“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.

I woke up in my bedroom.

The ceiling looked familiar, and everything felt too quiet. My back, feet and knees were bandaged, but the pain was still there, deep and constant like it had settled into my bones.

“You’re awake?”

Joaquin’s voice came from beside me.

I turned my head slowly. He was sitting there with red, exhausted eyes, like he hadn’t slept in days. His tie was loose, shirt slightly wrinkled, and there was stubble on his jaw.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” he said, and then he pulled me into his arms. His hand rested on the back of my head, holding me close. “It’s okay now. I’m here. Don’t be scared.”

His warmth used to make me feel safe. His heartbeat used to calm me down.

Now my body just went stiff.

Why does it feel like I can’t breathe when he holds me now?

Every time my parents punished me before, it was him who came. Always him. I used to think he was my escape. The only light in a house that never loved me.

But now I know better.

He’s not my escape.

He’s part of it.

“What’s wrong?” Joaquin asked, pulling back slightly to look at me. “Are you still in pain? I’ll call your doctor.”

“No need,” I said quietly, gripping the blanket. “It’s just a headache.”

He frowned a little, but he didn’t push. Then he stood up.

“I’ll get your medicine.”

He walked to the bedside table and opened the drawer. My body went cold.

No!

I saw it before he did. That box. The one I put there.

My heart slammed hard in my chest.

He reached in and paused. “What’s this?” his fingers touched the ribbon. “Did you buy something?”

“No!”

It came out sharp. Too fast.

I fell off the bed, pain shooting through my knee, but I didn’t care. I grabbed the box and shoved it back into the drawer before he could pull it out. My hands were shaking.

Joaquin paused, then let out a soft laugh. “What, you’re keeping secrets from me now?”

I stayed on the floor, breathing uneven. Then I looked up at him.

“Aren’t you the one keeping secrets?” I asked quietly.

His expression didn’t change. He just stepped closer and brushed my hair back like nothing happened.

“What secrets would I have from you?” he said softly. “You’re overthinking again.”

Overthinking.

Is that what this is?

I stared at him. Calm face. Gentle eyes. Like nothing in the world was wrong.

How can someone lie this easily?

My chest felt tight, like something was slowly closing around it.

I almost lost my child. My real child. Because of everything around me.

And he still acts like I’m the fragile one.

After that, he fed me my medicine himself. Stayed close all the time, watching me like I might break.

In the next few days, he didn’t leave. Not once.

He canceled all his work and stayed with me every step.

He bought an entire jewelry store just because I glanced at the window.

He tried cooking for me once, saying he wanted to learn what pregnant women needed. He burned his finger and still smiled like it didn’t hurt.

At night, when I moved even a little, he would wake up right away and pull the blanket back over me, careful and quiet.

“Don’t get cold,” he’d whisper.

A perfect husband.

That’s what everyone said.

I used to believe it too, but I knew what Joaquin did when I fell asleep. He didn’t stay. He never really stayed. Once my breathing settled, he would slip out of bed without a sound, then leave for the hospital… to her.

I found out by accident. One night, he left his phone on the table and the screen lit up.

“How’s Liza’s heart rate today?”

“She’s still taking painkillers, she’s scared of pain, keep monitoring.”

“Report to me anytime.”

So calm. So normal. Meanwhile I was in the same house, carrying his child.

Then her messages came. Elizabeth didn’t even try to hide anything. Photos and videos, sent one after another, bold and unapologetic.

Joaquin sitting by her hospital bed, feeding her warm food slowly, careful with every movement. My parents stood beside her, their faces full of worry, focused only on her.

Then a video. Security footage.

Joaquin leaned down, brushed her hair back, then kissed her forehead while she slept. His eyes were soft, painfully soft… the kind of warmth I thought belonged to me.

My hands shook as I watched.

Then her message came right after.

“See that? How are you supposed to win against me?”

Tears fell onto the screen, but I didn’t wipe them away.

Am I even supposed to fight this, or am I already losing and just refusing to admit it?

The door opened.

“Why are you crying?”

Joaquin walked in quickly and came straight to me, his thumb brushing under my eye. “Is the baby bothering you again?”

I turned my face slightly.

“It’s nothing,” I said. “I just saw a video.”

“What kind of video makes you cry like this?” he asked, his tone soft with a hint of teasing. He pinched my nose lightly.

“A couple getting married,” I said.

He let out a quiet laugh. “You’re crying over strangers now?”

I lowered my eyes. “It’s just… love is hard. Finding someone who loves you back, someone you can actually stay with…”

He looked at me for a moment, then cupped my face.

“You don’t need to think about that,” he said. “You love me and I love you. That’s enough. We’re forever.”

Forever.

He said it so easily, so naturally.

I remembered our wedding, the way he looked at me when he said I do, like I was everything.

How did I believe that… or did I just want to?

I forced a small nod. “Yeah,” I said quietly. “That’s enough.”

He smiled, satisfied, then pulled me into his arms.

…

The day he left for his business trip, the villa felt different.

Before leaving, he gave instructions to every servant, one after another.

“She only drinks warm water, not too hot.”

“Fresh fruit at three, remove the stems from the strawberries.”

“She kicks the blanket at night, so check on her.”

He stood at the door in his suit, flawless as always, then bent down and kissed my forehead.

“Be good,” he said softly. “Wait for me.”

I smiled and nodded, watching his car disappear.

The moment it was gone, my smile faded. The servants were still whispering.

“He really loves her…”

I didn’t respond. I went upstairs and started packing.

My bags were only half done when the door slammed open.

Elizabeth stumbled in.

I paused for a second, then kept packing.

She grabbed her phone with shaking hands.

“Dad… Mom…” she cried. “I killed someone…”

My fingers stopped.

My mom’s voice came through, sharp with panic. “Liza? What happened?”

“I was driving—” Elizabeth sobbed. “I didn’t see her, an old woman crossed the road and I hit her… she’s not moving! I think she’s dead…”

Her voice broke completely.

“I didn’t mean to, I swear I didn’t mean to…”

My dad’s voice followed, urgent and firm. “Stay where you are. Don’t move. We’re coming right now.”

The call ended, and the room went silent.

…

The moment they arrived, they rushed straight to Elizabeth, pulling her into their arms and wiping the blood from her face like she might break.

“Liza, don’t be scared. Mom and Dad are here.”

She clung to them, crying harder.

“Dad! Mom! The police will find me. I don’t want to go to jail, I can’t…”

My father’s voice dropped. “Did anyone see your face clearly?”

“She was old…” Elizabeth said between sobs. “I don’t think she saw me properly…”

My parents exchanged a look.

Then they turned to me.

I already knew.

“Go take the blame for Liza.”

I blinked, my mind going blank for a second.

“What?”