Chapter 3
Looking in the mirror, I saw my face was still pale, but the gentle look in my eyes had vanished.
"Juliet, help me with my makeup," I said.
Juliet froze.
I hadn't worn makeup since I lost the baby.
"Lady Lucy?" Juliet asked.
"Go heavier with the makeup," I said.
She was confused, but she did as I asked.
Half an hour later, I looked like a completely different person.
My brows were dark and elegant, and my lips were a vivid crimson.
The beauty mark at the corner of my eye was adorned with a red gem, giving me an enchanting, almost otherworldly beauty.
I slipped into a regal crimson gown, the very color I wore for my wedding ceremony.
"Let's go pay Abigail a visit," I said.
When I arrived at Abigail's courtyard, it was buzzing with activity.
The servants hurried in and out, all wearing obsequious smiles.
Doctor Watson was offering his congratulations to Russ.
"Congratulations, General Marrow. Lady Abigail's condition is stable. There's no doubt. She's pregnant. She's already a month along!"
Russ's face was lit up with a joy I'd never seen before.
Russ held Abigail's hand tightly, his voice soft and full of affection. "Abigail, you've been through so much."
Abigail nestled into his arms, her cheeks flushed with bashful coyness.
"Being able to bear your child is a blessing for me, General," she murmured.
She glanced up, and her gaze landed on me.
In her eyes, I caught a flash of pride and unmistakable provocation.
Then, in a flash, she put on a frail, delicate look.
"What brings you here? You're not in good health. Please. Have a seat," Abigail said.
She tried to get up, but Russ firmly held her back.
"You're pregnant now. Don't move around," Russ said, his voice full of tenderness.
But when he turned to me, his eyes turned icy cold again.
"What brings you here?" Russ said coldly.
I didn't bother to answer him and walked straight over to Abigail's bedside.
"I heard you're expecting. As your family, of course, I had to come see you," I said.
My gaze lingered on her flat belly.
"You'd better take good care of yourself. This is General Marrow's first child, after all. Just... make sure you don't end up like I did," I said.
My voice was soft, laced with a smile.
But Abigail visibly paled.
She forced a smile. "Thank you for your concern. I will."
"That's good," I said, nodding as I took a tray from Juliet.
On the tray was a steaming bowl of soup.
"I made this myself for you. Now that you're expecting, it's perfect for you to get some extra nourishment," I said.
Abigail eyed the steaming bowl warily.
"You really didn't have to go to so much trouble," she said.
"It's no trouble at all," I replied with a smile, picking up the bowl and pretending I was about to feed her myself.
Abigail instinctively shrank back, startled.
In that split second, my wrist "accidentally" tilted.
The whole bowl of steaming bird's nest soup went flying, all of it landing right on Abigail's face.
Abigail let out a piercing scream.
Everyone was frozen in shock.
I watched as Abigail's face turned bright red from the scalding soup, groaning in pain, while I kept a polite smile on my lips.
I pulled my hand back slowly and met Russ's furious gaze, he looked like he was about to explode.
I said, "Sorry, General.
"I'm a bit frail. My hand just slipped."
*****
Russ's hand struck my face with thunderous force, the slap merciless and heavy.
In the chaos of the room, the sharp sound was especially clear.
My head snapped to the side, my hair unraveling as my jeweled hairpin clattered to the floor.
Blood pooled at the corner of my mouth, its metallic tang sharp and unmistakable.
For a split second, the whole world went silent.
Abigail's screams and the servants' shocked cries faded into the background, distant and muffled.
I slowly turned my head back.
My face burned with pain, but I smiled.
I looked at Russ's handsome face, twisted with fury, and spoke softly.
I said, "General, you really pack a punch.
"But... I'm so delicate. I'm afraid I won't survive another blow like that."
With those words, everything went dark and I collapsed to the floor.
Just before I lost consciousness, I glimpsed something deeply conflicted flicker in Russ's eyes.
That was all I needed.
My goal was achieved.
I was jolted awake when someone splashed cold water right in my face.
When I opened my eyes, I realized I was in a woodshed.
The place was dark, damp, and the air was thick with the stench of decay and mildew.
I'd been thrown in here.
My wrists and ankles were tied up with scratchy ropes, and I was left lying on the cold, hard floor.
My wounded cheek pressed against the icy floor, sending waves of sharp, stinging pain through me.
But my heart was blazing with heat.