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Chapter 3

Author: Peachy
The monitor in the room beeps fast.

The doctor holds new lab results. He looks grave. He stops Cillian at the door.

"Mr. Burke. Your wife’s vitals are dropping fast." The doctor sounds desperate. "She is extremely weak. She could hemorrhage any minute. A family member must stay 24/7. Do not leave her alone."

I lean against the bed. My pale face has zero color. I quietly watch Cillian.

Cillian stops walking.

He looks down at his Patek Philippe watch.

"It is seven-thirty." He frowns slightly. Sounding annoyed. "Doctor. I must rehearse the bidding pitch with Liliana at eight. I cannot be late. That is my rule. Can a nurse stay with her?"

"This is a life-threatening miscarriage risk!" The doctor is frantic.

Cillian sighs.

He walks to my bed. No heartbreak in his eyes. Just looking at an ignorant child.

"Ava. Be good." He softens his voice. But leaves no room for argument. "Lili is easily scared. She is taking your place on stage soon. She is shaking with nerves right now. I have to go rehearse with her."

I hear my own hoarse voice. "My life... is worth less than her rehearsal?"

He rubs his temples. Extremely impatient. "I am only leaving for a few hours. Lili lost her parents. She only has me. You are my wife. Why can't you act like her? Look at the big picture."

He even tucks my blanket in. Like a merciful god giving a handout.

"After the rehearsal, I will bring your favorite dessert. Be a good girl. Do not distract me."

Done talking. He turns and walks out. He never looks back.

Half an hour later. I am moved to a regular ward.

The TV on the wall is on.

The screen shows the global livestream for the "Eden" core distribution bid.

I look at the screen. My blood turns to absolute ice.

Liliana holds Cillian’s arm. She slowly walks onto the stage.

She is wearing my custom burgundy gown from Paris.

That was supposed to be my battle armor.

"Thank you all." Liliana speaks into the mic. Weak and sweet. "As the lead creator of 'Eden', I poured my heart into this new drug. It represents new life..."

She gently rests a hand on her flat stomach. She leans into Cillian shyly.

"Just like the little life growing inside me. It will be the Burke Family's brightest future."

The crowd goes wild. Thunderous applause.

Everyone congratulates Cillian.

Cillian stands right next to her. Smiling.

No denial. No correction.

He silently approves this insane theft.

The ward door pushes open. Gareth walks in with a deadpan face. He drops the forged transfer papers.

My name is printed right there.

Perfect handwriting. But totally forged.

I stare at the certificate. I grab my phone and call Cillian.

"Ava. I am entertaining guests." His voice sounds annoyed at the interruption.

"Stop this sick joke right now!" My hand shakes violently. "You let them forge my signature! You let her hint she is pregnant with your baby on global TV! What am I to you?!"

"Calm down." Cillian walks to a quiet spot. Still so calm. "The signature was a quick fix. As for the baby, letting the Family elders misunderstand helps Lili secure her spot. It is just a PR stunt. You are my wife. You are the Donna. Do you really lack this much vision?"

"A PR stunt?" I laugh in pure despair. "She wore my dress! She stole my life’s work! She acts like your woman in front of the whole world! You call this PR?"

"Ava, you are too paranoid." He sighs. Full of arrogant mercy. "Take the hit. Secure the Family's interests. That is a Donna's duty. I told you. I will come see you after this."

He is about to hang up.

Suddenly, Liliana screams in sharp joy on the other end.

"Oh my god! Cillian! The baby... the baby just kicked me!"

Eight weeks.

An eight-week embryo. How could it kick?

This is the cheapest, dumbest lie!

But my husband. Always rational. Always in control. He completely loses his mind in a split second.

"What? It kicked? Does it hurt?!"

Chairs scrape violently over the phone. Cillian’s voice is full of pure panic and terror.

"Lili, do not move! Doctor! Get the medical team here right now! Hurry!"

He screams like a madman. He totally forgets his phone is still on.

He forgets his wife on the other end. The wife bleeding out.

A tearing pain hits my stomach. Hot blood gushes out again. It quickly dyes the white bedsheets red.

Contractions get worse.

I lean against the bed. I listen to him panic over another woman’s fake lie.

My heart is dead. Completely dead.

The monitor screams a sharp alarm.

The doctor rushes in. He looks at the screen. His face turns white.

"Ma'am! The fetal heartbeat is crashing! Massive hemorrhage! We cannot stop the bleeding!" The doctor sweats bullets. "Pills are useless now. If we drag this out, your own life is in danger! We must do an emergency D&C right now!"

On the phone, Cillian is still screaming for a doctor for Liliana.

I look at the dark screen.

Tears fall silently onto my hand. The last bit of warmth in my heart dies.

My voice is so calm. It scares even me.

"Fine."

"I cannot keep this baby anyway. Do the surgery."
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