Chapter 2 Her Last Hope

’He thinks I killed the baby? How could I ever do such a thing?’

Maia choked up and realized her entire marriage had been a joke.

“You’re right. I should stop pretending to be your wife. I don’t deserve your affection, and I’ve brought this upon myself!”

Maia tried to fight back her tears, determined not to let Cedric hurt her again. Her fingers shook as she held on to the blanket.

“I won’t let my child’s murderer go unpunished!” Maia declared as she yanked the IV needle from her arm and stormed out of the bedroom.

‘Rita Larkin! You’re the one who pushed me out of the window and killed my baby!’

Despite the pain, Maia hurried downstairs to the living room. She rushed over when she saw Rita chatting with her adopted daughter, Zera Larkin.

Maia snatched a teacup from Rita’s hand and smashed it on the floor before grabbing Rita by the collar. “You fucking killed my baby!”

“Help! Help!” Rita screamed in terror. Maia was not being her usual docile self.

With tears in her eyes, Maia asked, “I’ve signed the divorce papers, haven’t I? Why’d you kill my baby?”

Zera cowered in a corner. When she heard Cedric’s footsteps on the stairs, she cried, “Cedric, do something! Maia’s trying to kill Mom!”

“What the hell are you doing?” Cedric marched over to them and yanked Maia away by her wrist.

Maia lost her balance, but Cedric steadied her. He frowned and said, “Stop this madness.”

‘Madness?’

Maia pointed at Rita in despair. With a trembling voice, she asked him, “Did you know your mom pushed me out of the window and killed our child?”

Cedric frowned.

Rita smoothed out her blouse and defended herself. “That’s bullshit! Maia, you’ve already signed the divorce papers. Why would I do such a horrible thing?”

Rita looked at Cedric. “You mustn’t believe her!”

“Mom would never do such a thing! Have you forgotten what Maia did to me five years ago? She hates me and Mom, so she’s trying to frame us!”

Zera, the Larkin family’s adopted daughter, grew up with Cedric and was Rita’s right-hand woman. Naturally, she would take Rita’s side.

Rita nodded. “Exactly. She knew you were good to Zera, so she tried to get rid of her. When her plan failed, she married you under the pretense of forming a business alliance. Then she started causing trouble here.

“Now that her mother is dead, her father and stepmother have taken over the family business. She knows she has no support, so she signed the divorce papers and faked a suicide attempt to get your sympathy. She’s going to blackmail us and turn you against me!

Then she turned to Maia. “How dare you accuse me? Do you have proof that I pushed you?”

Rita suddenly palmed her chest and staggered. Zera rushed to help Rita sit on the sofa.

She patted Rita’s chest and asked, “Mom, are you okay? Polly, fetch the medicine. Hurry!”

Maia looked at Cedric and shook her head with teary eyes. She never did any of the things they accused her of.

‘I know I need to explain my innocence!’

Maia anxiously clutched Cedric’s hands, finding solace in his warmth. He was her last hope.