Chapter 8

It was the final day before the wedding.

I had to return to the Johnson estate to retrieve my passport and ID.

As I reached the top of the spiral staircase, Elena blocked my path like a phantom.

At that moment, Gavin and Kalen were downstairs in the study discussing the wedding flow, leaving the hallway deserted.

Elena dropped her facade of fragility. She crossed her arms, looking down at me with a smirk full of malice.

"Ivy, how do you even have the face to come back?"

I clenched my fists and stared at her coldly. "None of your business. Move."

"Tsk, still so tough?"

Elena leaned in a step closer, lowering her voice to a whisper filled with provocation.

"I'll let you in on a secret. That day in the forest? Gavin knew I was faking my injury the whole time. But he still chose to take me away and leave you there like a dog."

"Oh, and about those ashes... I didn't actually flush them down the toilet. I mixed them into the dog food for the estate's mastiff. I watched that dog lick the bowl clean."

*Boom—*

The last string of my sanity snapped.

"You vicious bitch!"

My eyes turned red, and I lunged at her, losing all control.

However, Elena was prepared.

She side-stepped and shoved me hard.

"Go to hell!"

My body was already weak. My foot slipped, and I lost my balance instantly.

"Ah—!"

With a short scream, I tumbled down the high spiral staircase.

The world spun.

The steps acted like blunt weapons, battering my spine and limbs over and over.

Finally, I landed heavily on the marble floor of the first floor.

A tearing pain ripped through my abdomen, as if something was being forcibly stripped from my body.

A stream of warm liquid flowed down my legs, staining the expensive carpet red.

Blood.

So much blood.

"What happened?!"

The study door burst open, and Gavin and Kalen rushed out.

Seeing me lying in a pool of blood, Gavin's pupils constricted violently.

"Ivy!"

He rushed over, intending to pick me up.

"Ah! Gavin... I'm so scared..."

At the top of the stairs, Elena covered her mouth, her body trembling as she let out a terrified cry.

"It was Ivy... she suddenly went crazy and tried to push me... but she lost her footing and fell... so much blood... I'm so scared..."

Gavin paused mid-motion.

He looked up at the "traumatized" Elena, a flash of heartache in his eyes.

Kalen frowned, his tone actually carrying blame:

"Sister-in-law, can't you just behave? The wedding is tomorrow, and you have to cause a bloodbath? Are you trying to curse us?"

I couldn't speak from the pain. I could only grip his collar tightly, tears mixing with cold sweat streaming down my face.

" The baby... save the baby..."

Gavin froze, his gaze finally landing on my blood-soaked dress.

Realization dawned on him. His face changed color, and he scooped me up, rushing toward the door.

Kalen stayed behind to comfort Elena. "Don't be afraid, I'm here. That crazy woman brought this on herself; it has nothing to do with you."

---

When I woke up from the anesthesia and was wheeled back to the ward, my belly felt empty, and there was a gaping hole in my heart.

The doctor held the medical chart, shaking his head regretfully. "You arrived too late. Plus, your body had suffered from extreme cold and emotional stress recently. We couldn't save the baby. It was a formed boy."

I lay on the hospital bed, staring at the ceiling, dry-eyed.

The door opened.

Gavin walked in.

"Awake?"

He placed a food container on the bedside table, a look of pity on his face.

"I've settled the medical bills. This is a nutritious meal from the hospital cafeteria. Eat it while it's hot; you need to recover."

"The doctor said you miscarried. Since the child is gone, just focus on getting your health back."

"We... are still young. We can have children later."

"Where is Elena?" I asked, my voice raspy.

Gavin adjusted his cuffs, speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world:

"She was terrified. She's on an IV in the ward next door. Kalen is with her."

"She kept crying earlier, saying it was her fault and that she shouldn't have argued with you. Look, Ivy, how kind she is."

"You can't fully blame her for this. It... it was just an accident."

I looked at the man in front of me.

He was still so handsome, so gentlemanly.

He even thoughtfully opened the food container for me and placed the spoon by my hand.

"Eat. The wedding will proceed as planned tomorrow. I'll make it up to you after we're married."

I didn't take the spoon.

I turned my head and looked through the half-open door to the hallway opposite.

Elena was sitting in a wheelchair, being pushed out by Kalen for some fresh air.

Seeing I wasn't eating, Gavin assumed I was throwing a tantrum again. He sighed, turned around, and walked out.

He walked toward Elena.

He crouched down, gently holding Elena's hand and wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes.

He looked so careful, so tender, as if Elena was the one who had just miscarried and lost a child.

"Don't cry, it's not your fault."

Gavin's voice was gentle enough to drip water. Even across the hallway, I could hear every word clearly.

"Ivy has a strong constitution; she'll be fine in a couple of days. But you, your health is fragile. Don't hurt yourself over such a small matter."

"Gavin... the baby..."

"It doesn't matter." Gavin stroked her head. "As long as *you* are okay."

*As long as you are okay.*

I watched that scene.

I watched the harmonious picture of the three of them. I watched Gavin completely disregard my child just to comfort that murderer.

Suddenly, I felt the last trace of pain vanish from my body.

What remained was an endless numbness.

The greatest grief is a silent, dead heart.

So this is what that feels like.

I slowly turned my head back, refusing to look at them for even another second.

I picked up the spoon and ate the lukewarm meal, mouthful by mouthful.

Mechanical chewing. Mechanical swallowing.

I needed strength.

I needed to survive.

Gavin didn't know.

Along with the departure of that child, the Ivy who loved him died completely in this cold afternoon.