Chapter 0008

Bryce wasn't aware of what came over him. He just acted out of instinct. A few seconds ago, he was discussing a project with his business allies. Now, he was standing here…holding Rachel's grip tight.

Rachel was visibly terrified. Her eyes were widened as he held her, his blue eyes piercing into her chestnut eyes.

Bryce never cared. After their first anniversary, he didn't care about who she talked to, the kind of people she made her friends and if she gave her body to other men.

But here he was, overreacting just because she is sitting with Dominic. Was that how much he resented him?

“Rachel, I said for God's sake, what the hell happened here? What is he doing here?” Elara said, not hiding the resentment in her voice.

Bryce turned to Dominic. “What did you do to her?”

“Do you really care?” Dominic mocked. “Don’t pretend like you do, Mr. Voss. If there is anyone who could harm her right now, it would be you. Am I right, Rachel?”

Rachel was mute. Every instinct in her screamed to push Bryce away but she could not let herself do it, not in the midst of the elites.

“Leave me alone,” she whispered to Bryce's hearing. He let go of her hands.

She turned to Elara. “I'm sorry, El. This isn't what I expected, I think I have to go… thank you for celebrating me, and making it memorable.”

Elara shook her head slowly, “no Rachel, you can't just go when I just brought the cake.” Her voice was low.

“Please Elara. In order not to create a scene. I promise, once the fourteen days are over, I'll come.” Rachel explained.

Elara nods, then turns to Bryce, shooting him a deadly glare. “I wonder what kind of husband doesn't remember his wife's birthday.” She hissed under her breath.

Bryce froze, turning to Rachel who didn't look at him. Elara grabs her purse to go, she glances at Rachel who gives her a reassuring nod before leaving.

Dominic sat on his chair, legs crossed, taking constant sip from the red wine and swirling the cup. He watched the two couples but constantly stared at Rachel... her brown hair cascading down her back, almost longer than her dress.

Without another word, Bryce took Rachel's arm and led her away, ignoring the curious glance that followed them.

“Bryce,” Rachel's voice was filled with pain. “Bryce, what are you doing?”

He didn't respond. He kept moving till they were out of the restaurant. Rachel couldn't understand what had made him react that way.

“Bryce!” She called out and Bryce stopped. He turned, staring at her from head to toe.

“Today is your birthday.” Bryce said. “Why didn't you remind me?”

Rachel glared at him. “Remind you?” She laughed, but there was no warmth. “You're just the opposite of what a husband should be.” Her voice was steady, stripped of shame.

Bryce's gaze locked on hers. “Why are you dressed like this? You're not even putting on your wedding ring.”

Rachel looked down at her body, “what's wrong with my dressing, if I may ask? And why should I put on the ring when we're about to get divorced?”

Bryce ran his hand through his hair. “You should at least have respect for the family name. You still bear my name and till we get divorced, I'll let you go around dressing like a stripper.”

Rachel's jaw dropped. She stared at him for a while before speaking. “S—so you are saying that…I am a stripper?”

Bryce exhaled, “look woman, I do have a name. And I won't let you destroy it with your indecency.”

“So you're trying to say you're the decent one? Someone who got a lady pregnant behind his wife's back?” Rachel said, her voice seething with rage.

Bryce scoffed sharply. “I did it because you could not bear me an heir!” He snapped.

Rachel stepped back instinctively, swallowing back the tears that threatened to spill. He used her condition against her? She placed her hands on her stomach, lowering her head.

“What has gotten over you?” Bryce asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

“I should be asking you that! You just—”

Rachel was cut short when Bryce's phone buzzed in his pocket. He picked the call.

“Hello…What happened?... I'll be there in fifteen minutes.” He said and ended the call.

He turned to Rachel.“I'm sorry, I have to go. Marissa's not feeling well. I'll tell Alton to come pick you up—”

“I'll go on my own.” Rachel said and turned away, without sparing Bryce a glance, his words kept replaying in her head.

***

When Rachel had reached home, the Mansion was quiet, save for the kitchen staff that cooked. She climbed upstairs, about to enter her room when Hana's voice came from behind.

“Mrs. Voss, dinner is ready. Should I bring it up to your room?”

Rachel nodded. “Yes, dear.” Hana nods and leaves.

Rachel enters her room and leans against the door, finally letting tears flow freely from her eyes. She had held herself for so long…she had tried to be strong, to be confident, but—

Bryce's words to her were so cruel. He was the least person she expected those words to come out from… how was she so stupid?

Why has her life always been so unfortunate? When she was twelve years old, she lost her mother in a fatal accident, and her father dumped her to get married to another lady.

It was Elara who picked her up and trained her to this level. Now, she was being treated badly by the family she adored all because of the illness none of them knew about.

Rachel wipes her tears with the back of her hands. Just then, she feels pain…

A sharp pain in her abdomen, she curls her hands around her stomach, biting her lip tightly to try and ease the pain, but it wasn't helping.

“No, no, no.” She mumbled, tears spilling out the more. She clutched her stomach tightly.

That was it. Cancer. She knew what followed next after the excruciating pain but she prayed it would not happen.

This was the wrong timing.

She could not let anyone know about this. She managed to get up from the ground and walk towards the bathroom but on reaching the door, she collapsed to the floor.

Then she felt it. A thick red liquid, crawling down her lap, staining the marble floor. Her blood.

“Ma'am?” Hana's voice came from the door. “Can I come in?”

The pain was unbearable. And in a small, inaudible voice, Rachel pleaded.

“H—help me.”

Everything went black.