Chapter 3
Tavian had my body and the child's body brought back to the Sterling villa.
He sat motionless on the living room couch, his gaze hollow, like a shell of a man with no soul.
Osric couldn't stand seeing Tavian like this. After a long moment of hesitation, he finally stepped forward and said softly, "Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling truly loved you.
"Ever since she became your wife, she'd wake up early every morning to make you breakfast, and no matter how late you came home, she'd always wait up for you.
"Whenever you were sick, she'd stay by your bedside all night, never leaving you, just to take care of you
Osric continued, "Mrs. Sterling knew your heart belonged to Miss Turner, but she never complained. She simply did everything a wife should, quietly and without asking for anything in return.
"When she found out she was pregnant, she was so happy. Every day, she'd play music and tell stories to the baby, dreaming about the day the child would be born.
"That day, Mrs. Sterling only opened the window because the room was too stuffy. She was worried it might be bad for the baby, so she let in just a bit of fresh air.
"She never could have imagined that such a small thing would end up costing her everything."
Osric's words cut deep into Tavian's heart, like knives.
He remembered everything I had done for him, the joy on my face when I was pregnant, and how I pleaded with him when he kept me locked away.
Regret crashed over him like a tidal wave. Only now did he realize he had been fooled by Linnea's facade all along, and had completely ignored my genuine love for him.
"How could I have been so stupid?" Tavian cried out, clutching his head in agony. "Taryn, I was wrong. I was so wrong. Please, come back to me. I swear I'll treat you right, and I'll take care of our baby."
But no matter how much he cried or begged, he could never bring me back, or our unborn child.
Just then, Linnea came over with a glass of water, hoping to comfort Tavian.
But the moment he saw her, his eyes went ice cold. "Get out. I don't want to see you," he shouted.
Linnea froze in place, her smile stuck on her face. "Tavian, how could you treat me like this?"
"Get out," Tavian roared, snatching the glass from the table and flinging it at Linnea.
The glass shattered at Linnea's feet, water splashing onto her dress. Her face went white with fright.
She didn't dare utter another word and bolted out of the room.
Tavian watched Linnea's retreating figure, his heart twisting with disgust.
Only now did he see that her gentle, fragile act was nothing but a mask.
Linnea was like a viper, hiding her poison behind a sweet facade, slowly destroying everything he had.
Tavian got up and walked into our bedroom, the place we lived once we got married.
Everything was just as I'd left it. On the dressing table lay the tiny clothes and shoes I'd picked out for our baby, and the half-finished sweater I'd been knitting.
Tavian picked up the unfinished sweater, my scent still lingering on the soft yarn. Tears blurred his vision again.
He remembered how I used to sit on the couch, knitting, one hand gently resting on my belly, happiness shining on my face.
"Taryn, I'm so sorry," Tavian choked out, hugging the little sweater to his chest. "I know I was wrong. Please, just give me one more chance?"
But the room was empty, and there was only silence.
Tavian went all out, obsessively investigating Linnea. He had to figure out who she really was, and why she kept framing me over and over.
The truth he uncovered shocked him to the core. Tavian found Linnea was never the sweet, fragile childhood friend she pretended to be.
She'd been jealous of me since we were kids. She was jealous of my family's money, my looks, and especially because Tavian's parents once wanted me to marry him.
Linnea had always wanted Tavian, and she'd do anything to get him.
She'd act all weak and pitiful in front of him, just to make him feel sorry for her and want to protect her.
She kept scheming against me, hoping Tavian would hate me and dump me, so she could step in and become Mrs. Sterling herself.
The last time she broke that antique vase, Linnea did it on purpose.
And this whole "getting sick" thing, it was just another act. She knew she was prone to catching colds, so after I opened the window, she went and stood right in the draft.
She made sure Tavian saw her acting all weak and sick, so he'd blame me for it.
Tavian trembled with rage as he stared at the results of the investigation.
He never imagined that the woman he'd always protected and cherished could be so vicious.
"Linnea, you venomous witch," Tavian spat through clenched teeth, his eyes blazing with murderous intent.
He remembered the torment I suffered in that freezing cellar, and how our innocent child died because of her. Regret and fury surged inside him, stronger than ever.
He swore Linnea would pay dearly for everything she'd done.