Chapter 3

The next day, I went alone to the Blood Infirmary.

I wanted to confirm the condition of my babies one more time.

But at the corner of the corridor, I saw two familiar figures.

Dominic was carefully supporting Ava Morgan, his expression gentle and attentive.

That morning, he had told me there were urgent matters in the Coven—

so this was what he meant. Accompanying her for a prenatal examination.

My heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer.

The pain was so intense I could barely breathe.

I hid behind a marble pillar, watching them enter the examination chamber.

“Dominic, do you really want this child?”

The voice of Jack Brown—Dominic Costa’s close friend and the witch-healer of this Blood Infirmary—reached my ears clearly.

“Of course,” Dominic Costa replied without hesitation, his tone firm and resolute.

“This child—I must have.”

“But what about Vivienne Sterling?” Jack Brown asked again.

“What do you plan to do about her?”

Dominic Costa fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly.

“Vivienne Sterling cannot conceive.

Once Ava gives birth, we’ll take the opportunity to adopt the child.”

“Only then,” he continued,

“can this child rightfully become my heir.”

Hearing this, my entire body shook, my heart slicing open with pain.

So he had planned everything long ago.

He intended for me to raise the child he had with another woman.

I covered my mouth tightly to keep from making a sound.

Tears slid down my face in silence.

At that moment, Ava Morgan finished her examination and walked out of the obstetrics chamber.

“Dominic… have I put you in a difficult position?” she asked cautiously, her face filled with grievance.

“This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have told you about the pregnancy.”

“I originally wanted to terminate it,” she said through sobs.

“But the witch-healer said that if I’m carrying a Vampire Lord’s child, and I abort it, I may never be able to conceive again.”

Dominic Costa gently patted her shoulder, his voice soft.

“This isn’t your fault. She was bound to find out sooner or later.”

Ava Morgan lowered her head, her voice trembling.

“I know Miss Sterling won’t like me, but I’ll do my best to please her.”

“Don’t worry. After the child is born, I’ll go live in your residence as a caretaker—

I’ll take care of her and the baby.”

Hearing this, Dominic Costa lightly patted her shoulder.

“You’ve suffered enough.”

Watching them, my chest tightened until I could barely breathe.

A few minutes later, Dominic Costa went to retrieve the examination records, leaving Ava Morgan alone in the corridor.

She adjusted her clothes, a cold smile curling at the corner of her lips as she slowly walked toward me.

“Miss Sterling,” she said leisurely,

“why are you hiding behind a pillar? Long time no see.”

I pressed my lips together and remained silent.

“You were hiding here,” she continued, raising an eyebrow provocatively.

“You heard everything, didn’t you?”

I took a deep breath, unwilling to engage her further, and turned to leave.

But she stepped in front of me, smiling brightly.

“If you have any sense, you’ll leave on your own,” she said smugly.

“You should know that when a Vampire Lord conceives a child with a human, the bloodline may mutate into a higher-grade lineage. When that happens, the Costa family’s status in the vampire world will rise even further—and they will definitely support me.”

“The position of Blood Queen of the Bat Coven will belong to me,” she continued.

“As for you—a low-grade vampire who can’t even conceive—you’ll be driven out eventually. How embarrassing would that be?”

“And besides,” she added with a sneer,

“your Blood Bond with Costa was fake to begin with. If we really investigate it, you’re the other woman.”

Her words grew more vicious by the second.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms.

“Ava Morgan, you—”

I had just begun to speak when hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Dominic Costa had returned.

Ava Morgan’s expression changed instantly, replaced by a weak and innocent façade.

“Miss Sterling,” she said tearfully,

“I know you don’t like me, but the child is innocent. I’m begging you—please don’t take your anger out on the baby…”

As she spoke, she suddenly collapsed onto the floor, clutching her abdomen, her face contorted in pain.

“Ava!” Dominic Costa cried out, rushing to her side.

“Vivienne Sterling,” he demanded sharply, glaring at me with fury and disappointment,

“what did you do to Ava?”

I froze, unable to find my voice.

“Dominic… my stomach hurts so badly,” Ava Morgan sobbed on the floor.

“Our child…”

“Please don’t blame Miss Sterling,” she added weakly.

“She may have just been too angry…”

Dominic Costa gripped her hand tightly, his eyes filled with distress.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m taking you to the witch-healer right now!”

With that, he lifted Ava Morgan into his arms and left without looking back.

I wasn’t given even a chance to explain.

Watching their figures disappear down the corridor, my heart turned to ash.

Dominic Costa—

since you have chosen her once again,then I will grant you that choice.