I once toyed with a college boy. When he fell in love with me, I ended things.

Years later, after he made something of himself, he married me in front of everyone who thought I was lucky to have him. My family had fallen from grace, and to the outside world, I had won the jackpot.

What they never saw was what happened behind closed doors.

Every night, he brought a different woman home.

I never cried. I never made a scene.

That only seemed to enrage him more.

So he went further. He got his first love, Natalie, pregnant on purpose.

When I still stayed calm, he pinned me against the wall and demanded, "Stella, do you even love me?"

Later, Natalie and I went into labor on the same night.

I dropped to my knees and finally admitted I loved him, begging him to take me to the hospital.

He held me tight, almost giddy with satisfaction.

"I knew it," he said. "You liar."

Then he shoved me aside, picked Natalie up, and walked away without looking back.

"I'll take you to the hospital later. The pain of childbirth can be your punishment."

The last thing I saw was my husband's back as he rushed out the door.

The pain in my lower abdomen drained the strength from my body. I collapsed onto the floor, and warm fluid poured down my legs, spreading across the carpet in a dark, frightening stain.

I lifted a trembling hand toward the housekeeper nearby and forced out a hoarse plea.

"Get me to the hospital. Now."

The housekeeper looked terrified.

"Madam, Mr. Whitmore specifically said we had to wait until he came back. I don't dare…"

"Don't dare?" I clutched my stomach, my voice shaking from the pain. "If anything happens to me or the baby, Graham Whitmore will never forgive you. Take me now!"

She was finally frightened enough to move, but she had barely reached the doorway when Graham's personal assistant, Parker Hale, stopped her.

"Mr. Hale, Madam is in labor. She needs to go to the hospital immediately," the housekeeper said nervously.

Parker glanced at the fluid on the floor, then at my twisted expression. His voice stayed calm.

"Mr. Whitmore said to wait until he returns. Madam is only using the pregnancy to make a scene. Help her back to bed."

"If you delay any longer, the baby will die. Can you take responsibility for that?"

I used every bit of strength I had to push myself up and point at him.

Parker gave me a respectful-looking smile, but his eyes were cold.

"Madam, Mr. Whitmore is at the hospital with Miss Vale, protecting her pregnancy. He said you are to wait until he comes back.

"You know his temper. No one dares disobey him."

"I am giving birth. The baby cannot wait!"

Another contraction tore through me like a blade twisting through my abdomen. I curled in on myself, sweat soaking my clothes in an instant.

"What are you standing around for?" Parker snapped. "Get Madam to bed."

Two maids rushed forward and dragged me by the arms, ignoring my pain as they forced me toward the bedroom.

Then I felt another warm rush. I looked down.

Blood.

"I'm bleeding!" I grabbed one maid's hand and screamed. "Take me to the hospital! The baby is really in danger!"

"Madam, I can't make that decision. I'll call the family doctor first."

The maid pried my hand away, guilt written across her face.

"I don't want a family doctor. I need a hospital!"

"Please don't get angry, Madam. I'll ask Mr. Hale right now."

She ran out in a panic.

The pain cut so deeply it seemed to reach my bones. Sweat, blood, and amniotic fluid soaked the velvet rug beneath me.

Time crawled by, but no one came.

Dragging my bleeding body to the edge of the bed, I grabbed the hem of Mrs. Ward's skirt as she entered.

"Mrs. Ward, please. Go check. I can't hold on much longer…"

Mrs. Ward nodded, eyes full of pity.

"Madam, hold on. I'll go hurry them."

But the second she turned, Parker blocked her.

He walked slowly toward me. When his gaze landed on the blood-streaked rug, hesitation flashed across his eyes, then vanished under cold obedience.

"Let Dr. Lane examine her first."

Dr. Lane entered quickly with his medical bag. Several maids came forward and pinned down my struggling limbs.

"Let me go! I need a hospital!"

"The baby can't wait!"

Dr. Lane checked me with a blank face, then took out a few white pills and told Mrs. Ward to make me swallow them.

"What are those?" I shook my head wildly. "I won't take them. Are you trying to kill my child?"

"Medication to delay labor. It will reduce the contractions."

"No. It will suffocate the baby!"

Dr. Lane said nothing.

"Dr. Lane, your wife is due soon too, isn't she? If she were lying here right now, would you feed her this?"

Then I turned to Parker through the pain.

"If anything happens to me or the baby, you are the main culprit. Graham will never let you go."

Dr. Lane and Parker exchanged a look. They were just about to agree to send me to the hospital when Parker's phone rang.

It was Graham.

Parker answered respectfully, and all hesitation disappeared from his face.

"Madam, you heard him," he said helplessly. "Mr. Whitmore said we must wait for him. It is not that I won't help you. I truly cannot."

He gave Mrs. Ward a look.

Two maids immediately pressed down on my shoulders. One forced my mouth open while Mrs. Ward shoved the pills in. I tried to vomit them out, but they slid down my throat.

Tears slipped silently down my face. I stared at the ceiling and suddenly laughed until my tears flowed even harder.

"Fine. Remember this day. If my child dies, I will come back as a ghost and drag every one of you to hell."

"Madam is emotionally unstable," Parker said with a frown. "Give her a sedative so she doesn't hurt herself or the baby. Mrs. Ward, watch her."

The long needle pierced my arm.

I stopped struggling.

So this was what I was worth to Graham. His first love mattered more than his own child.

To protect her baby, he was willing to leave mine on the edge of death.

The more despair I felt, the more I regretted marrying him even when everyone had warned me not to.

I had believed that if I loved him enough, if I was good enough, he would eventually see me.

There were moments when I thought he loved me.

Now I understood.

When someone does not love you, they simply do not love you.

Not even carrying his child could earn half a measure of tenderness.

I stroked the curve of my belly. Blood and amniotic fluid had already soaked the bed.

I slowly closed my eyes as fresh tears wet my face.

"Graham Whitmore, if anything happens to this baby, I will never let you go."

Perhaps the medication worked. The contractions dulled slightly.

But the bleeding did not stop. I lay on the bed, weak and cold, while blood continued to flow beneath me.

Through the haze, I suddenly heard Mrs. Ward say Graham's name.

Hope flared in my chest.

Had he finally softened? Was he finally sending me to the hospital?

I used the last of my strength to shout toward Mrs. Ward's phone.

"Graham, tell them to take me to the hospital. The baby really won't make it!"

Mrs. Ward had put the call on speaker.

But the voice that came through was not Graham's.

It was Natalie Vale's, soft and smug.

"Stella, you have to hold on. Graham is still here with me. He can't come to you right now."

She paused, then instructed Mrs. Ward in that same delicate voice.

"Mrs. Ward, make sure you take good care of her. Make her listen to Graham."

"Natalie, put Graham on the phone…"

Before I could finish, someone clamped a hand over my mouth. I could only make muffled sounds.

Mrs. Ward smiled ingratiatingly at the phone.

"Don't worry, Miss Vale. We already gave her the delaying medicine. We will follow Mr. Whitmore's instructions exactly."

"Good," Natalie said, full of satisfaction. "If she still hurts later, I know a method that can stop the pain and keep her going until Graham returns."

"What method?" Mrs. Ward asked quickly.

I held my breath and stared at the phone, terrified of what she would say.

Natalie's voice turned cruel.

"Hang her upside down first. Feet up, head down. After five minutes, the baby will slowly move back in. Then find a rope and tie it tightly below her stomach. That should buy more time.

"If that still does not work…"

She deliberately raised her voice.

"Then sew her shut. In short, use whatever method you need to make her wait until Graham gets back."

I shook my head desperately, but only muffled cries came out.

Mrs. Ward froze. Her face went white.

"Miss Vale, that doesn't seem right. Something could happen…"

"How could it?" Natalie sounded contemptuous. "Where I come from, people do this when they want a child born at an auspicious time. Babies are resilient."

She paused for two seconds, then continued.

"Graham is right beside me. This is his meaning. He asked me to call and tell you. He said it was time to correct Stella's jealous temper.

"He also said you must protect my child at all costs. If any of you get soft and something happens to me, Graham will not forgive you."

Ignoring the blood and the renewed pain, I broke free from one maid and screamed.

"No! Graham would never do this to me or our child! She is lying! She is evil! Mrs. Ward, don't listen to her!"

But the next second, two maids shoved me back down onto the bed. Tears streamed down my face as I looked at Mrs. Ward and begged.

"Mrs. Ward, you are a mother too. Can you really do this to my child?"

Mrs. Ward trembled violently. Cold sweat ran down her temples. Even the hand holding the phone shook.

Natalie pressed harder.

"Graham said he will divorce her soon. Think carefully about which side matters more."

The call ended.

For a long moment, there was silence.

Then Mrs. Ward spoke.

"Let Madam go."

My heart leapt. I thought mercy had finally won. I weakly reached toward her.

"Mrs. Ward, please. Hospital. If we wait any longer, it will be too late."

But she turned away from my gaze and ordered the maids.

"Bring some rope."

"Mrs. Ward, what are you doing? You can't!"

She acted as if she had not heard me. Two maids pinned me to the bed again.

The rope cut into my wrists and ankles, leaving bloody marks. Every movement felt as if my skin were being torn open.

"Madam, this is for your own good. Endure it."

Then Mrs. Ward ordered, "Bring in the metal frame."

"For my own good?" I cried until I could barely breathe. "Then stop believing Natalie's lies. Graham may be cruel, but he would never do this to me. He swore he would never hurt me."

No one answered.

The frame was carried into the bedroom.

They dragged me toward it by the arms.