Ch 2

"Why should I blame my father?" Rosemary whispered, rage trembling violently in her throat. She stepped forward, closing the distance between them, and stared straight into Calvin’s eyes—cold as ice. "I don’t need to blame my father, because I am the one at fault! I’m the fool who fell so easily for the sweet lie you wove for three whole years!"

Calvin only offered a lopsided, dismissive smile. Not a flicker of regret touched his handsome face. The mask of the loving husband he’d hidden behind for years had fallen away completely, revealing a stranger—a devil—Rosemary had never known.

"I told you before, Rosemary," Calvin replied, his tone as casual as if discussing the weather. "If I’m to take revenge on your father for my father’s death, then the daughter he loves most, the one he’s proudest of… you are the one I must destroy first."

"Oh, so you think destroying me will destroy my father?" A bitter laugh broke from her lips, tangled with endless tears. "You are so small-minded, Calvin!"

"Exactly!" Calvin cut in sharply, his gaze hardening like steel. The fire of vengeance burned bright and fierce in his eyes. "I’ll hurt you, torment you mentally, until you no longer have the strength to go on living! I want your father to know what it feels like to watch his own flesh and blood shatter into pieces—while he’s helpless to do a thing!"

"You monster!"

In the height of her fury, Rosemary flung the folded paper she’d been clutching so tightly in her hand. The white hospital lab report floated through the air, struck Calvin’s chest, and landed with a sharp slap on the cold granite floor.

Calvin looked down. His eyes caught the bold capital letters printed at the bottom of the page. Pregnancy Test Result: Positive. His brow furrowed deeply, his breath catching for a moment as he read it.

"You… you’re pregnant?" His voice grew heavy, shifting between the paper and her face.

Rosemary scoffed coldly, wiping the tears from her cheeks roughly. "Relax, my esteemed Mr. Calvin! I would never deign to give birth to your child!"

Calvin’s expression shifted drastically in an instant. His arrogance vanished, replaced by taut, intense urgency. "You will not get rid of this baby! You will carry it to term!" He growled, stepping forward and gripping her shoulders firmly.

"Why should I?!" Rosemary shouted, shaking his hands off her body. "Don’t you despise me? Isn’t the blood running through my veins poison to you?!"

SLAP!

The sound of a harsh crack echoed through the silent hallway. Rosemary’s head snapped to the side as Calvin’s palm struck her left cheek hard. Heat flared instantly across her skin—but the pain in her heart cut far deeper.

"I will never give birth to your child!" Rosemary screamed, hysterical, breath coming in ragged gasps. Without another moment’s hesitation, she turned and fled—leaving Calvin standing frozen before his study door.

Calvin rubbed his trembling fingers, then roared loud enough to pierce the silence of the grand house. "Bibi! Watch over Rosemary! Do not let her set foot outside this house! Cut all phone lines and internet connections—she is not to leave or contact anyone!"

"At once, Sir!" the maid’s voice trembled from downstairs, filled with fear.

Rosemary ran up the stairs to their bedroom. She slammed the heavy wooden door so hard the sound reverberated through every corner of the room, then turned the key with shaking hands.

"I won’t stay in this hell a moment longer! I’d rather go far away from this cursed place!" she muttered, caught between panic and heartbreak.

With fingers trembling violently, she pulled a large suitcase from the wardrobe. She threw the doors open, grabbed armfuls of clothes without care for neatness, and tossed them inside. Tears fell onto the fabric she packed, but her resolve was set. She had to save herself—and the life growing inside her—from this handsome devil’s grasp.

After zipping the case shut, she grabbed the handle and hurried toward the exit. But the moment she opened the bedroom door and reached the main hall, several broad, uniformed men in black stood in a tight line, blocking her path.

"Madam, we are sorry. Mr. Calvin has forbidden you from leaving the house," one guard stated flatly, arms crossed to bar her way.

Rosemary stood breathless, staring at the wall of men. The anger that had briefly faded roared back to life, burning through her chest.

"Damn you, Calvin!" she cursed, overcome with despair.

Realizing every exit was locked and guarded, she turned back. She dropped the suitcase onto the carpet and stormed back upstairs to his study, fury and agony warring within her. She kicked the door open so hard it slammed against the wall.

He stood by the large window, glass of liquor in hand, his back to her.

"What do you want, Calvin?!" Rosemary shrieked, voice cracking with emotion. "Are you going to lock me up here like a prisoner?!"

Calvin turned slowly. He took a calm sip of his drink, then looked at her—not a flicker of panic in his eyes.

"Give birth to the child," he said, cold and absolute, leaving no room for argument. "And once it’s born, hand it over to me. Then, and only then, will my debt to your father be considered paid."

"Do you think I’m some kind of object?!" Rosemary cried, fresh tears spilling fast. "A baby-making machine?! I will never give birth to a child just to feed your ego and your sick, twisted revenge!"

"Rosemary, you have no choice—not while you’re under this roof!" Calvin threatened, stepping closer, looming over her with an intimidating glare. "Like it or not, you will have this baby!"

Rosemary laughed sharply, looking him straight in the dark, cruel eyes without an ounce of fear. "You think I’m foolish enough to hand this child over to you? Listen well, Calvin—you’re no father! You’re a monster! And I will never sacrifice an innocent baby to be the pawn in your hateful game!"

"Don’t be so stubborn, Rosemary!" Calvin shouted, clenching his fists in the air.

"Why not?!" Rosemary challenged, stepping right up to him, striking his chest boldly. "Why don’t you like hearing the truth?! If it hurts so much—hit me again! Slap me until you’re satisfied!"