Chapter 2

~Serah POV~

I woke the next morning with red eyes and an empty bed. The maids entered quietly, their faces blank as they set down a tray of untouched food, avoided my gaze, and slipped out again as though I were contagious. I sat there for hours, staring at the cold bread, until a knock broke the silence.

The healer entered, a frail man, his hands trembling as he bowed. "My lady, forgive the intrusion. I was ordered to examine you, as is tradition for newly bound brides."

I forced myself to sit straighter. "Alright."

He worked in silence, muttering incantations, checking my pulse and aura, then he froze as his eyes widened.

"What is it?" I asked quickly.

"My lady…" His voice trembled. "You carry a child."

I blinked. "A… child? You mean a child in my belly?"

"Yes." His lips quivered into a hesitant smile.

"That's the lord's heir."

I scoffed and was confused, because an heir? Jethro's heir? Perhaps this was my chance, my one piece of leverage, if love wasn't enough, maybe duty was. "Thank you," I whispered.

After he left, I clutched my stomach with both hands, tears filling my eyes. I have a child, my own child and, for the first time since the wedding, hope flickered in my chest. By evening, I gathered my courage and went to find Jethro.

The council chamber was lively with voices, nobles filled the hall, whispering, gossiping, their jeweled cloaks glittering under the chandeliers. At the far end, Jethro sat on his throne, looking sharp and untouchable and at his side, of course... was Lydia.

I exhaled hard and stepped forward, the whispers rose immediately from the gossip mongers! "Isn't that the new bride?"

"Why does she look so desperate? Unbelievable!"

"Perhaps she's already been discarded like trash she is."

I ignored them. "My lord," I said, forcing my voice steady.

Jethro's gaze slid lazily towards me. "Why are you here?"

"I have news." I placed a hand on my stomach. "I… I carry your child."

The chamber stilled instantly and even Lydia's smirk faltered for a moment before stretching wider.

Jethro rose slowly, descending the steps until he stood before me, his eyes narrowed, searching my face. "Say that again."

"I'm pregnant," I repeated, trying to smile. "It's yours, our heir."

A silence fell, thick and heavy, then Jethro burst into laughter, a cold, cruel laugh that rang through the hall. "You expect me to believe this nonsense you just said?" His voice dripped with disdain. "That you… a scheming sh*t forced on me, managed to conceive my child?"

My heart stopped. "Why? Why wouldn't you believe me? I've been faithful to you."

"Faithful?" He stepped closer, aura pressing down until my knees threatened to buckle. "You? Don't insult me, this is a ploy, a desperate attempt to chain me with lies. You're so pathetic!"

Gasps echoed around us as Lydia placed a delicate hand over her lips. "Oh, Jethro, surely she wouldn't—"

"Silence," he snapped, though his hand lingered on her arm.

I reached for him, voice cracking. "Jethro, please, I'm not lying, I swear it...."

He slapped my hand away. "Enough!" His shout thundered through the chamber. "I don't want you and I don't want your child! From this moment, you are nothing to me."

The words tore through me, sharper than any blade and my body shook, breath coming in ragged gasps. "You'll cast me out," I whispered, "while I carry your heir?"

His eyes were merciless. "Heir? Do not mock me, no child of yours could ever be mine! So leave, Serah, before I decide to rid myself of you entirely."

The chamber roared with murmurs. Some pitied me most relished the scandal.

Tears burned my eyes, but I forced myself to stand tall. "You'll regret this!"

His only answer was his back as he turned and walked away. Then, that night, I returned to my family's estate, desperate for some fragment of comfort. My mother and father were waiting. Their faces were cold masks.

"You've shamed us," Father spat the moment I stepped inside.

"You've brought nothing but disgrace to the family, your stepsister is better than you!" Mother added. "The whole court whispers of your humiliation."

I fell to my knees. "Please, I've done everything you asked. I married him and endured his cruelty, bore the humiliation and now, is it my fault? Lydia should be blame! Why is nobody saying anything concerning that?"

"Because she is more useful than you!" My father spat.

I placed a hand over my stomach, voice trembling. "I carry his child, a blessing."

My mother's eyes hardened. "Do not call that b*st*rd a blessing!"

Father's lip curled. "You've failed us! You couldn't win his heart, you couldn't secure your place, and now you come to us with excuses? Enough."

I grabbed his robes desperately. "I have nowhere to go father, please, let me stay..."

He shoved me back. "You are no daughter of mine! From this night on, the name Duskbane is closed on you."

The door shut in my face, leaving me crumpled on the cold stone. Hours later, I staggered back to the mansion's gates, hoping foolishly that Jethro might have changed his mind, but the guards barred my way.

"Orders from the lord," one sneered. "You're banished."

I tried to push past them, but they shoved me into the dirt, then laughter followed as I crawled to my feet, clutching my stomach. Suddenly, rain began to fall, soaking me to the bone. As the mansion lights blurred through my tears. "Fine," I whispered to the storm. "If none of you want me, I'll go but remember this..." My hand tightened protectively over my belly. "I am not alone, I have my baby by my side."

Lightning split the sky, thunder shaking the ground and at that moment, as the rain washed blood from my scraped palms, I made a vow that I would protect this child, I would raise them far from this cruelty and one day, when fate brought me back, Jethro Veylen would kneel at my feet not as my lord, but as a man begging for what he once cast away.

The wind swallowed my words, carrying them into the night, but inside me, a tiny heartbeat answered. My child's heartbeat is the only reason to keep breathing.