Chapter 1

Mira’s POV

I opened my eyes to the steady hum of the hospital machines, the ache in my arm reminding me what I had done, again. My head ached; my skin was pale and numbed.

I looked around the room and saw the doctor standing by the window, his arms were crossed and he was staring at me.

“You’re awake,” he said, walking closer. “You should be careful. If you give out any more blood, you might lose the baby.”

It felt like a bucket of cold water was thrown over me as I tried to make sense of what he said. I might lose the baby. Again. I can’t afford to lose my baby again.

I forced out a smile. “I’ll be careful.”

He nodded, scribbling something on his clipboard before setting it aside and turning back to me. “You’ve been discharged. You’re free to go.”

“Discharged?” I said in disbelief. “But I still feel weak.”

He adjusted his glasses and sighed. “Your husband already handled the bills. He also signed the discharge papers. Any additional expenses incurred now would be on you.”

It took me a second to process what he said. Joseph already signed the papers. Did he leave me here?

“Where is he?” I asked.

“He left with your daughter and her aunt. You were still asleep.”

“Oh.” Was all I could say because what else was there for me to say?

After giving my blood again to our dear daughter, I was toss aside again like a useless commodity.

My eyes welled up with tears.

The doctor walked to the door and turned back to look at me. “You should leave before noon. Just make sure to rest well and you will be fine.”

Then, he left.

The tears trickled down my face. It happened so many times that I was supposed to be used to it, but I couldn’t help the hurt I felt.

Six years ago, I had abandoned the deal with my grandfather to follow the man I loved. Joseph Duke. A man I thought would do anything for me, make my dreams come true. Love me like they do in fairytales. Who would have thought…

I, Mira Thomas Andrew, heiress of the Andrew Family would be seen penniless. I do not even have the funds to stay a day longer in the hospital.

I reached for my phone from the side table and dialed the only number that made sense at that moment. Ann. My best friend and work colleague.

“Ann?” My voice cracked.

She answered on the first ring. “Please don’t tell me you did it again.”

“I…” I started.

She cut me off. “I told you not to keep draining your blood like that, Mira! You’re pregnant, for God’s sake!”

I bit my lip, too tired to argue. “I couldn’t just stand there and watch her suffer. She’s my daughter.”

My daughter, Fiona, has a rare blood disease and gets short of blood every now and then. It was my responsibility to always be there for her whenever she needed me. I don’t care what it takes; I will suck myself dry for my daughter if I have to.

She sighed. “I know that, but…” Ann sighed. “Stay put. I’m coming to get you.”

I dropped the phone after the call and waited. My head kept spinning and my throat tightened.

I got a call at work that Fiona was rushed to the hospital again. My blood ran cold. My only child. I rushed down as soon as possible because I knew she would need blood.

I wasn’t doing it for anyone else but my daughter. My Fiona. She is my only sanity right now. My only safe place.

Ann came soon after, her features etched in worry.

“You look like shit,” she muttered, helping me sit up. “Come on; let’s get you home before I murder your husband for real this time.”

She rolled me out of the hospital with a nurse's help and into her car.

We barely even drove the car away from the hospital’s parking lot before she turned to me.

“You’re carrying your seventh pregnancy, Mira,” she said. “You shouldn’t even be standing for long, let alone donating blood. You’ve already lost too many pregnancies”.

“I’ll be fine,” I lied softly.

She gave me a quick glance before focusing back on the road. “No, you won’t. You’re bleeding yourself out for people who don’t even care about you.”

My jaws clenched. I wasn’t doing this for Joseph. I am doing it for my daughter. I know Ann won’t understand that so I didn’t bother to explain. Instead, I turned my face to the window, biting back my answer.

When we reached my house, Ann stayed back to properly park while I ventured into the house. I could already hear laughter coming from the living room before I even stepped inside.

My heart clenched. They were having fun while I was left behind at the hospital.

I walked in slowly, my body feeling way heavier than it should.

I found my daughter on the couch and my face broke into a smile. She looked fine. She looked healthy and I was glad that yet again, my blood saved her. She was stuffing herself full of candies and watching TV.

My brows arched when I saw the candies and sweets she was taking. Julie, my step-sister was with her, yet she allowed her to take candies? She was still recovering and she just came back from the hospital.

Ignoring Julie, I walked up to Fiona,

“Sweetheart,” I said softly, giving her a smile. “That’s enough. You just got back from the hospital. Too many candies will hurt your stomach.”

She didn’t even look up at me. “It’s none of your business. You’re not my mom.” She said, picking up another candy from the bowl and throwing it into her mouth.

I froze. “What?”

She turned to me, her face scrunching up in annoyance. “You’re just the maid. Don’t tell me what to do!”

Her words hit me like a bullet to my chest. That was new. I looked at Julie but she pretended she didn’t even hear what Fiona had said.

I knelt down in front of her. “Don’t say that, honey. You’re still recovering. Mommy was only scared for you…”

“I told you not to say that! You’re not my mother!” she screamed, covering her ears and standing up immediately. “You’re just a useless, good for nothing maid!”

My eyes widened.

Before I could say anything else, I heard heavy footsteps rushing down the stairs.

It was Joseph, my husband.

I didn’t even know he was home.

He walked towards me, his expression filled with anger. “What did you do?” He asked, his voice cold, “Why is Fiona screaming like that?”

“I… she…” I croaked out, trying to explain the situation.

Before I could finish my sentence, a resounding slap landed on my left cheek. The impact sent me to the floor instantly, my cheek burning. My eyes stung with tears, wide as I stared at him in disbelief.

Fiona ran to Joseph and he immediately picked her up,

“Daddy, she wanted to steal my candies. She wanted to beat me up. She was warning me not to eat the candies and said the candies were hers.”

“That… That’s a lie…” I couldn’t even believe that Fiona could lie like that. My eyes searched Julie’s face, hoping she would tell Joseph what exactly happened but she acted like she didn’t even know I was there.

“How dare you?!” Joseph barked, marching towards me again.

“Are you insane?!” Ann’s voice came from the doorway. She ran forward, crouching beside me. “She’s pregnant! She literally just got out of the hospital!”

“Then tell her to stay out of my daughter’s business!” Joseph barked back.

“Joseph, this lady literally---” I held Ann’s arm, stopping her from speaking any further. There was no use anyway.

As for Joseph, he didn’t even show an ounce of remorse for his actions, he picked up the candies and left with Fiona.

That was it. No apology. No accountability. Just pure indifference. The tears trickled down my face unwillingly. How could he do that to me?

“Welcome back, sis.” Julie spoke for the first time before walking upstairs as well.

Ann helped me up gently, her hands trembling from anger. “I swear, Mira, one day I’m dragging you out of here, whether you like it or not.”

I didn’t answer but my hand instinctively went to my stomach.

I felt a small kick at my belly and let out a sigh of relief. The baby was still there. My baby was still alive.