Chapter 2 On the Verge of Death

"Mine?" Alston sneered. "I've already told you-tonight is the first time we've met! I wouldn't FUCK a woman like you!"

He picked up the paper from the dressing table and waved it in Cecilia's direction. "This is what you want, isn't it? You want me to sign this?"

Cecilia was in too much pain to respond, cold sweat streaming down her forehead. But even the physical agony couldn't compare to the chill in Alston's eyes. There was murder in his gaze-a hatred so deep it seemed he truly wished for her death that day.

Alston stared down at her with disdain, his black eyes as cold and unyielding as ice frozen for millennia. "Fine. If you manage to survive today, I'll sign it."

He grabbed the key, stormed out of the room, and slammed the door shut with a deafening bang.

Then, Cecilia heard the sound of keys turning outside the door.

Cecilia's trembling fingers pressed against her swollen belly as she crawled toward the door.

Blood smeared the doorknob as she desperately tried to turn it, but no matter how hard she tried, the lock wouldn't budge.

Yes, she had guessed correctly. Alston had locked her in.

To vent his anger and exact his revenge, he had severed all her connections to the outside world. He intended for her to die in their wedding room, even if it meant framing her for murder.

"Come back, Alston! Come back! This child is yours! You can abandon me, but you can't abandon our child! You can't!"

Cecilia was in so much pain, almost numb.

Yet every time she felt like giving up, her belly would contract again, as though her baby were urging her to fight on. She didn't know if it was an illusion, but she felt her baby's eagerness to enter the world, even if only for a brief glimpse.

Cecilia could betray anyone, but she could never betray her child-this innocent little life.

She dragged herself toward the dressing table, her trembling hands grabbing a pair of scissors. With a loud rip, she tore open her wedding dress, revealing her round, taut belly.

Bending over with all her strength, she took the first aid kit, leaving a trail of blood behind her, crawled step by step toward the bathroom.

Lying in the bathtub, she filled it with warm water in an attempt to alleviate the pain.

As the night wore on, the contractions grew more intense. Her water broke, but still, the baby did not come out.

During her prenatal checkups, the doctor had warned her that the baby was in a breech position and that she would likely need a cesarean section. But now, in this dire situation, how could she possibly have one?

Cecilia gritted her teeth, pouring every ounce of strength into giving her baby a chance at life.

By the time dawn approached, she had completely exhausted her strength. The baby still hadn't emerged, and she could no longer feel its movements.

Panic set in.

Her mother had died of illness, her father had remarried, and Alston didn't want her anymore.

In just over twenty years of life, she had lost everything she could lose.

But she couldn't lose this child. She would give her life if it meant her baby could survive.

Biting down on a towel to stifle her screams, Cecilia grabbed the scalpel from the first aid kit. With trembling hands, she made a shallow incision along her belly.

She had once studied medicine, but never in her wildest nightmares did she imagine she'd use her skills like this-on herself.

For over ten agonizing minutes, Cecilia endured. She didn't know how she managed it, only that when her vision blurred and consciousness began to slip, she heard a loud, piercing cry.

Her baby had come into the world.

Blood poured from her body, soaking the bathtub in a sea of red.

At that moment, as she cradled her child, all her strength left her. She couldn't even lift her eyelids as darkness enveloped her mind.

In the haze of unconsciousness, Cecilia saw herself from eight years ago, and she also saw Alston, who had kissed her so passionately.

She also saw Marian, panicked and pleading, eight months ago...

Eight months earlier, Marian had found her in tears.

"Cecilia, help me!" Marian had cried. "They've been hiding it from me. I just found out that Alston's three brothers all died of cancer! He'll die too-sooner or later!"

"Please, Cecilia, I don't want to be a widow. They're forcing me to have a child with Alston to ensure the family has an heir. If I do this, my life will be ruined. But you-Don't you love him so much? Please help me. , they just need a child in their family, they don't care who it is."

Cecilia felt dizzy, and the next moment, her mind was filled with images of a man and a woman entangled naked.

If only they could have stayed in that night when he loved her. If only everything had remained in that fleeting moment of happiness. How good would it be?

But how could things in this world be turned back with 'if'?

Cecilia felt her strength draining completely. Her mind filled with fragments of memories, and in the end, she saw an illusion of Marian holding a bloody child, slowly approaching her, smiling sinisterly.

"Cecilia, thank you. Thank you for giving birth to Alston's child for me. I'll take good care of him, for both you and Alston. Now, go ahead and die in peace. I'll continue your life for you."

Cecilia smiled bitterly, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye.

It was fine. It was better this way.

After all, Alston loves Marian now.

Now, with her gone, there would be nothing standing between them.