Chapter 2
I stared straight at him and threw the locket right in his face.
Amelia probably thought that even if I knew the pendant was worthless, I wouldn't say anything. So she just grabbed whatever to mess with me.
And Owen? His eyes worked fine. It was his heart that was blind.
The maid, who'd been standing nearby, said, "Lord Owen, my lady hadn't even touched it yet. The locket was on the ground before she could take it. This really isn't her fault."
Owen dropped his gaze, pressing his lips together. Then he reached for my hand. "Scarlett, I was just worried you might've gotten hurt. I overreacted.
"You're my wife. I'd never let anyone make you feel wronged."
I looked at him blankly and quietly pulled my hand away.
Worried about me?
More like worried I'd bully his precious childhood friend.
When I didn't say anything, he grabbed Amelia's hand and stormed out.
Right behind him, Amelia turned her head just enough to throw me a smug look.
She mouthed two words. 'So pathetic.'
Maybe I should've been hurt. Before, if he got mad like that, I'd spend the next day trying to win him back.
Now? I was done with being the one who always gives in.
I sank into a chair and watched the golden text keep rolling.
[Ugh, so frustrating. She didn't have to apologize, but this still feels like a loss.]
[Next up on the suffering bingo card: forced abortion drink.]
[No, don't let it happen. After she drinks that stuff, her body's wrecked. She can never have kids again.]
That night, I rested my hand gently on my belly.
This baby was his. His flesh and blood. Could he really...
After that day, Owen didn't come to my courtyard for a while.
He'd moved Amelia into Parasol Court, the closest courtyard to his study.
If this were the old me, I'd have made a scene. But now? It just didn't seem worth it.
The next time I saw him was a month later. My belly was starting to show.
He looked rough, with dark circles under his eyes, hair a mess, like he hadn't slept in days.
When our eyes met unexpectedly, he quickly looked down. "Scarlett. You been resting okay? Is the baby giving you a hard time?"
I watched his hand rest on my stomach, and something in me softened.
It'd been so long since we'd had a moment like this.
I said, "We're fine. Baby's not giving me any trouble."
His expression relaxed at my words. He looked up. "Scarlett, I picked up a few little things the other day. Thought I'd give them to you and the baby. I'll have Grace and Nora come with me to grab them."
My heart fluttered. I nodded.
As I watched them walk away, I thought maybe, as long as he still loved me, we could still go back to how we used to be.
I was sitting there waiting for them to come back when the golden text flashed again.
[Run. He sent the servants away on purpose so he could force you to drink that abortion drink.]
[I can't watch. Amelia's pregnant. She said a few things and he agreed to kill his own kid. That's evil.]
[This is too brutal. Losing the baby and never being able to get pregnant again?]
My body went rigid. I stared at those words, eyes wide.
Amelia was pregnant too with Owen's child.
So they'd been together this whole time.
Danger was seconds away. I was about to bolt for the door when it swung open from the outside.
Amelia walked in.
The door slammed shut again.
She gave me that smug look, and I let out a cold laugh.
"What's so funny, Scarlett?" She shot a glance at the maid holding the potion, then lifted her chin. "You've had Owen all these years. Time to give him back.
"I told you a long time ago. He only loves me. To him, you're just some cheap substitute."
I closed my eyes for a second. "Then marry him. If you can."
She raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I will. Soon. We already have a child together. My son will be the heir of the Reed family, not whatever comes out of you.
"He said only my baby is the one he really wants. The rest? Could be anyone's."
I didn't respond. I just stared at her stomach, my hands clenched so tight inside my sleeves that my nails snapped against my palms.
It hurt.
But not as much as the pain in my chest.
She picked up the bowl and fixed me with an icy stare. "Your maid and the old nanny are gone. Drink this quietly, and you won't suffer as much."
When I didn't move, she nodded at the maid. "Hold her down.
"Since you won't drink, Scarlett, I'll just have to help you."
The maid set the bowl on the table and moved toward me.
I curled around my belly, backing away. Just as the maid closed in, the golden text flared up again.
[Take her out. Use the hairpin. Stab the lackey, then make Amelia drink it herself. Fight back.]
[Yes. Fight. If you're going down, take her with you.]
I stopped backing away.