Chapter 4

Roxanne said, "I couldn't stop worrying about you, so I came to see how you were. But just as I reached the door, I overheard you and Nicole were arguing because of me.

"I don't want to make things hard for either of you. Maybe you should just divorce me, so you won't have to be troubled by me anymore."

As she spoke, tears welled up in Roxanne's eyes and began to fall.

Each tear dropped onto Aiken's chest, one after another.

Aiken's heart twisted with pain. He scrambled to comfort Roxanne, his hands flustered and unsure of what to do.

Aiken said gently, "Don't say such silly things. You know you're the only one in my heart. She's just carrying my child, and that's the only reason I feel any sympathy for her.

"Honestly, she's so incapable. How could she ever raise a child right? Once she gives birth, I'll let you take care of the baby, and I'll officially make you my wife, equal to her."

I forced myself to lift my head, struggling against the pain and exhaustion.

I cried out, "Make her my equal? The child? Aiken, you are so heartless. The baby is already gone! You are the one who killed your own child!"

I was gasping for breath, my accusation against Aiken coming out in a raw, broken voice.

Aiken's brows furrowed in impatience.

"What are you even talking about? Wasn't killing Isabella enough for you? Now you're cursing your own child? Nicole, you've completely lost it!" Aiken shot back.

I forced a bitter smile, feeling utterly dead inside.

I shouted, "How dare you even mention the child? What right do you have? Do you even realize that was a real, living baby?

"Because of your selfishness, he never even got the chance to be born. Aiken, do you ever fear that, in the dead of night, this child will come back to haunt you for what you did?"

I yelled out, unable to hold back anymore.

Aiken froze, disbelief etched across his face. He released Roxanne and came over to me, still stunned.

"How is that possible? Wasn't it already eight months?" Aiken asked in disbelief.

I let out a cold laugh and threw back the blanket, revealing my sunken belly, proof that the child was gone.

The baby still couldn't be saved. When the midwife pulled him out of me, his tiny body was limp, covered in bruises, blue all over.

Just as Aiken's trembling hand hovered, about to touch my belly, Roxanne let out a startled cry.

She said, "Aiken, I can't hide it from you anymore. The real reason I left was that I caught Nicole and her lover cheating.

"The baby was already gone, lost during their affair. If I hadn't escaped, Nicole would've killed me.

"Just think about it, Aiken. Why did Isabella die? And who could possibly be someone Nicole would risk everything for?

"It's clear that her baby was gone long before, and she's just trying to blame you for it so you'll be wracked with guilt!"

Roxanne's words hit Aiken like a bomb, leaving him reeling.

He stumbled back a step, shock written all over his face.

Suddenly, realization hit him.

He said, "Yeah, Roxanne nailed it. Ever since you got pregnant, you wouldn't let me near you.

"It turns out you already had some secret lover you couldn't get out of your head!"

I laughed in disbelief, so infuriated by Aiken's self-deception that I couldn't help but let out a sarcastic chuckle.

I shouted, "Today was the Emperor's hunting day. I lost our child because I took a blade meant for him, an assassin's sword. Where were you when you were supposed to be protecting him?

"If you hadn't gone chasing after Roxanne, our child wouldn't have died!"

I wiped the tears from my eyes, my emotions surging. "Do you even realize that our son was just a breath away from being born safe and sound?"

But Aiken didn't believe a word I said.

His eyes burned with murderous rage as he drew the soft sword from his waist and pressed it against my neck.

Aiken spat, "The Emperor? Don't make me laugh, he's nothing but your filthy lover.

"You two disgusting animals, shamelessly fooling around in broad daylight. Did you really think I wouldn't notice?

"If you don't tell me where your lover is today, I'll sell you off to a pimp. Let's see if you can still mouth off like this then.

"And as for that bastard, I'll tear him to pieces myself, I'll make sure he doesn't even have a corpse left!"

The icy, razor-sharp blade pierced my neck, and no matter how hot the blood pouring out was, it could never thaw the numb, dead cold inside me.

Suddenly, the sound of strong, deliberate footsteps began to approach, growing louder with each step.

"How dare you, Aiken! I am the very unforgivable adulterer you keep accusing. So, are you really planning to chop me up into pieces?" Earl's voice cut through the air.

Earl walked in from outside, his presence commanding the room.

When Earl saw the sword at my neck, he let out a furious, almost scornful laugh, his anger so intense it turned into cold, mocking amusement.

His voice was resonant and commanding, echoing through the room with undeniable authority.

His presence was overwhelming, utterly eclipsing anything Aiken could muster.

His face turned pale as a sheet.

Aiken, who always acted superior, was now forced to his knees before me.