That night, I heard my baby crying somewhere in the dark. I ran toward him, calling his name, begging him to stop, but Owen was there, looming over him.

“You think this baby’s yours? You cheated on me. That child isn’t even mine. From the moment he was born, his fate was to die.”

I screamed, “No! Stop! He's your child! Don’t say that! Don’t do this!”

Before I could reach them, he tossed my baby to the fire like he was nothing. Kelsey stood beside him, and laughing.

“Go ahead,” she jeered. “Run faster, scream louder. It won’t change anything.”

I ran, I begged, I tried to grab him but my feet felt like they were glued to the floor, then I woke up.

The lights of the hospital room burned my eyes. The smell of disinfectant clawed at my nose.

For a moment, I didn’t know where I was. Then the memory of the dream and everything else hit me, and my chest tightened again.

The doctor was standing by my bed, scribbling on a clipboard. He cleared his throat. “Mrs. Ashford… you really shouldn’t move around yet. If this happens again, you might not be able to have children anymore.”

I stared at him, numb. “Tell me something... How much did he give you?”

He blinked, confused. “I’m sorry?”

“How much did Owen pay you to take my baby’s stem cells… and let him die?”

His hand froze in midair. “Mrs. Ashford, that’s not—”

“Don’t!” I cut him off. “Don’t you dare lie to me.”

He looked down, pale. He didn’t answer. That silence said everything I needed to know.

“Give me the papers,” I said flatly. “I’m leaving.”

He hesitated, then handed them to me. My hands shook as I signed.

“You should stay a few more days,” he said quietly. “You’re not strong enough—”

“I don’t care,” I said. “I just want out of this place.”

He didn’t stop me again.

I pulled the blanket away and stood up. The pain hit me immediately, but it wasn’t nearly as sharp as the memory of the dream. My legs trembled, my vision blurred, but I kept going.

…

When I finally reached the mansion; the same one I’d picked out for Owen on our first anniversary... my chest felt like it was being crushed. Every corner, every curtain, every stupid little color choice… I’d imagined this as our family home, where our kids would run and laugh. Now it just felt… dead.

I pushed the door open. The sound of laughter hit me like nails.

Mrs. Ashford was in the living room, hovering over Kelsey with a teacup in her hand. She was fussing like a mother hen, telling the maid to bring food, insisting Kelsey eat, insisting she drink tea.

I stepped forward, “Looks… cozy in here.”

Mrs. Ashford’s gaze snapped to me, sharp and cold. She set the teacup down with a deliberate clink. “Why are you back now? Your child is dead. All because of your clumsiness, that stupid elevator fall. Honestly, I don’t know why you even bother showing your face.”

I froze, my blood turning to ice.

“Mother, don’t blame my sister.” Kelsey leaned back on the couch, her swollen feet sticking out, her hands resting on her belly. “She’s always been clumsy ever since we were kids. It’s not her fault. She tried…”

I wanted to speak, to scream that it wasn’t true, that Owen had killed my child but before I could get a word out, the front door opened.

Owen walked in, carrying a cake that Kelsey’s favorite. My stomach twisted, bile rising, rage burning. He froze when he saw me.

“What… why are you here? You’re supposed to be in the hospital,” he frowned as if I had interrupted his perfect little world.

“Why? So you could pretend I don’t exist?”

He stepped closer, narrowing his eyes. “Don’t start. Kelsey’s pregnant. You should just… stay out of the way.”

My voice went cold. “You… you let her take my baby.”

He flinched, a shadow of guilt crossing his face before he hardened it into anger. “Stop. If you weren’t so… fragile, maybe your child would still be alive.”

The words hit me like a fist to the chest. My knees threatened to buckle, but I turned my back so he couldn’t see me shaking.

“I’ll be gone soon,” I muttered, more to myself than to him. And I meant it.

…

When I reached the top of the stairs, I stopped in front of the nursery.

My hand hovered over the door. The smell of baby powder used to linger here—soft, warm, safe. I’d painted clouds on the ceiling myself, laughing when Owen told me I was too obsessed with the details.

I pushed the door open.

And everything inside me went still.

The room wasn’t mine anymore.

The crib was new. The curtains were pink. The walls that used to be baby blue were now painted white with gold stars. And above the new twin cribs were names I didn’t even recognize: “Baby Jaxton” and “Baby Jasmine.”

For a second, I couldn’t breathe.

I stepped inside, slowly, my hands shaking. Everything I had built, every tiny dream I had stitched into this room? It was gone. Just gone.

Then I saw it, my baby’s ultrasound photo lying on the floor, the glass frame cracked. I knelt and picked it up carefully, brushing the dust away.

“My sweet boy… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry—”

Something in me snapped.

I grabbed the pink curtains and yanked them down. The rods hit the floor. I tore the name sign off the wall, ripping it in half. The sound echoed. A scream tore out of my chest, raw and broken.

I kicked the crib until it cracked. I didn’t even care that my hands were bleeding, that glass was everywhere. I just wanted all of it gone. Every piece of them out of his room.

That’s when I heard it, Kelsey’s shrill, fake cry from the doorway.

“Oh my God! What are you doing?!” she screamed, clutching her stomach. “You’re going to hurt the babies!”

Her sobs were so loud that Mrs. Ashford came rushing in, “Kelsey! Sweetheart, are you alright?” she rushed to her side before glaring at me. “Laura, have you lost your mind? How could you destroy this nursery?!”

My chest heaved. “This was my baby’s room! You took everything from me. Even this—”

“Enough! Kelsey’s pregnant.” Mrs. Ashford cut me off, shouting, “You should be ashamed of yourself!”

Then Owen appeared in the doorway, “What the hell is going on here?”

Kelsey was sobbing into his chest before I could even speak. “She… she came in here screaming! She ripped everything apart, Owen. Our babies nursery!”

“That’s because you all killed my son!”

“Stop,” Owen said, voice flat. “You need help, Laura. You’re acting crazy.”

Something in me broke completely. I pointed at the walls, at the mess, at everything I had once loved. “This was our baby’s room, Owen. Ours! And you let her take it? You let her take everything!”

Owen stormed into the room, face twisted with rage.

Before I could even speak, his hand came flying. The slap cracked across my face so hard I stumbled back. Warm blood ran down my nose.

“Owen—”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” he shouted. “You’ve completely lost it!”

Mrs. Ashford rushed to Kelsey, wrapping her arms around her like a precious doll. “My poor child. Are you alright?” she cried.

Kelsey sobbed harder, “Ever since we were kids, you’ve hated me, Laura. You had everything. Our parents’ love, the perfect life and I was the one always left behind! And now you’re still jealous?” she screamed. “Even after losing your baby, you can’t stand that I’m carrying Owen’s twins. At least my children are the true Ashford heirs!”

I froze, her words slicing through me. She smirked through her tears.

“You have no right to hate my babies just because your bastard child died!”

The room went silent. My blood roared in my ears.

Owen turned away from me like he couldn’t even stand the sight of me. “Guards!” he barked. “Get her out of here. Now.”

Two men came in and grabbed my arms. I tried to fight, but they dragged me across the floor like I was nothing. My blood smeared the tiles.

Mrs. Ashford’s voice rang behind me, cold and sharp. “I don’t ever want that woman stepping foot in this house again, Owen. Do you hear me? Ever.”

The last thing I saw before they threw me out was Kelsey clutching Owen’s shirt, pretending to cry, while he held her like she was the only thing worth protecting.

Then they dumped me to a dark basement.

Then I heard it.

A hiss.

My eyes flew open, and I froze.

Snakes.

There were snakes all around me.

Big ones, small ones, dark ones coiled in the corners, their bodies sliding over the floor. One of them brushed against my leg, and I bit back a scream.

The light above flickered and the wire door was padlocked shut. My whole body started shaking.

“Owen!” I screamed, my voice cracking. “Please! Get me out! You know I can’t—please!”

The door creaked open after a few seconds, and there he was—standing with his hands in his pockets, looking down at me like I was something disgusting.

“Maybe this will teach you to stop losing your mind,” he said flatly.

“Owen, please,” I begged, tears burning my eyes. “You know I’m terrified of snakes. Please, I’ll do anything, just get me out!”

He didn’t even blink. “You should’ve thought of that before you ruined Kelsey’s nursery.”

A hiss came from behind me. I turned just as one of the snakes thick, black, and slow slithered closer. I kicked back, screaming, but the thing lunged and sank its fangs into my ankle.

Pain exploded through me. I screamed until my throat went raw. “Owen! It bit me! Please, please, it bit me!”

But he didn't budge. He left me down there for 10 hours. And when he opened the room again, I was shaking and crying. He ordered his men to dragged me out by my wrist, and dumped me in the car. I could barely breathe, my leg was burning, my skin felt like fire. Everything blurred.

I woke up again to the sound of rain hitting the windshield. My body was shaking uncontrollably. Owen was driving, his jaw clenched tight.

“O-owen…” I whispered, barely able to speak. “It hurts. Please, the hospital—”

He didn’t answer. He didn’t even look at me.

Then his phone rang.

Kelsey’s voice filled the car, “Owen! Please come home! The babies... something’s wrong! They’re not moving inside me.”

Owen’s hands tightened on the wheel.

“Owen…” I croaked, “please don’t—”

He slammed the brakes and pulled over. The rain was coming down hard now. He didn’t even look at me when he spoke.

“Get out.”

I stared at him, confused. “What?”

“Get out, Laura,” he said again, his voice flat. “Kelsey needs me.”

“You’re leaving me here? I can’t even stand—”

He finally looked at me, and there was nothing in his eyes. Nothing. “You’ll live. Those snakes are midly venomous. You won't die.” he said.

Then he pushed open my door and shoved me out. I fell to the wet pavement, the rain soaking through my clothes.

The car door slammed shut.

Then he was gone.

I tried to stand, but the pain in my leg was unbearable. The world tilted, my vision blurred, and before I could take another step… a gunshot rang on the air.

I winced from pain and dropped.

…

When I came back, everything was wrong.

A man in scrubs stood over me, his face careful and tired. "Mrs Ashford, you were brought in with a gunshot to the abdomen. You were in a coma for five days. We did emergency surgery. I am sorry. The damage was too bad. You won’t be able to carry a child anymore."

The words hit like a door slamming. "What do you mean?" I croaked.

He looked down. "The bleeding was severe. We removed what we had to to save your life."

My hands grabbed the sheet. Then the door opened and Kelsey glided in like she was a cloud. Soft pink dress, hand over her belly.

"Oh sister," she cooed. "I heard. How terrible about... your womb. What a tragedy. But think about it this way. Now you can focus on helping me raise my babies."

I tightened my fingers until the fabric bit my skin. "Why are you here?" I said, weak and burning. "Why are you always here?"

She laughed, "I just wanted to admire my work," she said and looked around like she owned the air. "I told them what needed doing. You survived the shooting, unlucky for you. But at least now you can never replace what I have."

A hot, stupid rage flared and I lunged for her hair. "You shot me!" I sobbed. "You had someone shoot me. How could you?! My baby is dead because of you."

Kelsey screamed then, high and sharp, "Help! Help me! Oweeenn!" she called, clutching at her belly, stumbling like I’d hurt her.

The door burst open.

"You fucking attacked her again?" he barked, shoving me away roughly. I toppled off the bed. Pain exploded along my side where the stitches tore. My bood ran warm and sticky on my gown.

"Owen! She had me shot—"

He cut me off with a cold laugh. "Stop! I caught the guy who shot you. He says you paid him to stage it. Do you hear me? You staged your own attack."

My hands went numb. "No, no, I would never—"

"Of course you would," he snapped. "You crave attention! You always have. You would do anything for it."

He leaned close, voice low and sharp. "How far will you go, Laura? You even hurt the woman carrying my children. You are dangerous."

I tried to tell him I did not do it. I tried to tell him the truth. But he already turned away. "Kelsey has a baby shower tonight. Be decent and help. Try to act human."

Kelsey stepped forward, all sweetness. "Don’t worry," she said, patting my arm like I was a stray dog. "I’ll save you a piece of cake."

They left together, shoulders brushing, the doctor closing the door behind them.

I sat there while my phone buzzing on the bedside table. Mr Harris.

I opened the message with fingers that felt foreign.

Divorce papers have been delivered.

…

When I got home, the house was full of laughter. Music, clinking glasses, people talking like life was perfect. Pink and blue ribbons hung on the walls, and a banner stretched across the room:

“Welcome Baby Jaxton and Jayden Ashford.”

It hit me then—today wasn’t just the baby shower for Kelsey’s twins. It was supposed to be my wedding anniversary too.

But there was no sign of it. No flowers. No card. Not even a glance from Owen that said he remembered I existed.

People turned when I walked in, voices dropping to whispers.

“There she is.”

“She still lives here? Poor thing.”

“I heard she can’t have kids anymore. No wonder Owen stays with Kelsey.”

I didn’t say a word. Just walked past like I didn’t hear them. My legs still hurt from the hospital, but I climbed the stairs anyway. I couldn’t stay there another second.

When I reached the master bedroom, my hand froze on the doorknob. The door was slightly open. Inside was pink curtains, baby clothes folded on the bed, framed photos of Kelsey and Owen smiling.

My room. My bed. My memories. Gone.

Kelsey had taken everything.

I stood there for a long time, then turned and went down the hall. The guest room was cold and smelled of dust, but I shut the door and lay down anyway. Maybe if I closed my eyes, the noise downstairs would disappear.

---

A few minutes later, the door slammed open. Owen stood there, still in his suit, face tight with anger. He threw a folded uniform at my face.

“Wear that. One of the waitresses didn’t show. You’ll serve food.”

I looked at him. For a moment, I almost asked why. But then I realized it didn’t matter. I picked up the uniform, my hands steady even though my chest felt hollow.

“Okay,” I whispered.

He hesitated. For a second, something flickered in his eyes but he turned away before it could stay.

“Just don’t cause trouble,” he muttered and left.

I changed quietly. The black uniform hung loose on me. I didn’t even look in the mirror before stepping out.

As I was walking toward the stairs, Kelsey’s voice floated up from below, all sweet and fake.

“Oh, Laura!“You’re helping tonight? That’s so kind of you.” Then she lowered her tone. “Could you give this to Owen? I need his signature to finalize a few things... you know, the house, the thirty cars, the five beach resort he gave me, and those new shops. You know how generous he is.”

I took the documents from her hand, glanced at them, then slid another paper beneath them: my divorce papers.

She blinked, surprised. “What’s this? You’re not even angry?”

I didn’t answer. I just gave her a faint, tired smile and walked away.

In Owen’s study, he was talking on the phone. When he saw the papers, he took them without question and started signing.

“All this for Kelsey?”

He didn’t look up. “Yeah. She deserves it.”

His pen didn’t stop moving. Not once.

And just like that, without even realizing, he signed everything her properties… and our divorce.

---

By the time the guests arrived, the whole place looked like some rich people palace. Lights everywhere, fancy food on every table, people laughing like their lives were perfect. Kelsey was in the center of it all, glowing like she owned the entire world.

I stood at the back, in my black uniform, trying to look small.

Mrs Ashford walked in like the house belonged to her alone, pearls, perfume, and judgment filling the room.

She saw me and her face twisted.

“Why is that woman here, Owen? I told you I don’t want her stepping in this house again.”

Owen didn’t even look up from adjusting Kelsey’s shawl.

“We’re out of staff, Mom.”

Mrs Ashford laughed.

“Well, she does look better in that uniform. Go, get me my drink.”

I didn’t argue. I just nodded and went to fetch it. My hands shook a little, but I didn’t let myself feel anything.

When I came back, Kelsey suddenly slid her foot out just as I walked past. I stumbled. The tray tipped. The wine splashed right onto Mrs Ashford.

She screamed like I stabbed her.

“You ruined everything. Again. Just like how you ruined your own child’s life. No wonder the baby died. And now look at you. Barren, useless, clumsy. You can’t even carry a drink.”

Her words hit harder than the fall. My throat tightened.

Kelsey rushed in, acting shocked, acting worried.

“Oh Mom, please don’t be angry. She’s been through a lot. It’s not her fault. Just forgive her. My sister is trying.”

The room went quiet.

My sister.

She said it like she was some saint.

Mrs Ashford softened immediately, her gaze melting as she turned to Kelsey.

“See, this is why I adore you. You’re kind, pure, patient. Why can’t you be like her, Laura?”

My chest tightened so hard I could barely breathe.

I wiped my face, stood up slowly, and looked straight at Kelsey.

“Kind?” I said, my voice shaking. “You want me to be like her? The same woman who took my husband, my home, and my baby? The same woman who lied about being sick so Owen would take my son’s stem cells? The same woman who let my child die so she could get better?”

Gasps exploded around us.

Kelsey blinked, her smile cracking just enough for me to see the truth under it.

Mrs Ashford glared at me, furious.

“Stop lying. Kelsey would never harm a child!”

“She already did,” I said. “Mine.”

Owen stepped in then, jaw tight, eyes cold.

“What the fuck are you doing? This is Kelsey’s day. Don’t ruin it with your nonsense.”

My hands shook, but I didn’t look away.

“You don’t even remember what today is, do you.”

He frowned.

“What now.”

“Our anniversary.”

Laughter broke out from the guests. Mrs Ashford smirked proudly. Kelsey hid behind Owen’s arm like she was scared.

Kelsey suddenly grabbed her belly and let out a piercing scream that echoed through the whole hall.

“Ah! My stomach—” she cried, doubling over. “Owen! It hurts! My babies, oh my god—”

People froze. Music stopped. Every head turned.

Owen rushed toward her instantly.

“Kels! What’s wrong? What happened?!”

“I… I just remembered… earlier… I saw Laura standing near my drink. I—I thought she was just fixing the glasses but… what if she put something in it? I don’t know but oh god, what if she wanted to hurt my babies?”

The room exploded.