Chapter 11

Aria POV

The pain was everywhere. In my back from the fall. In my ribs where something had cracked. In my head where it had slammed against the marble. But worst of all was the pain in my abdomen—sharp, cramping, relentless. 

“Julian!”Selene’s voice cracked, high-pitched and panicked. She released my jaw immediately and spun around, her hand flying to her chest.“Since when have you been there?!”

I tried to lift my head to see him, but the movement sent waves of dizziness crashing over me. Through the haze of pain, I could barely make out his silhouette at the entrance to the hallway.

Julian’s eyes moved rapidly between me and Selene. His jaw clenched tight, a muscle jumping beneath his skin. His hands were fists at his sides.

“I just—” Selene’s voice changed completely. Gone was the cruel satisfaction. Now it was soft, sweet, innocent. Like honey dripping from her tongue. “I missed her so much. I was trying to talk with her.”

She stood up gracefully, not a hair out of place despite everything.

“You know, I wanted to settle things about what happened at your office the other day. After all, we’re family.”

She moved toward him, her hand reaching out to wrap around his arm. She pressed herself close to his side.

“Family shouldn’t fight, right?”

“No!” I forced the word out, my voice hoarse and broken. “She’s lying—”

“Julian, I told her about us,” Selene continued, her voice trembling now like she was on the verge of tears. “About our feelings. I explained everything. How we’ve been holding back because of… complications. But—”

“She’s lying—” I could barely get the words out. Each breath was agony. “I—”

“But she seems to have misunderstood everything.” Selene’s voice broke beautifully, convincingly. “She said I’m wicked. That I stole Father’s love. And now I’m stealing you away from her.”

“No, that’s not it. Julian, she’s manipulating you. Can’t you see?” My voice trembled. Black spots danced in my vision.

“Then she grabbed me—” Selene let out a small sob, her free hand touching her arm delicately. “And then she pushed me down the stairs.”

She winced, her face scrunching up in apparent pain.

“Ouch, it hurts.”

“Don’t believe her. She’s manipulating you like the way she swapped—”

“Me? Manipulate him?” Selene turned to Julian, her eyes wide and wounded. “She’s lying. She said she would rather let me die than let me take you from her. She even said horrible things about us. About our relationship.”

“My baby!” I cried out, trying desperately to get his attention. The cramping was getting worse. So much worse. “Julian, please help me. Our baby—”

“Baby?” Selene laughed—actually laughed. The sound was light and disbelieving. “Stop pretending. Julian, you can’t possibly believe her, right?”

“I’m not lying—” My whole body was shaking now. From pain. From blood loss. From the desperate need to make him see. “She’s been manipulating you. She even swapped the report—”

“You’re still lying.” Selene touched her arm gingerly, her face twisted in pain. “God, my whole body is aching. Please, Julian, take me to the hospital.”

Julian hadn’t said a single word since we’d started this back-and-forth. He’d just stood there, watching, his expression unreadable. His jaw was still clenched. His eyes moved between us, calculating, assessing.

Now he spoke. His voice was cold. So cold it sent chills through me despite the warmth of blood beneath me.

“Aria, is it true you pushed her? How could you do that to her? You caused this whole situation, but here you are playing the victim.”

The words hit me like physical blows.

“No, I didn’t—” I forced the words out through gritted teeth, through the pain. “She pushed me—”

“My hand is really hurting me…” Selene’s voice went small, helpless.

Julian moved to her immediately. His hands went to her shoulders, gentle, concerned.

“Where does it hurt?”

“All over. My body, my legs, my hand. It’s hurting so bad.”

The sight of him touching her so carefully while I laid here bleeding on the floor—it hurt worse than any physical pain.

“I’m sorry. I’ll take you to the hospital,” he said softly to her.

“Julian!” My voice cracked completely. “I need your help. Our baby—”

“Enough of this bullshit.” His voice was like ice. Sharp. Cutting. “You lie too much.”

“No—please, help me! I’m really hurting…” I tried to reach for him. My hand stretched out, trembling, trying to grab his leg as he walked past.

He yanked it away from me. Like my touch disgusted him.

He stopped at the door, Selene’s arm wrapped possessively around his.

Something broke inside me. Something fundamental and irreparable.

“Did you ever love me, Julian?” The words came out broken, barely a whisper. “Is this how much you hate me? That you can’t even help me?”

He paused. For just a second, something flickered across his face. His jaw tightened. His eyes—for just a heartbeat—looked uncertain. Almost conflicted.

Then it was gone. His face went cold again. Empty.

“I already called Jasmine to come take you to the hospital.”

Just like that, he turned away.

Just like that, he left me there. Bleeding on the cold marble floor. Losing our baby. Dying, maybe.

He left me.

I watched them walk away together. Selene’s head on his shoulder. His arm supporting her. Taking care of her.

While I laid in a pool of my own blood.

The door closed behind them with a soft click.

The silence that followed was deafening.

I was alone.

The cramping in my abdomen intensified. I could feel my body trying to expel what it could no longer protect.

“God, please…” I whispered to the empty hallway. My hand pressed against my stomach. “My baby… please be okay. Please…”

But I could feel it. Deep inside. The terrible knowledge that it wasn’t okay. That nothing was okay.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the house. Fast. Frantic.

“Aria! Jesus Christ!”

Jasmine’s voice. She appeared at my side, her face pale with shock. She dropped to her knees beside me, her hands immediately going to my shoulders.

“Oh my God, oh my God—” Her hands shook as she pulled out her phone. “Yes, I need an ambulance. Now. A woman in her twenties , she’s pregnant, she’s bleeding please, she needs help ASAP!”

I grabbed her hand, my fingers weak and trembling.

“Jasmine, please… my baby… save us…..”

“Don’t talk. Just calm down. You’re going to be fine. You hear me? You’re going to be fine.” But her voice shook. Her eyes were wide with fear.

Selene had finally won. She’d taken everything from me, just like she promised that first day Father brought them home. I could still see her  face, that cruel smile as she whispered, “I’ll take everything away from you.”

She took my father’s love first. Turned him against me until he couldn’t even look at me without seeing disappointment.

Then she took my inheritance, my home, my sense of belonging. She made me invisible in my own house until I felt like a ghost.

And now she’d taken Julian. Made him hate me. Made him believe I was a liar and a cheat. Made him walk away while I bled out on the floor.

But worst of all, she was taking my baby. My innocent baby who’d done nothing wrong. Who deserved to live. Who deserved a chance.

The cramping was unbearable now. I could feel my body giving up. Feel the life draining out of me along with the blood.

Selene finally won. 

In the distance I heard a siren but the darkness claimed me completely.