Chapter 2

Ethan’s expression froze, and he stared at me in disbelief. As I did not understand his reaction, I turned to face Hudson instead. He used to be the manor’s resident physician, so he should be able to make the call on a matter like this.

“I was very good today. I even ate the steak you cut for me. This time, I’d like some… painkillers. Is that okay?”

Hudson’s face turned as white as paper, but he still did not answer me.

Only Logan, who managed to force himself to stay calm, looked at me and asked, “Eva, what are you talking about? Having a baby is a good thing. Just give birth to it and raise it. It’s not as if–”

I shook my head, my voice firm and certain. “You remembered wrong. Getting an abortion when you are pregnant is the rule here. This is already the fourth one to be aborted.”

Ethan’s expression turned dark. He slammed his knife and fork onto the table, grabbed Hudson by the collar, and dragged him away.

“Come with me,” Ethan snarled.

He hauled Hudson into the study and slammed the door shut behind them. The house was heavily soundproofed, so only faint, muffled noises managed to seep out. It sounded like they were arguing.

I felt incredibly anxious. Left with no other options, I looked at Logan blankly, pressing my lips together as I continued, “I think I did something wrong again. Will the matron punish me for it?”

Logan’s hand trembled as he clutched his fork. He felt a heaviness in his chest. Seeing how terrified and cautious I was acting right now made it hard for him to catch his breath.

He stood up, pushed my wheelchair forward, and tried to soothe me. “Eva, no one is ever going to punish you again. You’re good. I just want you to be like you used to be. You used to laugh, get angry, call me by my full name, and even pinch my ears. Don’t do this… please?”

All I did was lower my head again, my voice growing faint and weak. “That would be crossing the line, and I will be punished for it. It was my fault. I won’t ask for painkillers anymore.”

Logan’s brows furrowed, but he didn’t say another word. He simply pushed my wheelchair further away.

Back at the dining table, Vanessa was left all by herself. Having not seen me for three years, she had originally planned to torment me thoroughly today. She never expected both of the men to look completely heartbroken over me.

Furious, she slammed her cutlery down and ordered the servant standing behind her, “Go and bring the young master back immediately! If that little bitch gives birth to his child, it will be an absolute disaster!”

Meanwhile, Logan pushed me into a guest bedroom on the first floor. The room was so massive that it made me uncomfortable; it felt far too luxurious.

I gently felt the soft, plush blanket before looking up at Logan, saying, “Is someone currently staying in the utility closet? I can move in there instead. This room is too nice for me, and it’s inappropriate for me to stay here. Besides, there is no clock in this room, and I need to wake up early to prepare breakfast.”

I didn’t know what I had said wrong this time, but suddenly, Logan’s eyes welled up with tears.

He knelt in front of my wheelchair and said softly, “Eva, stop talking. Please, stop it… You will never have to live in a utility closet again. We are a family, and I will treat you well from now on.”

I didn’t believe him. Over the last three years, when Logan was still acting as the butler, he had said something similar once. Yet, that very night, the matron had burst into my room and whipped me within an inch of my life. However, I didn’t dare to contradict him openly right now, so I just nodded blankly.

Seeing that I had accepted his words, a smile finally returned to his face. He left two servants behind to help me wash up and rest.

Fortunately, even without a clock in the room, that strange floating text helped me track the time easily.

[Countdown: 35 hours, 48 minutes, 21 seconds.]

[Countdown: 35 hours, 48 minutes, 20 seconds.]

The minutes and seconds ticked away. It was agonizingly slow, and I wanted to die sooner.

At three o’clock in the morning, the study door finally swung open. Both Ethan and Hudson had bruises on their faces. They had clearly gotten into a fistfight.

Ethan glared sideways at Hudson and said, “I’ll trust you this once. I know you wouldn’t be cruel enough to make Eva miscarry three times in a row. I will investigate the staff in the manor myself, while you find out how her medication was swapped out for abortion pills.”

Hudson nodded his agreement.

As they walked past the kitchen, Ethan noticed that the light was on, illuminating a faint silhouette. From a distance, the figure looked like me. I was standing right there. With a calm expression on my face, I raised a knife and plunged it toward myself.

The hairs on the back of Ethan’s neck stood on end, and he let out a terrified scream, “No!”

He dashed toward me and grabbed my hand holding the blade. Hearing the commotion not too far away, Hudson rushed over as well and immediately disarmed me of the knife.

Ethan stared at me, his voice trembling with sheer horror as he demanded, “Eva, are you insane? Why are you trying to commit suicide?”