Chapter Three: Betrayal's Cruellest Form

"Oh, who is this cutie?"

Shaw was always around Axel. They were friends since high school, and they were in the same family group.

Shaw was always fond of Ivory, and he was more of a friend than any girl she had ever met. But now, the amusement in his eyes no longer made her smile.

Instead, they chilled her to the bone.

For a moment, she wondered who this Shaw in front of her was. Had he always been this cruel? Or did she just never see it?

She didn't want to die, and neither was she ready to lose her baby.

But she had no other choice, so she nodded. Shaw seemed pleased. He lifted his hand and brushed it against her cheek. The cold touch made her whimper.

A doctor walked forward, needle in hand. She tensed, fighting the straps binding her hands and legs. "Please stop them, Shaw, Axel!" She struggled with all her might.

Nothing happened.

Shaw stood and watched, brows furrowed.

The doctor was on her now, ready to administer the drug. The door burst open.

A stream of light flooded her eyes as she looked at the intrusion. There, blocking out the light was Axel Riggs, her husband.

She couldn't see his expression.

His steps were measured and unhurried as he made his way to them. "Free her." Axel sounded calm, too calm.

The light over her head didn't let her see his expression. Soon, her hands were free, Ana, and she wriggled her wrists from the pain.

Axel sat on a chair beside her, looking lost in thought. "Axel, are you letting the child live?" Shaw questioned, disbelief coating his words.

Instead of replying to his best friend, Axel's gaze met hers. "Do you want the child to live?"

She nodded quickly.

He frowned, then waved his hand.

"Axel! Are you out of your mind? This bitch almost ruined the empire you spent your whole life building, and you will let her go just like that?"

"Come with me." It took her a while to realize that he was speaking to her. With a shaky breath, she pushed herself off the bed. Her knees trembled, and she almost crashed to the floor, but warm arms caught her.

"Be careful." His voice was soft.

Tears stung her eyes, despite how hard she tried to hold them back. Axel carried her in his arms. Her gaze was entirely on him. Axel never went back on his words.

Why was he changing his mind?

Cold air hit her skin the moment they stepped out of the hospital. She shuddered, pressing herself into Axel to lessen the cold.

It was only then she noticed the small hospital gown clinging to her. The sound of a car door opening made her tense. "This is the last mercy I am giving to you." His voice was soft, grey irises bore into hers.

He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Ivory."

"Y-yes?"

"Let me ask you one more time, did you really not drug me that night?"

"I didn't." Her voice came out shaky.

His eyes trailed down her lower abdomen and his hand rested on it. "The child is really mine." It wasn't a question, but she nodded anyway.

When his eyes met hers again, they were lifted in a smile. A smile she had never gotten from him before.

"You love me, don't you?"

"Yes," she whispered. His smile got wider, and in a swift motion, his lips crashed into hers.

Her eyes went round, clearly not expecting the kiss, but then she closed them, enjoying the way his mint scent engulfed her and the way his arms were around her.

The way he kissed her like that night.

When he pulled away, they were both breathing heavily. "I will see you at home," he informed, brushing his lips softly on her forehead.

Despite the fatigue, she giggled. "I will see you at home." She didn't know what made him change his mind, but she was glad he did. After a long look, he stepped away, adjusted his suit and closed the door.

Her eyes caught Shaw who was visibly fuming. Before the car's engine roared to life, he shot her a deadly look.

A shiver ran down her spine and she quickly looked away.

The car began to move, and she spun around, keeping her gaze on Axel who stood at the hospital entrance and watched her leave.

It was only after they were too far away that she turned, a pout on her lips. She relaxed into the car seat.

Her heart was warm. Her lips rose in a smile as she caressed her stomach. "Baby, your dad no longer wishes to get rid of you," she whispered.

She closed her eyes, the stress of the day finally getting to her. The soft hum of the engine drew Ivory to sleep.

When her eyes finally opened again, she noticed that the car was still moving. Her brows furrowed. She quickly looked out of the window, only to realize that she couldn't recognize the path they were going.

She tensed when the car suddenly stopped. The driver got out. "W-what are you doing?" she cried out as her door opened and he dragged her out by her hair.

Instead of a reply, the unfamiliar driver pulled out a bottle and opened it. Without an explanation or anything, the content of the bottle was splashed on her face.

A shrill cry burst out of her lips as a searing pain engulfed her face. It missed her eyes narrowly.

The pain traveled up her body.

The pain was so sharp that she fell to the floor, convulsing and trembling. The smell of burning flesh filled her nose.

Even her tears made her skin hurt. The sound of something crunching under someone's feet alerted her of the driver's nearness.

"You think he really wanted to let you live?" The voice was rough. A stinging sensation made her cradle her cheek as he slapped her. "He found evidence of you colluding with his enemy to kill him."

She couldn't see her surroundings or think through the hazy pain in her head.

Axel did this!

Axel did this!!

Was all she could think. "Why?" She choked on a sob. But the man wasn't listening. He continued speaking, of how Axel wanted her to let her guard down.

Of how Axel wanted her to die a painful death after being given hope.

A sharp pain in her abdomen reminded her of her baby, and despite the pain, she remembered that she had to keep it alive.

Teeth gritted, she fisted the dust beneath her palm and flung it. Thankfully, it landed in the man's eyes. She pushed herself to her feet, hatred burning through her.

Axel did this.

More tears rolled down her cheeks, but she pushed through the pain. However, the farther she ran, the colder and harsher the wind was.

She could hear the thud of footsteps behind her. Her eyes stung and her cheek and neck were burning from pain, but she forced herself to keep moving.

Dust fell into her eyes, making her close them. However, her feet stumbled on something and she fell to the floor, rolling over and hitting anything in her way.

Instead of stopping, her body rolled from the ground and met air. The next thing she knew, the world tilted.

Her breathing became harsh and everything around her blurred. Her hair whipped her face. The sound of rushing water was all she heard before she lost consciousness from pain.