced with ego shot a sharp glance at me before it landed back on Damien as she said, "Then you should tell her the whole truth."

"Tell her that you are going to announce our Eternal Vow Ceremony to the clan and declare her a mistake, making her your slut. And now that she is pregnant, her child will be called a bastard... born from a slut."

"Lia... Stop it," Damien groaned, "please!"

Lia quickly formed a pitiful face. Covering her belly, she said in a pretenous voice, "Don't scare my baby. If you don't want to accept it, just say it. Don't traumatize him like this."

Damien who was earlier mad at her quickly walked past me and pulled Lia in his arms. "I'm sorry, Lia. I didn't mean to scare you or the baby. Just don't take your anger on Serene. She is innocent."

I watched them being so lovey dovey before my eyes while my child just called a bastard by Lia and soon by everyone.

I wiped the corner of my eyes, clutched the paternity test reports tightly in my hands as I said, my voice laced with horror. "It's better to kill the baby before it's born than letting it be called a bastard."

"Since you are reluctant to abort Lia's child, let me make this sacrifice then."