“Laureen, I need to go,” he said, already stepping away. He held my face for a second, kissed my forehead like it meant something. “You go ahead with the checkup. I’ll come find you after. I’ll stay with you… with both of you.”

Both of you.

He didn’t even finish his sentence before turning away. And then he was gone.

Just like that.

I stood there, staring at the signature on the paper. His name, bold and careless.

Right under the words…

Induced labor consent.

My vision blurred. I didn’t even notice the tears falling until they hit the paper and smudged the ink.

…

The operating room was cold. Too bright.

Metal instruments clinked softly somewhere beside me, sharp and distant.

I lay there, staring up at the ceiling, my fingers curled tightly against the sheets. My body felt heavy, numb in places, but my chest… it felt like it was being crushed slowly.

This is the choice I made.

I bit down hard on my lip, tasting blood almost immediately. Memories kept coming, one after another, like they refused to let me go.

The first time he stayed with me through the storm.

The lights had gone out, thunder shaking the windows, and I couldn’t stop trembling. He sat beside me in the dark, his hand warm around mine, his voice steady. “It’s okay. I’m here. I won’t leave.”

The day I got sick and could barely stand.

He carried me to bed without a word, tucked the blanket around me, his hand brushing my hair back so carefully. “Rest. You don’t have to be strong all the time.”

When I couldn’t keep food down during pregnancy.

He sat beside me, feeding me slowly, patient, soft. “Just one more bite, okay? You need to eat. I’m right here.”

I squeezed my eyes shut.

All of it…

Fake.

Every single word. Every touch. Every promise. Was there even one moment that was real?

Suddenly, the pain hit harder. My body tensed without warning, and a broken sound escaped my throat before I could stop it.

It hurts.

So much.

My fingers dug into my palms, nails pressing deep into my skin like I needed something to hold onto.

I thought I heard something.

A faint cry.

Or maybe it was just in my head.

“Joaquin…” I whispered, barely even hearing my own voice. Why am I still calling him? Why…

Tears slipped down the sides of my face, mixing with the cold sweat on my skin.

Everything felt distant. Blurry.

Like I was drifting somewhere far away from all of it.

The child…

Gone.

And just like that…

Whatever we had… it was over.

…

I stayed in the hospital for a day and no one came.

Not my parents and not even Joaquin.

I waited at him first. I kept checking the door every time footsteps passed. Maybe he'd show up or maybe he’d at least ask how I was but nothing.

In the end, I handled my own discharge. Signed the papers myself, packed my things, and walked out alone.

When I passed the VIP ward, the door was slightly open. I didn’t mean to look, but I did.

And there they were...

My parents sat on both sides of Elizabeth’s bed, peeling fruit, feeding her water, their faces full of worry. The kind of worry I’d begged for my whole life.

Joaquin stood near the doctor, holding a report, his brows slightly furrowed. His voice was low, careful, asking questions, making sure everything was fine.

Elizabeth reached out and tugged his sleeve, smiling softly.

He didn’t even hesitate. He bent down right away, adjusted her blanket, his movements gentle, patient.

I stood outside the door, frozen. My fingers slowly curled into my palm without me noticing.

Why does it still hurt? Haven’t I seen this my whole life?

A memory slipped in before I could stop it.

When we were kids, we both fell off our bikes on the same afternoon. Gravel tore into our knees, palms scraped raw, both of us crying on the side of the road.

My parents rushed straight to her. Lifting her up, brushing the dirt from her skin, voices soft and panicked as they checked every little scratch.

I stayed where I was.

Still on the ground.

My hands stung, blood slowly dripping down my fingers, but I didn’t move. I just watched them fuss over her like I wasn’t even there.

No one came.

I told myself I got used to it.

And then I met Joaquin.

He gave me so much that I stopped looking at anyone else. I stopped wanting anything from anyone else.

But now…

This was the first time I saw him treat someone better than he treated me.

So that’s it, huh? No one ever really loved me.

…

When I got back to the villa, the place felt too big.

I went straight to my room and closed the door.

Then I took out the fake belly I bought and strapped it under my clothes. Adjusted it carefully in the mirror until it looked real enough.

Still pregnant. Still carrying his child.

I touched it lightly. My hand trembled for a second before I pulled away.

My real baby…

I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t get rid of my own child. No matter what kind of lie this world had become, that baby was still mine.

So I paid the doctor a fortune to perform a C-section. I give him nough money to buy his silence. He agreed to hide the baby for me, said he’d take care of everything—no records, no trace. And that when the time was right, I could come back and get my child.

After that… I asked him for one more thing.

A dead baby. Unclaimed.

He hesitated at first, but money makes people quiet so he brought one.

I placed the tiny body into a beautifully wrapped box, soaked everything in formalin, sealed it carefully, and locked it inside the drawer.

This would be my gift to Joaquin.

After everything was done, I sat on the bed for a long time before picking up my phone.

I dialed a number I hadn’t touched in years.

“Hello?” a woman answered.

“It’s me,” I said softly. “Laureen Covington.”

There was a pause, then recognition. “Laureen?! It’s been a long time. Where are you now?”

“I’m still in, Beverly Hills, California. But I don’t want to stay here anymore.” My voice came out steadier than I expected. “I want to leave and go abroad. If the position at the Sunvale Academy is still open… I’d like to take it. I can teach piano. I can start anytime.”

“That’s sudden! You built a life there. Are you sure you’re ready to walk away from everything?”

Everything.

What did I even have to walk away from?

“I’ve thought about it,” I said quietly. “There’s nothing here for me anymore.”

“Alright,” she said. “Come in two weeks. I’ll arrange everything on my side. We’ll take care of the rest once you’re here.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

I hung up.

Two weeks.

Just two more weeks.

Not long after, I heard footsteps outside and the door opened. Joaquin walked in, his expression tightening slightly when he saw me.

“Laureen, why didn’t you tell me you were being discharged? Do you know how risky that was?! You shouldn’t be moving around alone in your condition.”

He walked over, his hand naturally resting on my stomach.

“Don’t do that again,” he said softly. “Tell me next time. What did the doctor say? Is everything okay? Is the baby fine?”

The baby.

I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, another voice came in.

“Sister, you’re already home?” Elizabeth stepped in, smiling brightly. “You didn’t even tell us,” she continued, “Do you know how worried Joaquin was? He almost turned the whole hospital upside down looking for you.”

I looked at Joaquin.

He immediately explained, “Liza wanted to leave the hospital for a few days. The air here is better, so I let her stay just until she feels stronger.”

Elizabeth clasped her hands together, her smile soft and innocent. “I hope I’m not bothering you, sis. I’ll only stay for a short while, I promise.”

Her eyes met mine and there it was. That quiet challenge. Waiting. Watching.

‘Go on, break,’ her gaze seemed to say. ‘Show them what you really are.’

I didn’t. I just nodded.

“I won’t disturb you,” I said calmly.

…

That afternoon, I stayed on the sofa just… watching.

No one asked me to join. No one noticed I didn’t.

Joaquin moved around the house like I wasn’t even there.

He personally told the servants how to prepare Elizabeth’s room. I heard every word.

“Make sure the mattress is soft enough,” he said, “She had back issues before, don’t make it uncomfortable for her. And check the temperature, she gets cold easily at night.”

I sat there, hands resting on my lap, and just listened.

At dinner, it was the same.

“She doesn’t eat spicy foods,” he reminded them. “And peel the seafood properly, don’t leave anything. The soup… let it cool a bit before serving.”

I stared at my plate.

When was the last time he remembered what I liked? Did he ever?

And then… things started clicking in my head.

Moments I ignored before. Moments I thought meant nothing.

Every family gathering, his eyes always found Elizabeth somehow. Just for a second, just a glance but it was always there.

Every time she got “sick,” he somehow had a reason to pass by the hospital. Coincidences, he called them.

Even after I got pregnant, those times he seemed distracted, those long silences…

He wasn’t thinking about me.

He was thinking about her.

How did I miss all of that?

I closed my eyes slowly.

Laureen… you’re really pathetic.

For a second there, I really thought I was loved.

I barely ate that night. Just a few bites, enough so no one would ask questions, then I went back to my room.

Not long after, the door opened.

Joaquin walked in.

“Why did you eat so little?” he asked, sitting beside me on the bed. His hand slid into my hair, gentle, familiar. “Are you not feeling well?”

I moved slightly, avoiding his touch. “I’m not hungry.”

He caught my hand instead, his fingers wrapping around mine. “Not hungry at all?”

“I’m fine,” I said quietly.

He leaned closer. “And what if I’m not?”

I froze.

Before I could say anything, he lowered his head, his lips brushing against my collarbone.

My body stiffened instantly.

It wasn’t the first time.

Before, after I passed the early stage of pregnancy, he couldn’t wait. Even when I cried, even when I told him it hurt, he would just hold me tighter, kiss my tears away, and whisper, “Just this once, okay? I love you.”

It was never the last time.

I pushed against him weakly. “The baby…”

“It’s fine,” he murmured, gripping my wrist gently but firmly. “You can just… help me a little, okay?”

I didn’t answer. What was I supposed to say?

The arms I used to run to now felt suffocating. His kiss deepened, and I felt my chest tighten more and more—

Then a knock.

“Joaquin? Laureen? Are you asleep?”

Everything stopped. Joaquin pulled back immediately, and the look in his eyes changed so fast it almost made me laugh.

He stood up and opened the door.

Elizabeth stood there, smiling gently.

“Sister,” she said as she stepped in slowly, her eyes landing on me. “You’re already this far along… it must be exhausting, right? I’ve been learning prenatal massage recently. It helps with stress and tension. I can help you relax a bit.”

“I don’t need it,” I said.

Her expression shifted instantly, her eyes turning red and her lips trembling slightly.

“Do you not trust me?” she asked softly, then looked at Joaquin. “I just wanted to help, Joaquin. I thought maybe I could do something for her…”

Joaquin walked back to me, his hand warm as he touched my face.

“Liza means well,” he said gently. “Let her help you, alright?”

Elizabeth smiled again and stepped closer.

“For prenatal massage, it’s important that your body stays completely relaxed,” she said lightly. “If you move too much, it can cause strain. We usually secure the hands and feet a little, just to keep everything steady.”

Something cold slid through me.

Joaquin didn’t question it. He just nodded and reached for a rope nearby.

I watched him as he tied my wrists to the headboard.

Slowly. Carefully.

The sound of the knot tightening echoed in my ears.

Why am I still hoping he’ll stop? I thought. Why am I still waiting for him to realize something’s wrong?

“Joaquin,” Elizabeth said softly, smiling at him. “Thank you for trusting me. You can go out now. It’s better if it’s quiet.”

He nodded.

Before leaving, he leaned down, his fingers brushing my cheek gently.

“Be good,” he said softly. “Listen to Liza, okay?”

Then he walked out.

…

I stared at the closed door, and my chest tightened so hard I could barely breathe.

He didn’t hesitate. Not even for a second.

She called, and he left. Just like that.

“Sister, relax,” Elizabeth said softly behind me as she stepped closer. Her fingers brushed over the ribbon tied around my wrists, slow and deliberate. “If you’re this tense, the massage won’t work. You’ll only make it harder for yourself.”

I looked at her, my voice cold. “I told you, I don’t want this. Just leave.”

She paused for a second, and the smile on her face slowly faded.

Then she leaned closer, her lips near my ear. “So… you know, don’t you?” she whispered.

My fingers trembled a little, but I kept my face still. “Know what?”

“Oh come on,” she let out a quiet laugh. “Stop pretending. You’re not that stupid. You already know Joaquin only got close to you for the baby. For the fetal stem cells. For me.”

My chest tightened, and I didn’t move.

She sighed softly, almost sounding sorry. “But even if you know… what can you do? You can’t stop any of this. You never could.”

Her hand moved down, her fingertip pressing lightly against my stomach.

“Before, it was you I played with,” she murmured. “After this baby is born… it’ll be your child instead.”

Something inside me snapped tight. I bit down hard on my lip until I tasted blood.

“Are you done?” I asked, my voice rough. “If you’re done, then get out.”

She laughed again, quieter this time. “You think I came here just to talk?”

She turned and walked toward the cabinet, taking something out. A small bottle.

“I said I’m here to help you,” she added lightly.

The next second, something cold splashed across my back.

It burned.

Before I could even react, the pain exploded through me.

“Ah—!” I screamed, my body jerking violently.

It felt like my flesh was being torn apart piece by piece. My vision blurred instantly, my whole body shaking uncontrollably.

“What… what did you do?!”

Elizabeth stepped back, watching calmly. “Acid. Funny, right?”

I struggled, pulling hard against the rope, but they cut into my wrists, tightening with every movement. The more I moved, the worse it burned.

It hurt. It hurt so much I couldn’t even think.

My nails dug into my palms, my body twisting, trying to escape something I couldn’t even see.

I screamed again, my voice hoarse, desperate.

Finally, I pulled with everything I had.

The rope snapped.

I fell off the bed, hitting the floor hard, barely even feeling it over the pain in my back. I grabbed the blanket, pressing it against my skin, trying to wipe it off, to stop it, to do anything.

It didn’t stop right away.

It kept burning.

By the time it slowed, I was shaking so badly I could barely breathe. My back felt raw, wet, every breath sharp and unbearable.

I pushed myself up slowly, using the bed for support, my legs weak.

Step by step, I walked toward her.

Elizabeth suddenly screamed and dropped to the floor.

“Ah—! Joaquin! Help me!” she cried, her voice shaking, tears instantly filling her eyes.

The door flew open.

Joaquin rushed in.

Elizabeth clutched her arm, sobbing. “It’s not her fault! I made her upset, Joaquin. She pushed me… I didn’t mean to make her angry…”

I looked at him.

He frowned, his eyes turning cold when they landed on me.

“Laureen, what did you do?” his voice was sharp. “Liza was only trying to help you. Why would you treat her like this?”

I opened my mouth, but the pain in my back shot through me so hard I couldn’t even speak.

No words came out.

My fingers gripped the sheets tightly, turning white.

I didn’t even get a chance to explain.

He had already bent down, lifted Elizabeth into his arms, holding her carefully.

Then he turned and walked out. He didn’t even notice when his shoulder hit me.

I stumbled back and fell, my head hitting the corner of the table.

Something warm ran down my face. Blood.

But he didn’t stop.

Didn’t look back.

Not even once.

I lay there on the floor, watching him disappear down the hallway, holding her like she was the only thing that mattered.

My back burned. My head throbbed. Blood dripped onto the floor.

But none of that felt worse than this.

I was right here. Broken. Bleeding.

And he didn’t even glance at me.

He used to panic over the smallest scratch on me.

Now… I could disappear, and it wouldn’t matter.

“Joaquin…” my vision blurring again.

You love her that much, don’t you?

If one day you find out… That the person you loved from the very beginning wasn’t her… Will you regret it?

My back was still burning. Every inch of it hurt.

I sat there alone and tried to put medicine on it myself, my hands shaking so bad I could barely hold the bottle. Every touch felt sharp, deep, and unbearable.

But I didn’t cry.

What was the point?

I think… I ran out of tears a long time ago.

I had just finished when the door slammed open.

SMACK!

My head snapped to the side, and my mom’s hand burned across my face hard enough to make my ears ring.

“You ungrateful child!” she shouted, her voice shaking with anger. “Liza was trying to help you, she even learned prenatal massage for you, and you pushed her? What kind of person are you?”

Blood filled my mouth. I tasted it slowly as I turned back, but before I could even speak, my dad kicked my knee.

Pain shot up my leg and I dropped straight to the floor.

“Drag her down,” he said coldly. “She needs to learn her place today.”

Hands grabbed me before I could react, and they dragged me all the way down to the basement. It was cold there, and dark in a way that felt like it swallowed sound.

When they threw me inside, my eyes fell to the floor.

Thumbtacks.

Hundreds of them scattered across the ground, tiny and sharp, glinting faintly under the dim light like they were waiting.

“Kneel,” my mom said sharply. “Do you even understand how sick Liza is? She needs that fetal stem cell treatment, she’s already suffering so much, and she still tried to take care of you. And this is how you repay her?”

I stared at the floor, then let out a small laugh.

“If I said your adopted daughter hurt me first…” I murmured, my voice barely steady. “Would you even believe me?”

“Nonsense!” my dad snapped immediately. “Liza would never do that. She’s kind, she’s gentle. Even if she made a mistake, you should’ve endured it. Who do you think you are, to hurt her back?”

I laughed again, softer this time, and it hurt to even breathe. My chest felt tight and my throat burned like something was lodged inside it.

Yeah…

Even if she killed me, they’d probably worry more about her hands getting dirty.

“M-mom… do you even see me as your daughter?”

“Stop saying useless things!” she said coldly. “If you had even half of Liza’s character, we wouldn’t have to discipline you like this. Take off your shoes. Kneel. And don’t even think about getting up until a full day has passed.”

My dad gave a small gesture, and the bodyguards stepped closer.

“I’ll do it,” I said quietly, pulling away from them.

I bent down slowly and took off my shoes. For a moment, I just stood there, staring at the scattered metal points beneath me. Then I stepped forward.

The first one pierced my skin instantly.

My breath hitched, but I kept walking. One step, then another, and each movement drove more of them into my feet. Blood followed behind me, staining the floor in uneven drops.

Why does it still hurt this much? Haven’t I gone through worse?

I kept going until I reached the center.

Then I dropped to my knees.

“Ah—!”

The pain exploded through me, sharp and unbearable, and my vision went dark for a second. My body shook hard, but I bit my lip and forced myself to stay upright.

I wouldn’t fall. Not in front of them.

They didn’t even look at me twice.

“Don’t move,” my dad said coldly. “You’re not allowed to get up.”

Then they turned and left.

The door shut behind them.

It was quiet. Too quiet.

I knelt there, my whole body trembling, and the blood kept dripping beneath me, warm against the cold floor.

Time passed, though I couldn’t tell how much. Minutes blurred into hours until everything felt the same.

My head started spinning, and my vision blurred at the edges. I swayed slightly, fighting to stay conscious.

Am I going to pass out here? Would anyone even care if I did?

The blood kept spreading, and my body felt heavier with every second, like something was pulling me down.

Just as everything began to fade—

The door burst open.

“Laureen!”

For a second, I thought I imagined it. I tried to look up, but everything went black before I could see him clearly.

And then nothing.