Chapter 4
I had no idea how long I'd been kneeling in the snow. My head was spinning, everything getting fuzzy.
Everything blurred into a sea of red.
Through the haze, I caught sight of a pair of polished black boots standing at the gate.
I forced myself to look up, my vision swimming as I tried to see who it was.
When I saw it was Aaron, I gave him a strange, bitter smile.
"Aaron, are you satisfied now? Your child is about to die," I said.
Aaron looked down at me, his brows furrowed, a flash of disgust flickering in his eyes.
Aaron sneered, "Autumn, are you done pretending?
"Just moments ago, you were full of energy. Now, you act like kneeling for a bit is killing you?
"You think splashing some chicken blood on yourself can fool me?"
I looked down at the blood soaking the snow beneath me. It was mine and my baby's.
In his eyes, this was just another pathetic stunt to get his attention?
"Aaron, so you really are blind to everything," I said.
My voice was weak.
Aaron's face grew even uglier.
"Enough. Stop embarrassing yourself here," he snapped.
"Isabelle took pity on you and begged me to show mercy. If you sign this confession, admit you were jealous of her, pushed her on purpose, and agree to give up your baby's placenta as penance, I'll let you go back."
A sheet of paper was thrown right in my face.
Every line meant to cut me to the bone.
A confession?
Willingly offer up my unborn child's placenta?
I suddenly burst out laughing.
"Aaron, my greatest regret in this life was saving you," I said.
Aaron's expression turned cold and harsh, his anger barely contained.
"Shut up! Isabelle was the one who saved me. You won't even admit you're wrong, and now you dare take credit for something you never did? Absolutely shameless," Aaron spat.
"If you won't sign, then stay here until you're ready to sign."
With that, he turned to leave.
Just then, I felt a sudden rush of warmth between my legs, and something precious slipped away from me forever.
A wave of agony tore through me, and a scream ripped from my throat.
The sound was so piercing that even Aaron froze, turning back, his face twisted with shock and disbelief.
In the flickering light, he finally saw what lay on the ground.
There, in the spreading pool of blood, lay a tiny, perfectly formed baby boy.
He was so tiny. His skin was a bluish-purple, and he huddled lifelessly in the pool of blood.
Aaron's pupils contracted sharply. He froze in place, his face turning ghostly pale.
"This... This is..." Aaron stammered.
He reached out, his hand trembling, but couldn't take a step forward.
I slumped in the blood, gazing at the lifeless child, and something deep inside me broke beyond repair.
The pain was so overwhelming that I went completely numb. I couldn't even feel it anymore.
I slowly raised my head, staring at him with hollow eyes, a strange, bitter smile curling at my lips.
I sneered, "Congratulations, Aaron. Isabelle's miracle cure is ready.
"See? He's so sweet. Came out all by himself to save your beloved cousin.
"Didn't you say he was a curse? Well, the cursed child is dead now. Are you happy, Lord Harrington?"
My words floated out, sounding like they came straight from the depths of hell.
Aaron staggered back a couple steps, like he'd just seen a ghost.
"H-How could this happen..." Aaron muttered, his voice shaking with shock and fear.
Just then, Isabelle rushed out, still wrapped in her robe. The moment she saw the lifeless baby on the ground, she let out a shriek and darted into Aaron's arms, trembling in terror.
"Ah! So scary! Aaron!" Isabelle shrieked.
But even as she screamed, I caught a fleeting flash of ecstatic glee on her face, hidden as she buried herself in Aaron's arms.
She leaned in close to Aaron's ear, her voice quivering in a low whisper only the three of us could hear.
"Aaron, see? This child really was a curse. Just look how horrifying he is. Lucky he didn't survive, or he would've doomed you," Isabelle whispered. "Better off dead. Now it's all over."
Aaron's terror faded a little at Isabelle's words, his expression slowly regaining its composure.
He drew in a shaky breath, wrenching his gaze away from the lifeless child on the ground.
When he looked back at me, that familiar cold, untouchable arrogance was back in his eyes.
Aaron said, "Autumn, this is destiny.
"Since the child is gone, take out the placenta. No point letting it go to waste.
"Someone, once the placenta is removed, send it to the imperial physician to be made into medicine."
I stared at him, my gaze unwavering and numb.
This was the man I'd loved for three years.
This was the man I'd risked everything to marry.
At that moment, I heard the sound of my soul dying.
With the last ounce of strength I had left, I managed to speak, "Aaron, let's end this marriage."