Chapter 2 –

Lea's POV

My steps were hesitant as I climbed the marble stairs leading to the Duke family’s home—my father-in-law’s side of the family.

My heart wavered between hope of being accepted and the fear of being cast out.

The heavy front door opened before I had the chance to knock.

A middle-aged man—Mr. Duke—stood in the doorway, staring at me for a long moment, nearly expressionless.

Behind him, Mrs. Gracia and their children looked at me as if I were an unwanted threat.

“Come in,” Mr. Duke said at last.

I lowered my head, stepped inside, and heard the door quietly shut behind me.

“We knew you would come,” Mrs. Gracia said flatly. “And we also know the risks of helping you.”

I swallowed hard. “I won’t stay long. Just a few days until my flight ticket is ready. Then I’ll go as far away as possible.”

They exchanged glances. I knew they didn’t truly welcome me—but at least they allowed me shelter.

Under one condition.

“You must leave before Sean finds out you’re here,” Mr. Duke said firmly.

"We don't want our business to be ruined just because we helped a woman that Sean Armstrong hates.”

My chest tightened. I nodded.

“I understand. I swear... I’ll leave soon.”

**

But the world didn’t seem willing to let me breathe for long.

That morning, the roar of a car engine in the courtyard made my heart leap out of my chest.

Through the window, I saw dark-clothed men get out and storm in forcefully. They were Sean’s men.

“We’re in danger,” Mrs. Gracia whispered, gripping my hand tightly.

Shouts, screams, and the sound of things breaking filled the house. I hid in the basement, my breath caught in my throat.

But it didn’t take long for them to find me.

“Mrs. Lea Armstrong,” one of them said, pointing a gun at me.

“Mr. Sean is waiting for you.”

They dragged me out, and what I saw shattered my soul: the Duke family—being held at gunpoint.

“Sean!” I screamed as he stepped out of his black car. “What more do you want from me?!”

The man who once loved me now stood before me like a demon.

“You have to repay what I gave you for the past ten years... with your blood.”

“What are you talking about?!”

“Rebecca needs a blood transfusion. And only yours is compatible with hers.”

I froze. “No! I won’t give a single drop of my blood to that woman!”

He stepped closer. His eyes were cold. “You refuse? Then their lives are the price.”

Guns pointed at Mr. Duke and his family. They trembled in fear.

“You’re insane!” I stepped forward. “They’re your family, Sean!”

“Not anymore. They betrayed me.”

“All for that whore?! Rebecca’s turned you mad!”

“Shut your mouth!” Sean growled.

“I don’t have time. Rebecca... and our child... need your blood.”

My chest collapsed. Our child? That wound tore open again. But now was not the time to mourn the past.

I bowed my head in defeat.

“I’ll come... But let them go.”

“That depends on your obedience, Lea…”

**

At the hospital.

I was taken to the transfusion room, my body trembling in a thin hospital gown.

Rebecca lay quietly on the bed. Her face was peaceful—even while I had to risk my life for her.

“Just once,” I whispered to myself.

But it wasn’t.

Sean ordered them to draw even more blood. “For backup,” he said coldly.

My body began to weaken. My breath shortened. I knew this wasn’t just exhaustion—I was pregnant.

“Stop… I beg you…”

The doctor tried to reason with Sean. “Her body is already weak, Sir. Continuing could be dangerous.”

But Sean only smirked, “As long as she’s not dead, she’ll be fine. Keep going!”

The needle pierced my skin again. The world blurred. I looked at him, hoping he’d see my suffering.

But all I found was an empty gaze—cold and unfeeling.

In the final seconds before darkness consumed me, memories of him flooded back.

His smile. His embrace. His love.

But they were only shadows that made me regret it all the more.

**

I woke up in a hospital room. My head was heavy. My body still desperately weak.

And my stomach…

My hands reached frantically.

“My baby?!”

The nurse beside me shook her head, her eyes swollen with tears.

“We couldn’t save it…”

That voice struck like a bomb in my chest. A blast that shattered all of my sanity.

“Sean!!! You bastard!! I’ll kill you!”

I ripped the IV from my arm. Blood spilled, but I didn’t care. My legs shook as I stood, then collapsed. But rage lifted me again.

“I won’t die! Not until I see them destroyed!”

Nurses rushed to hold me down. “Ma’am, please, this could harm you…”

“Let me go!” I shoved them off. My eyes wild, searching for the room where Rebecca was lying.

I opened one VIP room after another. But they were gone.

The chaos I caused sent the whole floor into panic. I screamed.

“Where is Sean?! Tell me where he is!!”

One nurse shouted, “They’re not in this ward!”

“Take me to them! Now!!!”

And in that second…

The elevator doors at the end of the hallway slid open.

I turned.

My gaze froze.

The voice came—cold, sharp, dripping with contempt.

“What can you possible do with a body that weak, Lea? Restrain her. Take her to her room. Sedate her with a tranquilizer!”

My body was completely surrounded. Rough hands grab bed my arms, holding me down.

“NO!!! LET ME GO!!! SEAN!!!”

I screamed, but they didn’t care. My vision blurred with tears and fury.

Chapter 3

Lea's POV

I was confined in the hospital, closely guarded by Sean’s men.

On the surface, I was being treated to recover quickly after the blood extraction.

But it was only so they could take more of my blood later—whenever Rebecca needed it.

Once I had recovered, I was brought home to the Armstrong house.

The first person to greet me was Rebecca.

She had now transformed into the lady of the house I used to live in. All the jewelry, clothes, and belongings that were once mine had become hers.

“Wear this. Clean my room,” Rebecca ordered as she tossed a maid uniform at me.

I caught it without a reaction.

I had changed my strategy. I wouldn’t be reckless like before—attacking, failing, and ending up in danger again.

With steady steps, I headed toward the master bedroom—the room that once belonged to Sean and me.

And only I had the right to enter that room, because to me, it was where our love had once lived.

As soon as the door opened, a pungent scent assaulted me. A mixture of perfume and something thick in the air.

The bed was messy, the sheets tangled, and beneath it, I found men’s and women’s underwear.

I covered my mouth, trying to suppress my nausea.

“Ah… sorry, a bit messy,” Rebecca's flirty voice echoed from the doorway.

She walked in casually, picked up a bra and underwear from the floor, pretending to be shy.

“Sean, you’re so naughty. I told you, take these to the laundry,” she said with a teasing smile, as if I wasn’t even there.

Sean.

His eyes met mine for only a second. Cold. Empty.

Then he turned to Rebecca, his gaze soft—so soft it made my stomach churn.

“Let her clean it. That’s always been her job.”

“Oh really? Okay then… I trust you, Lea,” Rebecca said with her manipulative smile.

I wanted to slap her. But I forced myself to hold back the rage.

Sean led Rebecca out of the room.

Faintly, I overheard them talking about going to a shopping mall.

Rebecca was eyeing an exclusive handbag—only ten of them existed in the world. She wanted it. And Sean, without hesitation, agreed.

Back then, I never dared to ask for anything...

I thought having someone like Sean was already a gift.

Whatever he gave me, even if it was just a single rose he picked from the garden, it made me happy.

How foolish I was.

I took a deep breath, holding back tears, and started cleaning the room.

Every wrinkle in the sheets, every stain on the pillow, was a reminder that I no longer had a place in his life.

But I had to be strong. Coming back to this house gave me an opportunity.

I could retrieve my ID card.

**

For several days, I was a loyal maid for them. But in the middle of the night, I secretly planned my escape.

A notification popped up.

[Your ticket has been successfully booked. Thank you for your purchase.]

Thankfully, with modern technology, I didn’t have to go out to buy the ticket. Just a simple transaction on my phone.

I smiled, hoping everything would go smoothly.

But my smile faded instantly when that deep voice came from behind me.

“What’s making you so happy?”

Sean.

I didn’t have time to hide my phone. He quickly snatched it from my hand.

“Who were you messaging?”

“No one.”

“Liar.”

Sarcastically, he seized my phone, tapping through it, checking my chats.

He looked annoyed when he couldn’t find anything suspicious.

In moments like this, I felt as if he was jealous. But maybe that was just my assumption.

He simply didn’t want me rebelling.

“Babe…” Rebecca suddenly appeared, her tone sweet, but her eyes full of suspicion. “What are you doing with her?”

“Nothing. Just making sure your blood supply remains safe,” Sean replied, gently stroking her hair.

I stood frozen, watching their little performance.

I used to be the one he treated that sweetly.

Rebecca took my phone from Sean with two fingers, as if it were something filthy.

“She’s not going anywhere. Who would dare oppose you in this city, babe?”

“Don’t get too close to her anymore,” she added, glancing at me.

“She might still think you love her.”

Sean looked at me. This time, longer. But still empty.

“No. I won’t go near her again. Her life belongs to you now, babe...”

He caressed Rebecca’s face. And they kissed—right in front of me.

I wanted to scream. But all that came out was a stifled breath and a chest full of pain.

I hated this feeling.

I turned away and walked off. Behind me, their laughter rang out. Guiltless.

I couldn’t fail again. Just a few more hours...

Chapter 4

– Lea’s POV

I was observing the situation. Looking for an opportunity.

I stood behind the living room curtain, peeking into the backyard. Rebecca was doing prenatal yoga.

Beside her, a trainer stood by, giving gentle instructions.

Then I saw Sean—not far from them. Wearing matching workout clothes with Rebecca, he looked ready to join the prenatal yoga session.

Sean was so obedient. Even for something like this, he was willing to do it.

I sighed. I couldn’t let myself be consumed by old feelings.

My eyes shifted toward the kitchen. A maid was sweeping the floor.

“Have you done the shopping for dinner?” I asked in the lowest voice possible.

The maid shook her head. “Not yet, Ma’am. Once we’re done with the chores, we’ll go.”

An opportunity.

“I’ll go instead,” I said quickly.

The maid looked hesitant. “I’m sorry, Ma’am. I can’t decide that on my own. You’ll need to ask Mr. Sean for permission.”

I clenched my teeth. Every path to freedom was tightly guarded.

But I had to try.

I walked to the backyard with steady steps. Pretending to be calm, though my heart was pounding like it might burst at any second.

Rebecca was still engrossed in her stretches. Sean stood nearby, calmly watching.

“Sean,” I called, flatly.

He turned, his eyes questioning.

“What would you like to drink? I’ll make it for you,” I said, folding my arms across my chest.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, scrutinizing my movements.

But before he could say anything, I added sharply, “If you don’t want anything, fine. I’ll just go clean up the backyard.”

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Make me that health drink you used to make all the time.”

I swallowed hard. His answer pulled me back to the past.

I nodded quickly.

I returned to the kitchen at once. I didn’t want him to see me, not like this—like I still loved him.

“I’ve asked Sean. He gave me permission. Where’s the shopping list?”

The maid nodded and handed me a small piece of paper. “Here you go, Miss.”

My eyes scanned the note.

“Pears?” I asked in surprise.

The maid smiled. “You like them, don’t you? Mr. Sean said we should stock up more for you.”

My hands trembled holding the list. My eyes instinctively glanced outside, where Sean still stood.

Why was he suddenly being considerate?

But I couldn’t be swayed. This wasn’t the time to question the intentions of the man who had humiliated me.

Before leaving, I finished making Sean’s drink.

The last drink I would ever make for him.

I walked to the backyard and handed him the glass.

But before he could touch it, Rebecca called out, “Honey! Come here!”

Sean turned immediately. But before he could step away, I said quietly, “I moved some of your important documents to the study. Don’t leave them lying around again.”

He looked back. His face tensed for a moment, as if trying to read between my words. But Rebecca’s voice rang out again, and he walked away without saying a word.

I took a deep breath. Among those documents, hidden between the pages, was the divorce paper I had already signed.

This was the end of us.

Through the side door, I headed toward the back gate. A security guard stood there.

“I’ve been asked to do the shopping. Here’s the list,” I said, quickly and calmly, showing the note the maid had given me.

He looked at me, then glanced down at the list. No suspicion.

“Go ahead,” he said, opening the small gate.

Just as I stepped outside, a taxi pulled up.

I got in and shut the door with a sigh of relief. “Airport,” I said quickly.

The driver nodded and started the car. I closed my eyes. Finally… freedom.

But a few minutes later, I noticed something. The road we were on… wasn’t going to the airport.

“Sir… you’re going the wrong way.”

The driver said nothing.

“Sir!” I said more firmly, my voice starting to panic.

The car stopped on a deserted road. Before I could jump out, two men opened the door and dragged me out forcefully.

“Lea... Lea... Lea...”

That voice cut like a dagger. Rebecca.

My body was locked between two large men.

“Did you think you could escape me? You’re far too predictable.”

“Let me go!”

She smirked. “Before you die, I want you to know something. I never had anemia. The blood you donated for me? I sold it.”

My eyes widened. “What?!”

“I know you’re pregnant, Lea. I know the baby is Sean’s. But I won’t let your child ruin my child’s future.”

“You’re a demon, Rebecca!”

“Yes—and this demon is going to end your life.”

“I know!” I shouted. “You never loved Sean. All you ever wanted was his wealth!”

“We love each other, Lea!” she screamed, her eyes filled with madness.

“But because of you and your father-in-law’s will, I’ll never be his legal wife!”

Now I understood. That was why she clung to our status.

Not just for the blood. But for the inheritance.

Rebecca signaled. The two men dragged me back into the car.

Rebecca took the driver’s seat.

“What are you doing?” Panic crept in.

She only laughed and slammed her foot on the gas.

The car sped forward. The empty road ahead became a tunnel of death.

“Rebecca! Stop!” I screamed.

But she pulled out eye drops and dripped them into both eyes. Fake tears streamed down her face.

“Stop!” I shouted again. “You’re going to kill us both!”

But she just laughed—maniacal and cruel.

The car moved faster. Far beyond the speed limit.