Chapter 3
Suddenly, Victor pulled me into his arms.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you.
"I was terrified, Evelyn. I was afraid something would happen to Gwen. She's carrying our family's future.
"If anything happened to the baby, my father and the elders would never let us off the hook.
"They'd delay our plans all over again," he said.
I let him hold me, my eyes on the white ceiling above.
I'd heard this so many times before.
"I understand," I said, gently pushing him away. "You should go take care of her."
As I turned to leave, he grabbed my wrist.
"Evelyn, no matter what happens, trust me. You're the only one I've ever truly loved.
"Everything I do is for us. So, we can leave this place sooner," he said.
His fingers gently brushed over the bandage on my forehead.
"I'll have the driver take you home. Make sure you keep your wound dry," he said.
Then he let go of my hand.
After a few steps, he paused and glanced back at me.
"I'll bring you your favorite cranberry cake later," he said.
I stood there, watching him walk away.
I watched him disappear into the VIP suite at the end of the hallway.
That was the room where Gwen was waiting for him.
"I don't trust you anymore," I whispered.
I said it to the empty hallway.
I said it to my broken heart.
"Victor, I don't believe a single word you say anymore," I added.
Victor had been gone for three days.
During those three days, Gwen sent me a video every single day to rub it in.
In every video, Victor gently held his daughter, played with her, and made her giggle.
The tenderness in his eyes was something I'd never seen before. It was the kind of warmth only a father could show.
Gwen leaned against his shoulder, smiling sweetly as she watched them together.
I forced myself to watch every single video she sent.
Each time felt like getting stabbed in the heart all over again.
But after hurting so much, something weird happened.
I didn't feel hurt anymore.
Perhaps I died inside the day they threw me in the dungeon.
I was about to block her number when my phone buzzed again.
This time, it was a photo.
My mother's jade pendant. The one Victor had given away without a second thought.
Gwen was holding it, idly spinning it in her fingers as if it meant nothing to her.
A message popped up below the photo. [If you want your mom's necklace, come take it.]
I shot to my feet.
The blood loss from my wound left me dizzy, and the whole room started spinning.
But I couldn't care less.
I grabbed my coat and rushed out the door.
When I got to the hospital room, Gwen was humming a lullaby on the bed as she cradled her daughter.
When she saw me, her smile grew brighter.
"You're here," she said, shifting her position. "You know, Victor's been putting all the family business aside these days to take care of his heir and me."
She deliberately stressed the last four words.
I wasn't here for her little speech.
"Where's the necklace?" I demanded, my voice cold.
"Oh, this?" She picked up the necklace and dangled it right in front of my face.
"You can have it only if you get down on your knees and beg me for it," she taunted.
She stood up from the bed, the necklace spinning lazily between her fingers.
The chain was so thin that it looked like it might break any moment.
"Kneel," she ordered.
For a split second, I thought I'd misheard her.
"What?" I asked.
"You heard me." The contempt in her eyes was unmistakable.
She continued, "Evelyn, you're an orphan. Some nameless girl brought up by nuns."
She raised her voice, making sure I heard every word.
"I'm Gwen Archer, the heiress of the most powerful mob family in New Aurelia. I'm the one the Callahan family picked."
Gwen looked me up and down, her gaze full of disdain. "What makes you think you're good enough to stand next to me? Truth is, you should be grateful I'm letting you kneel for it."
She held up the necklace. "I'm going to count to three. Get on your knees and beg for it. Or I'll toss it right out the window."
I followed her gaze. The hospital window was half open. Outside, the courtyard was paved with stone.
My jaw was clenched so tight I could taste blood.
"One, two-" she continued.
"No," I cut her off. I closed my eyes and forced myself to kneel.
As I knelt, the cold floor bit into my skin, making it sting.
Gwen laughed, "How pathetic. You look like a stray dog."
Then she stood up, looking down at me like I was nothing but dirt on her shoe.
"You want it that badly? Fine, take it," Gwen said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
She lifted her hand, and I instinctively reached out, desperate to grab it.
But she let go at the last second before I could grab it.
The necklace hit the floor and shattered into pieces.
Gwen let out an exaggerated gasp. "Oh no!"
She covered her mouth, pretending to be shocked.
"Ugh, you're so clumsy. You can't manage to catch it," she jeered.
I was trembling all over, barely able to control myself.
I threw myself on the floor, frantically scrambling to collect the shattered pieces, desperate to piece them back together.
But before I could touch them, Gwen let out a dramatic scream.
She staggered backward, collapsing against the wall and slowly sinking to the floor.