Chapter 3

Anastasia's POV

I'd learned my lesson. From that day on, whenever Timothy came to see me, I greeted him with a gentle smile. I never asked where he had been or when he would return.

When Sarah deliberately wore my mother's bracelet just to flaunt it in front of me, I ignored her. I didn't fight with her and didn't give in to jealousy. I simply let her have it.

At first, Timothy seemed satisfied, saying this was the only way we could all live together in peace. But within days, he started looking uneasy.

That day, he strode into my room, snatched the pen from my hand, and hurled it to the floor.

"Ana…"

When I said nothing, he crouched before me. His eyes were clouded with panic and agitation as he said, "Don't do this. You can cry, scream, throw things, and curse at me if you want. Just don't shut me out like this. This isn't who you are."

I lifted my gaze and studied him quietly.

What was he afraid of? That I had truly given up on him? Or was he simply afraid of losing someone who had always been willing to shoulder everything for him?

The thought struck me as absurd.

At the end of the day, Timothy wanted it all. He wanted two women revolving around him—one to give him love, and the other to suffer everything in his place. But there was no way he could have the best of both worlds.

I simply bent down, picked up the pen, and placed it back in its holder. "As you say, General. I understand."

His hand stiffened on my shoulder. He looked as though he wanted to speak, but in the end, the words never came.

At that moment, a war horn blared outside, and Timothy's expression hardened. Word had come that the enemy army was closing in.

He shot to his feet, pulled me up, and spoke rapidly. "What's left of the barbarian army has returned. This time, their prince is leading them, and they have a sizable force. We might not be able to hold the city."

Timothy pulled me toward the door. Just before we reached it, he suddenly stopped.

"You and Sarah need to get somewhere safe. Once we drive them back, I'll come for both of you."

Having said that, he shoved me into a carriage, swung into the saddle, and rode off toward the city gates without looking back.

…

The convoy sped through the night, and torches flickered in the wind. Edna pressed herself close to me, her palms slick with sweat.

We hadn't gone far when a young soldier galloped up with orders.

"The General's orders. Ms. Tucker is to be taken to Ravenstone. That's a fortress. Its walls are easy to defend and nearly impossible to breach. She'll be safe there."

He paused for a beat before adding, "As for Mrs. Grayson, she's to go to the south gate."

Silence fell inside the carriage, then Edna shot to her feet. Her eyes widened as she demanded, "The south gate? That's outside the city! It'll be the first place the barbarians attack. You're sending her there to die!"

Edna started to protest again, but I placed a hand over hers.

"Escape while you still can," I urged. "You might still make it."

I had already decided to die, so it made no difference where I went.

But Edna refused to leave me. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't change her mind. In the end, I had no choice but to let her come with me.

…

When we reached the south gate, the soldiers were overcome with emotion at the sight of me.

They murmured that the General had even sent his wife to the front lines and that he intended for her to stand with them to the end.

All at once, their spirits soared.

But only I knew. Sarah, the woman Timothy loved most, was safe inside Ravenstone. Every precaution had been taken to keep her safe.

The horizon burned red, and the siege began.

I wasn't hit by an arrow, yet a searing pain suddenly tore through my left arm.

Timothy had been struck by an arrow on the front line. I felt every ounce of that pain as though the arrow had struck me instead.

I gritted my teeth and made no sound. Then came the second wound, and the third.

After that came the slash of a blade, followed by the dull, crushing impact of a heavy weapon striking armor. Pain erupted across my body again and again.

I leaned against the wall, cold sweat beading on my forehead.

Edna, on the other hand, sobbed as she tore strips from her dress to wrap my wounds. But as soon as she finished bandaging one wound, another appeared. The sight made her hands tremble violently with panic.

Just then, an arrow came streaking up from below and struck me in the right arm.

Edna screamed as she threw herself toward me, sobbing. "Get back, Mrs. Grayson! Please, get back!"

I lifted my head and looked toward Ravenstone through the smoke and the relentless rain of arrows. Sarah was probably safe inside a stone chamber, surrounded by guards.

My right hand instinctively rested against my lower abdomen. I was carrying one more secret.

The day after I tried to bite through my tongue, I began feeling unwell. I secretly sent for a doctor in the city.

"You're pregnant, Mrs. Grayson. More than a month along," the doctor had said.

After that, I paid him twice his usual fee to keep his mouth shut.

And now, I felt profoundly grateful. Timothy didn't deserve to be the father of my child.

…

As expected, the city gate fell. The barbarian cavalry surged through, their savage cries deafening as they closed in around me.

The soldiers defending the walls scattered in every direction. Meanwhile, Timothy's personal guards spurred their horses toward Ravenstone to retrieve Sarah.

As a sword came down, Edna threw herself in front of me.

"No!" I screamed with every last ounce of strength I had.