Chapter 5

Staring at the ultrasound report, April lost all control and burst into bitter tears.

'This baby couldn't have come at a worse time. If only I'd gotten pregnant when Julian and I first got together.

'But it has to be now, after I found out Julian never truly loved me,' April thought bitterly.

Her tears soaked the pillow as she clutched the report tightly. She would never let Julian know about this baby. He didn't deserve it.

For the next few days, Julian stuck to her like glue, as if they were back to how things used to be.

But April saw right through him: he was only keeping close because he was afraid she'd do something to Hannah.

Julian brought over a bowl of chicken soup, carefully blowing on it to cool it down. "April, I made this myself."

"Get lost. I'm eating that," April snapped, her face icy as she swatted the bowl away.

Julian didn't get upset. He quietly grabbed something else. "April, you can be mad at me all you want, but don't mess up your health."

*****

After a couple of days, April kept her cool, but Hannah was losing her composure.

Her eyes were rimmed with red, filled with resentment as she said, "I underestimated you, April. I never thought Julian would care about you this much."

April paid her no mind. In one more day, she would leave this place and go abroad. She figured let Hannah make a scene if she wanted.

Hannah noticed the indifference on April's face, and her hatred reached a boiling point.

Taking advantage of April's weakness, she forced a glass of water roughly down April's throat.

"What did you make me drink?" April asked, her consciousness growing foggy.

"I want to see if Julian will still want you after you're destroyed," Hannah hissed.

*****

When April came to, she found herself tied to a pillar. Dust choked her mouth, leaving her with an unbearable discomfort.

She looked around and realized she was in an abandoned warehouse.

"What are you staring at?" a voice barked.

April flinched at the sudden shout.

A burly man slapped her hard across the face, then raised his voice toward the outside. "Mr. Sheppard, you've got two options. One is your wife, the other is some random girl, supposedly your maid's daughter. Your call."

Only then did April notice Julian standing nearby, a group of black-suited bodyguards behind him.

A flicker of anxiety crossed Julian's eyes when he saw April injured. "Don't touch her!"

Hannah was in tears, panic written all over her face as she cried out desperately, "Julian, save me!"

Julian fell silent for a long time.

The burly man snorted impatiently, pressing two separate knives against Hannah's and April's necks.

"Five seconds," he said. "If you don't choose, they both die. Five, four, three..."

Julian's heart felt like it was being ripped apart. A blood-choked cry tore from deep within him. "I choose Hannah!"

Mary had died for him. He couldn't let her daughter die right in front of his eyes.

In that instant, April couldn't breathe, her throat burning with a metallic taste.

When it came down to life and death, Julian picked Hannah.

Hannah was let go. The roller shutter slammed down, crushing the last bit of hope April had left.

She was brutally kicked to the ground in despair, taking the kidnapper's relentless punches and kicks, every bone in her body throbbing with agony.

"Break her hands and legs. That way, she won't be able to struggle later," the burly man ordered.

Pain exploded in April's head, and she felt like death had already claimed her.

Before the pain knocked her out cold, she heard gunshots and the distant wail of an ambulance.

*****

Linton stood respectfully at the door. Cold glints flickered off his glasses, stinging April's eyes.

"Mrs. Sheppard, you're finally awake," he said. "Mr. Sheppard is right next door. He told me to stay here and wait for you to wake up. I'll go let him know right away."

April just lay there, unmoved. She could barely hear what he was saying; her mind was foggy.

A doctor knocked and came in, his voice heavy with regret. "I'm sorry, but we couldn't save the baby."

His gaze shifted to April's legs, and he spoke softly, "Don't worry. Your legs are fine. The anesthesia hasn't worn off yet."

April lowered her eyes, staring blankly at her numb legs. Her hand automatically went to her belly, and tears poured down her face.

It felt like her heart was being crushed in someone's fist, every tremor squeezing out blood instead of tears.

Before she had a chance to prepare for the baby, it was already gone.

"April!" Julian burst into the room, his face full of worry, like he cared about her. "Thank God you're okay."

His eyes fell on April's hand resting on her stomach, his voice laced with uncertainty. "What's wrong with your stomach?"

Maintaining his professional demeanor, the doctor spoke up. "She just had a miscarriage."

"It's nothing, simply a stomachache," April quickly interrupted, speaking over the doctor so Julian only heard her.

He gently placed his hand over hers. "Your stomach hurts?"

The doctor took the hint and quietly left.

Julian stayed by April's side, his voice soft and soothing. "April, this was all an accident. I've had my people take care of the ones who kidnapped you. Trust me, they won't get away with it."

April looked up, her gaze steady and cold as she stared at Julian. "What if I told you the kidnapping wasn't an accident?"

"What are you trying to say?"

April's expression was icy, her voice steady. "The kidnapping wasn't some accident. Before I blacked out, Hannah forced a glass of water down my throat. When I came to, I was in that warehouse."

She spoke each word with deliberate clarity. "Hannah bribed the kidnappers to take me. She told them to ruin me."

Julian's face went rigid, and he said slowly, "That's impossible."