Chapter 4
The ancestral hall was cold and damp. Elara knelt on the stone floor, her knees long since numb.
Candle flames flickered, casting shadows on rows of ancestral tablets that seemed to silently condemn her.
“I didn’t poison anyone…” she whispered to herself, tears falling onto the stone.
Memories flooded back like a tide.
In college, when she’d been hospitalized with acute gastritis, Leander had skipped classes for three days to stay by her bedside. After marriage, he’d always remembered to make her brown sugar water during her periods. Even when she’d gotten the tiniest paper cut, he’d panic…
And now, knowing how much she feared the dark and cold, he’d let her kneel here all night.
At dawn, Elara finally collapsed, fainting on the icy floor of the hall.
When she woke, she found herself in her bedroom with an ice pack on her forehead.
Leander sat beside the bed. Seeing her eyes open, he immediately leaned forward: “Babe, you’re awake? Does it still hurt?”
Elara turned away, her voice hoarse: “I’m the villain who tried to kill your child. Why are you here?”
Leander’s expression stiffened, then he explained: “We found out what really happened. Marla ate some bad seafood…”
Elara laughed bitterly: “Didn’t she say she only had my porridge?”
“She didn’t mean to lie,” Leander frowned. “Memory confusion is normal for pregnant women…”
Elara closed her eyes, not wanting to hear more.
She knew Marla’s methods too well–crude, but effective.
She couldn’t be bothered to expose her, knowing Leander wouldn’t believe it anyway.
Seeing her silence, Leander’s guilt deepened. In the following days, he tried every way to make her happy–limited edition handbags, haute couture jewelry, custom–made dresses… gifts filled the dressing room.
Finally, he suggested taking her to a yacht auction to lift her spirits.
But when Elara opened the car door, Marla was sitting in the back seat, flashing her a sweet smile.
“The doctor said pregnant women need proper relaxation too, so I brought her along,” Leander explained.
Elara said nothing, silently getting into the car.
The yacht blazed with lights.
When Marla appeared on Leander’s arm, she instantly became the center of attention.
Is that Mr. Everhart’s new flame? I heard she used to be a scholarship student…”
“Taßabout striking it rich–now she’s got the golden ticket with that pregnancy…”
“Such a shame about the Whitlow girl. From school uniforms to wedding dress, Everhart used to dote on her so much.”
Well, what can
n you do when she can’t have children? That’s the original sin!”
Chapter
The cutting remarks flew like kruves, but Elara walked through the crowd with unchanged expression
Chce the auction began Leander completely forgot his original purpose of cheering up Elara
Every time an item appeared, Marla would tug at his sleeve with sparkling eyes.
“Leander, this is so beautiful. *
“Leander, I love this vase.”
“Leander, this Monet water lily painting is gorgeous.”
Every piece of jewelry and artwork that caught Marla’s eye, he bought without blinking–he even placed a no–limit bid, meaning no matter how high others bid, he’d always go higher.
After the auction ended, Leander went to settle the bill.
Not wanting to endure more strange looks, Elara went alone to the deck.
The sea breeze was cool. She’d barely found her footing when Marla’s sickeningly sweet voice came from behind: “Elara, enjoying the breeze alone?”
Elara didn’t turn around.
Marla walked up beside her, her tone smug: “That necklace Leander just bought me—it’s identical to the one you wore at your wedding.”
“He said it looks better on me.”
Elara’s fingers tightened slightly.
Marla continued her provocation: “Actually, I should thank you. If you could have children…”
Before she could finish, a sudden gust of wind swept across the sea!
“Ahhh-”
Marla screamed as the wind knocked her toward the railing!
Instinctively, she grabbed Elara’s hand, pulling her down too!
Icy seawater instantly engulfed them.
Flara couldn’t swim. Salt water flooded her nose as suffocation overwhelmed her.
Through the murky water, she heard a rescuer shout: “Mr. Everhart, our equipment is limited! We can only save one first–you need to decide quickly!”
Then came Leander’s voice, without hesitation: “Save Marla!”
In that moment, Elara’s heart froze completely.
She stopped struggling, letting her body sink slowly.
Seawater filled her ears, but couldn’t drown out the sound of her heart shattering.
When the rescue team finally pulled her out, it was 5 AM.
“Moon? Ma’am
The rescuer slapped het face. Elara opened her eyes to see the pale dawn breaking in the east.
Her lips were blue purple, her whole body shaking uncontrollably, yet she felt no warmth at all.
“Your body temperature is dangerously low. You need immediate medical attention or you could go into shock.”
Elara nodded numbly and took a taxi to the hospital alone.
The hospital corridor was empty. She dragged her soaking body forward, but at the corner heard Leander’s voice.
“Get all the doctors to Marla’s room! Now!”
His voice carried unprecedented panic.
Elara leaned against the wall, watching doctors rush into the emergency room.
Soon after, the attending physician emerged: “Mr. Everhart, Miss Marla isn’t in life–threatening danger, but her fever won’t break. We can’t use strong medications on pregnant women–only physical cooling methods.”
“What kind of physical cooling?” Leander’s voice was tense.
The doctor hesitated: “The most effective method is… body heat transfer. You’d need to remove your shirt and hold her. The less clothing, the better the effect.”
The room suddenly went quiet.
“Leander…” Marla’s weak voice drifted out. “I know you love Elara…”
“But I’m the one carrying your child now…”
“Even if not for me, do it for the baby… please help me?“”
Her voice was tearful: “Elara won’t know… just this once… you wouldn’t let me and the baby suffer, would you?”
Standing outside the door, Elara heard Leander’s long silence.
Finally, his voice came out hoarse: “Everyone out.”
The medical staff filed out, leaving the door slightly ajar.
Through that crack, Elara watched Leander stand beside the bed, his long fingers slowly unbuttoning his shirt.
His movements were slow, as if he were struggling.
Marla lay in bed, face flushed, tears glistening in her eyes.
Leander removed his shirt, revealing his lean torso. He approached the bed, hands trembling as he began unbuttoning Marla’s hospital gown.
One button, two buttons…
Finally, two naked bodies pressed together in tight einbrace.
