Chapter 2

CRYSTAL.

ONE MONTH LATER.

The nights were colder in the servants’ quarters.

Maybe it was the wind slipping through the cracked window, or maybe it was just me feeling empty, feverish, and forgotten.

I was shivering so hard my teeth clattered. I'd been sick for almost a week now, and no one cared about me. No one even came to check on me, except Merilyn, one of the maids. Sweet, kind Merilyn — the only person in that entire house who still looked at me like I existed.

She told me she’ll try to talk to Tessa about my condition, hoping she’d tell my parents, but I begged her not to. I didn’t want their pity. I didn’t want their disgust walking back through that door.

I’d called them for days — Dad, Mum, even Derek — no one picked up. It was like I’d died, and the world simply carried on without me.

The last time I glanced at the mirror, I couldn't recognize myself anymore. My eyes were dull, my lips cracked, skin pale and hollow. I’d lost weight, color, even the little bit of pride I used to hold in my spine.

I looked like someone who’d been erased.

But I kept telling myself that it was worth it. I kept checking the calendar every single day, and according to what Jaden told me before he left, he should be back any moment.

I was so certain he'd be happy about having our baby, too.

“Here, Crystal.”

Merilyn’s whisper dragged me back. She placed a small plate on the floor beside my bed — cold rice, some bread crust, maybe soup scraped from someone else’s bowl.

“This is all I could get from the leftovers,” she said softly.

I coughed.

Merilyn looked frightened.

“You should see a doctor,” she murmured, wringing her hands.

I shook my head. “They won’t let me.” My fingers drifted to my stomach. “I just need to get better… for him.”

I hesitated, then asked, almost afraid of the answer: “Is Derek home?”

If anyone could help me now, it was my brother. Even if he hated me, maybe he’d still care enough to save my child.

"No, dear. He went to see Jaden." Merilyn said, and my breath screeched to a stop.

Everything inside me froze.

For a moment, I thought I hadn’t heard right.

My hand went still on my stomach.

“W… what did you say?” I croaked, my voice trembling.

She blinked, confused by my reaction. “He went to see Jaden. He came back about three days ago. Didn’t you know?”

The air left my lungs.

Jaden was back?

He’d been back for three whole days.

And he hadn’t come to look for me?

My heartbeat crashed against my ribs. The room spun. For a second, I thought I might faint, but instead I stumbled to my feet, clutching the side of the bed.

“Jaden’s back…” I whispered.

I swear, I felt the urge to get upset and confront him about not reaching out to me since he returned. But the joy of even knowing he was back surpassed that anger.

Because, for the first time in weeks, I felt my heart beat for something other than pain.

I didn’t even feel my feet hit the ground as I bolted out the door.

I could already imagine the moment we’d lock eyes, the shock on his face when he saw what I’d endured, the way his arms would wrap around me again, whispering, “I’m here, Crystal. I’m sorry.”

He’d tell me he’d missed me. That everything was going to be fine now.

He’d tell me we’d raise our baby together, just like he promised.

I pressed a trembling hand over my stomach as I ran.

“Hold on, little one,” I whispered. “Daddy’s back.”

When I finally reached the entrance of the Astor estate, my vision swam from exhaustion.

I slowed near the garden fence, catching my breath, and then I saw three people.

Derek.

Jaden.

And a woman I’d never seen before.

She was standing too close to him. Her hair gleamed like something out of a magazine, her dress hugging every perfect curve. She was radiant... She was everything I wasn’t anymore.

And then Jaden laughed.

He actually laughed.

His arm slid easily around her waist, pulling her closer.

The woman tilted her face toward him, smiling, and he kissed her cheek.

Right there.

In front of Derek.

In front of God.

In front of nature.

My heart stopped.

The sound of my own pulse roared in my ears. My knees buckled.

I stumbled, gripping the fence so hard the splinters cut into my palms.

It couldn’t be real.

No.

This wasn’t my Jaden. This wasn't the man who swore he’d love me.

He was supposed to be mine.

He promised.

My vision blurred until the world melted into colors I couldn’t name.

I shook my head slowly, as if that would fix what I’d just seen. “No,” I whispered. “No, no, no…”

He looked happy. Genuinely happy.

“Hey!?”

I heard someone yell harshly from behind me. I turned sharply with a gasp and came face to face with one of the Astor maids.

She was staring at me like I was something filthy she’d found on her shoes.

She crossed her arms. “What are you doing here? Did anyone invite you?”

I swallowed hard, forcing out words through the lump in my throat. “That woman… who is she?”

The maid smirked, her tone dripping venom. “That’s Miss Valerie. Mr. Jaden’s fiancée. They’re getting married next week. Everyone knows that.” She scoffed, "Everyone except outcasts who live in the mountains."

The words sliced clean through me.

Fiancée.

Married.

Next week.

I froze. The ground beneath me tilted.

For a moment, I didn’t even realize I was crying — until I tasted salt on my lips.

The maid’s voice cut in again, cruel and casual. “You should really leave. You’re not wanted here. Outcasts don’t belong in this house.”

I stared past her — at Jaden, still laughing, still holding her.

My chest tightened until I could barely breathe.

I wanted to scream.

I swear I wanted to rush to him, to slap him, and beg him to tell me it wasn’t true.

But my legs wouldn’t even move. My heart wouldn’t stop breaking long enough to form words.

I shook my head, whispering to no one. “He promised me…”

The maid sighed impatiently. “You should go.”

Something inside me cracked.

I turned and ran faster than I thought I could.

By the time I reached the door, I could barely breathe.

It hurt — God, it hurt so much I thought my chest might split open.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered to the small life inside me. “I’m so sorry I brought you into this.”

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and stood, swaying a little as dizziness washed over me. My mind was already made up. There was nothing left for me here — no love, no family, no forgiveness.

I pulled my small bag from under the bed — the same one I’d used when they threw me out of the main house. There wasn’t much to pack. A few clothes, a comb, and my toothbrush.

Merilyn had left a wool scarf on the chair one time; I took it, wrapping it tightly around my shoulders.

 I crossed the room, glancing back one last time before stepping out into the night.

This had been my prison, my punishment, my grave.

And now, I was leaving it behind.

Love wasn’t supposed to destroy you like this.

And if it did, then it wasn’t love anymore.