Xavier hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering to my stomach before a cold smirk tugged at his lips.

He said mockingly, "Eloise, you're getting really creative. Now that you know you can't fool me, you're trying to pin this on Reina? You think I'd believe you?"

Tears blurred my vision, and my heart ached so painfully that I could hardly breathe.

"It was her!"

I lunged forward, rage burning through me, desperate to make Reina pay for my daughter's life.

Reina let out a terrified shriek and clung to Xavier, trembling. "Xavier, help me! Eloise is trying to kill me! What did I ever do to deserve this? Why does she hate me so much?"

Xavier pulled her protectively into his arms, and before I could react, his hand struck my face with a vicious slap.

"Enough, Eloise! She's your sister, and you're accusing her of this? Just because your baby is gone doesn't mean Reina had anything to do with it!"

Reina whimpered, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks, and Xavier's expression instantly softened. He gently wiped them away with his fingertips, his touch unbearably tender.

The sight of it was like a knife twisting in my heart.

When we were kids, Xavier was like that with me, too. If I cried, he would always be the one to wipe my tears away.

Nonetheless, that was a lifetime ago. Somewhere along the way, he had stopped caring, and I had no idea when or why it had happened.

Xavier spoke to Reina in a soft, comforting voice before turning to me, his eyes ice-cold. "Eloise, I won't let you slander Reina like this. Apologize to her."

I shouted, "I won't!"

Xavier had not expected me to defy him.

I did not remember when he started hating me, but I remembered how I used to feel about him. For years, he had been my entire world. I loved him, so I always tried to please him, walking on eggshells to avoid upsetting him.

Yet, he never noticed, and he never cared. To him, my feelings were nothing but a nuisance, something to be trampled on without a second thought.

No matter what I did, I was always in the wrong. No matter how hard I tried, I could never compare to Reina.

Xavier arched a brow, briefly startled. He warned me, saying, "Eloise, don't test my patience."

I had nothing left to say to him. I turned to go, but my defiance only seemed to enrage him more.

He stormed toward me, grabbed my wrist, and yanked me down, forcing me onto my knees in front of Reina. He snapped, saying, "I told you to apologize!"

Reina smirked at me before turning back to Xavier with a sweet, innocent expression. "Xavier, it's okay. Eloise didn't mean it."

Xavier's heart melted at her supposed kindness. "Reina, you're always too forgiving. She hit you, and she falsely accused you. She needs to apologize."

Then, he looked at me, his gaze sharp with warning. "Anyone who hurts Reina will pay for it twice over."

My mind flashed back to high school when a group of guys had cornered me. Xavier had come charging in, shielding me, fighting them off. Now, he was the one hurting me.

Maybe it was because I refused to beg. Perhaps it was because I did not break the way he wanted me to.

Xavier suddenly released me, only to drive his foot into my shoulder, sending me sprawling onto the floor. He snarled and said, "Eloise, don't push me. Apologize. Now."

"I won't!"

His expression darkened. "What did you say?"

I shouted, "I said I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?"

The words had barely left my mouth before his hand came down on my face again. The force of the slap sent me reeling, my body turning to the side.

The vial in my hand slipped from my grasp, and the glass shattered as it hit the floor with a sharp crack.

My daughter's ashes scattered across the floor, and I scrambled to gather them with my hands like a madwoman.

Xavier frowned. "Eloise, what is wrong with you? Why are you bringing dirt into the house?"

Reina's eyes flashed with something sinister before she leaned weakly against Xavier's shoulder. She said softly, "Xavier, it wasn't on purpose. I'll clean it up."

She stood up and grabbed a broom while Xavier pinned my arms back to keep me from stopping her.

"No! That's my daughter's ashes! Reina, what are you doing?!" I screamed, thrashing desperately, but it was useless. I could only watch as Reina swept away every last trace of my precious baby.

"Xavier, where should I dump this?" Reina asked casually.

Xavier finally let go of me. "Flush it down the toilet. It's disgusting. You shouldn't touch it—so much dust, you'll make yourself sick."

He reached for the dustpan, fully intending to dump my daughter's remains into the toilet.

"No!" I let out a bloodcurdling scream and threw myself at him, collapsing at his feet.

"Xavier, please, I'm begging you! Don't throw it away! That's our daughter. Those are her ashes!"

My swollen, tear-streaked eyes barely opened, but the desperation in them was unmistakable.

For a split second, Xavier hesitated. However, Reina's voice cut in smoothly, pulling his attention away.

She said, "Eloise, why are you lying to Xavier? You gave birth to a healthy baby, so why are you making up these horrible stories? This can't be ashes. No mother would curse her child like that—no matter how angry."

With just a few gentle words, she twisted the entire situation. As a result, Xavier's brief hesitation vanished.

He scoffed, his lips curling into a smirk. "Almost had me there. But Reina's right—if you cared about this baby so much, why are you still here acting normal? If she were dead, you'd be falling apart."

Then, without warning, he kicked me aside and headed straight for the bathroom, dustpan in hand. I watched in horror as he moved to dump my daughter's ashes into the toilet.

I shouted, "No! Please, don't do this!"

Xavier chuckled. "If it means so much to you, then apologize to Reina."

I nodded frantically. "Okay! I'll apologize!"

I dropped to my knees, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth as I choked out the words. "Reina, I'm sorry."

Xavier was not satisfied. He said, "Not good enough. Get on your knees properly and bow."

I clenched my teeth so hard I thought they might crack, but I obeyed. I bowed deeply and apologized. "Reina, I'm sorry!"

Reina's eyes glowed triumphantly before she quickly masked it with a kind expression. She reached down, pretending to help me up.

"Eloise, just don't lie again, okay? I won't hold it against you."

Her fingers dug into my arm, her sharp nails biting into my skin, making me tremble in pain.

Xavier finally seemed satisfied. "Now that's more like it. But don't think this means I believe you. Keeping something this filthy in the house is bad for Reina's health."

Without another word, he casually tipped the dustpan forward, letting the ashes pour into the toilet bowl.

"Xavier! No!" I let out a strangled sob and stumbled forward, plunging my hands into the water, desperate to save what little I could.

Yet, as my fingers touched the ashes, Xavier pressed the flush.

The water swirled, carrying my daughter's ashes in circles before swallowing them completely. I remained frozen, my hand still reaching into the toilet, my eyes wide with disbelief.

That was all that was left of her—the only proof that she had ever existed. However, even that was gone, and it was all because of Xavier and Reina.

A tidal wave of hatred surged through me. I shot to my feet and started pounding my fists against Xavier's body like a mad woman.

I screamed, "Xavier, you're a monster! You flushed my daughter away! Give her back to me!"

He shoved me off with brutal force. My balance broke, and my head slammed against the wall with a sickening crack.

Warm blood trickled down my forehead, pooling around me as I collapsed onto the same bloodstained floor from the night before.

"Eloise, stop acting insane," Xavier said. His voice was devoid of warmth, filled only with condescension.

He said, "If you stop making a scene, I'll take you to see the baby. If you want a wedding, I'll give you one."

For years, my only wish had been to be his wife in name, not just in the shadows. I wanted a marriage certificate and a wedding where the world would know I belonged to him.

Yet, Xavier had never taken me anywhere. Reina was the only woman by his side, no matter where he went.

Everyone believed she was his wife. Whenever he introduced her, he said, "This is my love, Reina."

His wife and his love were one and the same.

As for me? I was nothing but a shameful secret.

After everything, he was finally willing to give me what I had begged for. However, I did not want it anymore.

My eyes burned, so dry and swollen that even blinking felt like knives against my skin. I forced myself to stare at him, my voice hoarse yet steady as I spoke.

I said, "I don't need it anymore, Xavier. We're done."

Maybe I had spent so many years loving him and chasing after him that he simply could not believe I would ever leave.

I caught the flicker of mockery in his tone as he replied, "What, you're not clinging to me anymore? Not begging me to stay?"

Before I could respond, Reina spoke up, her voice dripping with false innocence.

"Eloise, why are you still lying to Xavier? The baby is at the hospital, right? Xavier never said he wouldn't take care of her. Why are you making such a big deal out of this?"

I snapped and said, "Shut up! You filthy, shameless whore. You have no right to even mention her!"

Reina's eyelashes fluttered, and the tears came instantly. "You're right. It was my mistake. I won't mention her again."

Her false meekness made Xavier's anger explode. He sneered before pulling out his phone. To make sure I heard, he put the call on speaker.

"Connor, find out which hospital Eloise's daughter is in. Tell her to bring the baby to me immediately. I want full custody."

His posture radiated smug confidence as if it were the move that would finally break me.

I let out a hollow, bitter laugh. There was a long pause on the other end of the line before Connor Lambert, Xavier's assistant, hesitated and spoke.

"Mr. Morales, the baby passed away. She died the day after we couldn't reach you."