Chapter 2

As long as I walked out of this party hall, whatever happened to Edward Foster from then on was no longer my concern.

Edward never cherished me, but somewhere across the world, there was someone who'd been waiting for me, year after year, without fail.

I was just about to make my escape from the party hall and taste freedom when someone behind me yanked my arm, rough and forceful.

"You hurt Sophie, and now you think you can just walk away? Claire, you really think you can get away with that?" Edward's voice was cold and dangerous.

*****

It was just a minor cut on her palm from a blade, but Sophie had been unwell for half a month and showed no sign of getting better.

During those two weeks, she kept waking up from nightmares, crying, and complaining about stomach pain.

Even after the doctor checked and said both she and the baby were fine, she still woke up every night.

Then, a priest showed up at the villa, claiming that something in the backyard was haunting her, which was why she kept having those nightmares every night.

He led everyone over to a crabapple tree in the backyard, pointed right at the roots, and announced, "This is where the evil spirit is lurking."

The moment I saw where he was pointing, my face turned as white as a sheet.

But seeing my reaction, Edward immediately assumed I was the one who'd done something to hurt Sophie.

He dragged me over to the crabapple tree, his voice cold and biting as he snapped, "What dirty little schemes are you pulling now?

"Claire, are you really that spiteful? Can't stand to see Sophie doing well, huh?

"What, you couldn't even protect your own child, so now you can't bear to see Sophie expecting, is that it?"

Edward's words felt like someone dumped a bucket of ice water over me. I shivered from head to toe, completely numb.

He knew damn well it was because he sped and crashed the car that day, and that was why our child was gone.

But he still threw it in my face, just to make it hurt even more.

Seeing me freeze in place, Edward had his men force me to dig up whatever was hidden beneath the roots, humiliating me in front of everyone.

When he saw the children's clothes buried there, Edward's expression twisted, shock, anger, and something else flickered across his face.

My fingers were raw and bloody. I stared down at the things I'd unearthed with my own hands, feeling so sick I thought I might throw up right then and there.

For a moment, Edward's face softened, a flicker of emotion crossing his eyes.

He said quietly, "Claire," and was just about to step forward when a servant suddenly shouted from behind, "Mr. Foster, Ms. Shaw is having stomach pains."

With just those words, Edward was pulled away in an instant.

The bodyguard anxiously asked what to do with all that stuff, but Edward just said, "Let the priest handle it."

Watching those things get swallowed by flames in the backyard, it felt like my heart was burning up right along with them.

*****

When I woke up again, I was in the guest room, and for once, Edward was actually there, keeping watch over me.

He reached over to feel my forehead, then tried to comfort me, "We'll have another kid someday. You should really let it go. Burning those things was for your own good."

His words stabbed right through my heart again. I pulled away from his reaching hand.

Edward's brows knitted together, his voice cold. "Claire, you'd better quit while you're ahead. My patience isn't unlimited."

I didn't respond. Instead, I turned away and grabbed my phone.

As soon as the screen lit up, his eyes went cold. "Why are there so many calls? Who keeps calling you?"

Before I could even figure out how to dodge his questions, Sophie called him away yet again, leaving me in peace.

Finally able to breathe, I glanced at my phone. There were so many missed calls and messages.

I hurried to send a quick reply: [Sorry, something held me up. Don't worry, I'll be there soon.]

Almost as soon as I sent the text, my phone started ringing.

I picked up immediately, not daring to waste a second.

The person on the other end sounded really anxious, and it took some effort to steady my voice and talk him down.

"Nate, I still have some things I need to handle. Could you trust me a bit more and give me some time?" I said softly.

After I said that, Nathan Rowe went quiet, not pushing me any further.