Chapter 1
After leaving the psychiatric hospital, Bethany Massey gave birth to her third child.
The pregnancy sickness had been brutal, lasting the whole nine months.
The doctor gave her two epidurals. Neither worked.
She bit down on a towel and endured nineteen hours of labor.
When the baby finally arrived, she heard the nurse say it was a boy.
Seven pounds, six ounces. His cries rang loud and strong.
Every ounce of strength drained from Bethany's body. Her hospital gown clung to her back, soaked through, cold against the delivery bed.
She turned her head, wanting to see the child.
But the delivery room door opened first.
Her husband, Aiden Bowers, walked in.
He didn't look at her. He went straight to the nurse and took the swaddled baby from her arms.
*****
Bethany tried to speak, but the pain was so intense she couldn't utter a single word.
Aiden turned around and headed straight out the door.
"Aiden, let me see the baby! Oh wow, this little guy really takes after you," Colleen said.
It was Colleen Nelson.
She was Aiden's widowed sister-in-law, wife to Aiden's late brother, James.
Bethany closed her eyes.
She knew this routine all too well.
The first time was when her eldest son, Benny, was taken away right after he was born. Colleen said she had no one left after losing her husband, and Aiden claimed James had saved his life, so Benny was handed over to Colleen, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
The second time was when her daughter, Nessie, was sent to Colleen's room three days after she was born. The reason? Colleen was sickly and couldn't have kids herself. She needed someone to keep her company.
And now, for the third time, Bethany watched her child been taken away.
Out in the hallway, Aiden's voice was low and gentle, gentler than Bethany had ever heard in all their seven years together.
"Let's call him Liam Bowers," Aiden said. "He'll be well taken care of in your hands, Colleen."
Colleen cradled the baby, her eyes rimmed with tears as she looked up at Aiden. "Aiden, thank you. James would thank you, too."
Bethany caught every word, clear as day.
She lay on the delivery bed, the pad beneath her drenched in blood.
The nurse whispered that the bleeding hadn't stopped yet and she'd need another dose of oxytocin.
When the needle pierced the back of her hand, Bethany didn't react at all.
Pain was nothing to her now.
She slowly pushed herself up, but as soon as her feet touched the floor, her legs went weak and her knees landed hard on the tiles.
The nurse jumped in alarm. "Ms. Massey, you can't get out of bed. You're not supposed to—"
Bethany steadied herself against the wall and managed to stand.
Blood dripped from the hem of her hospital gown, leaving a dark trail behind her with every step she took down the hallway.
She didn't go after Aiden.
She didn't look at the baby either.
Slowly, Bethany made her way to the lobby, where Aiden's grandmother, Vera, sat in a chair, sipping coffee. A servant stood nearby, holding a silver tray with a bowl of soup.
Bethany approached Vera and collapsed before her.
Her body struck the marble floor with a heavy, muffled thud.
Vera glanced up, frowning. "Is this any way to present yourself?"
Bethany didn't cry.
Her eyes were bone dry, like two ancient wells long since dried up.
"Vera, our seven-year deal is over," Bethany said. "I've given Aiden three children. Please, set me free."
Vera paused with her cup in hand, her gaze sweeping over Bethany from head to toe.
Bethany's face was ashen, lips cracked and dry, stains spreading across her hospital gown. Her legs were still trembling.
"If you go out looking like this, people will think my family is abusing you," Vera said.
Vera set her cup down, her voice indifferent.
"Fine. I'll get you a one-month visa to go abroad. Chalk it up to my family's charity," Vera said.
Bethany's shoulders slumped.
It wasn't that she could finally breathe easy.
It was like the last bit of strength she'd been clinging to finally broke.
"Thank you, Vera," Bethany said.
She got up and bowed low, keeping the posture for a long time.
Aiden walked in from outside and saw it all, his face darkening, brows furrowed deep.
Aiden marched over and grabbed Bethany's arm. "What are you doing now? You just gave birth and you're acting like this? Who are you putting on this act for?"
Bethany staggered when he yanked at her, a red mark quickly appearing on her arm.
She didn't fight back, simply lifted her gaze to him.
"Aiden, I'm not causing trouble," Bethany said.
Aiden released her and stepped back, his voice cold and hard. "You'd better not be. Don't repeat what happened three years ago. If you act up again and scare Colleen and the kids, you know what comes next."
Three years ago.
The asylum.
Shock treatments.
Binding straps.
Steel cages.
Bethany's pupils contracted, her fingers tightening around the sleeve of her hospital gown without her realizing it.
She stayed silent.
When Bethany got back to her room, the door was closed.
Aiden followed her in, still carrying the baby who was a few hours old.
He stood at the foot of the bed, gazing down at the baby's rosy face, his voice surprisingly gentle for once.
"Colleen says Benny's been acting up lately and she can't handle him by herself. Liam's well-behaved. It'll be more convenient for her to take care of him," Aiden said.