Chapter 2

"Give it back!" I woke up, a sharp pain stabbing through my chest.

It was the only keepsake my mom left me.

I reached out to snatch it, but Ethan blocked me. "Olivia likes it. Why not just give it to her? Amelia, why are you being so petty?"

Even Caleb suddenly rushed in and rammed into me, knocking me to the ground. Pain flared through my body.

The necklace fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

Shards flew and hit Olivia's leg. She cried out, and Ethan frowned at me, his voice sharp. "Hurry up and apologize to Olivia."

I desperately tried to gather the broken pieces, but it was pointless. Ethan glanced at my scraped, swollen knee, and for a split second, something flickered in his eyes.

He reached out and helped me to my feet. "I'll get you something even better next time. Just say you're sorry, and I'll give you back the token of our love."

He gently took my hand and pressed a lucky charm into my palm.

I stared at the lucky charm, hesitated for a moment, then finally murmured, "I'm sorry. I was wrong."

Olivia covered her lips and giggled sweetly.

She said, "This is just a fake. The real one? Ethan gave it to me way before, when I said I liked it."

I felt it and instantly realized the material was off.

I wanted to call them out, but the words just wouldn't come out.

Ethan had always been lying to me, just for Olivia's sake.

When I shot him an accusing glare, Ethan just turned his head away.

He said, "Waking you up in the middle of the night isn't just about the emerald. Olivia's been pushed to have a baby, and you need to help her out. Give her a child as soon as possible. I know you can handle the pain."

Before I could even protest, I was dragged into a private clinic.

No matter how much I begged, Ethan didn't spare me a single glance.

Outside the operating room, he was gently coaxing Olivia. "You're scared of blood, so don't look at her."

Strapped to the operating table, I could only stare in horror as the long needle drove into my flesh, completely powerless to stop it.

The agony was so overwhelming I couldn't even scream.

After the surgery, I stepped out of the operating room, feeling weak and barely able to stand.

I dragged my battered body home, ready to pack up and leave this place for good.

Suddenly, the door burst open and Ethan wrapped his arms around me. "Does it still hurt?" he asked.

I glanced up at him, broad shoulders, a slim waist, and that effortless artist's elegance. Those really were the reasons I fell for him back then.

But now, my heart was numb. I didn't want him anymore.

I turned to leave.

Ethan hurried after me. "It's late. Where do you think you're going?"

When he saw how cold I looked, his own face fell. "Until you have the baby, don't go wandering off. If people see you out and about, it'll look bad for Olivia."

"So you're going to keep me prisoner?" I said.

"Yes." Ethan's answer was flat and final.

He had the servants throw me into the basement and lock the door behind me.

I couldn't die, no matter how much I wanted to, and I couldn't escape, no matter how hard I tried.

Olivia would drop by from time to time, her laughter with Ethan echoing through the door as she showed off the cakes she'd just made to Caleb.

Days blurred together, and my belly grew bigger with each passing day.

One day, Olivia came over. She looked at my haggard face and sneered, "Amelia, you look just like a dog."

She grabbed a knife and pointed it at me. "It's filthy having you carry my baby. The only reason I'm making you do this is so you never get a chance to be with Ethan."

She slashed my belly open, and the pain was so unbearable I almost passed out.

Just then, Ethan walked into the basement.

With a look of concern, he wrapped Olivia in his arms. "Is she losing it again? Don't worry, I'm here."

Olivia clung to him, crying, "Can we just get rid of the baby? That bitch hates me, and that brat inside her probably does too! I was just scared and lost control for a second."

I was about to say something, but Ethan smacked me across the face. "Apologize to Olivia, and then end the pregnancy."

I pressed my swollen cheek and gave a cold, bitter laugh. "Ethan, how much longer are you going to keep going back on your word?

"Did you forget all those shots I gave myself for Caleb? Did you forget what you promised me down in that old kiln?"

I saw the hesitation flicker in Ethan's eyes. He remembered it all.

But then, Olivia clung to him, tears streaming down her face. "Ethan, I lost my parents when I was just a kid. You promised you'd always look after me.

"Please, just grant me this one last wish, okay? After this, I swear I won't mess around and cling to you anymore, Ethan."

Ethan shut his eyes, and when he opened them again, his gaze was steely. Every trace of warmth was gone. "Alright. I'll do it."

He took the knife in his own hands and cut me open himself.