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Chapter 4%
My stomach burned. My chest tightened. Then, nausea hit me hard. I began to vomit. First, it was just the juice. Then there comes the blood from both my mouth and nose.
“What’s happening?!” Beverly and Lucian shouted in unison.”
I looked up, trembling, only to see Lorde standing beside me.}
“She wants to leave, right?” he said coldly. “Then I poisoned her. Now, she’ll be gone forever.“>
“What have you done, Lorde?!” Lucian’s voice exploded through the entire dining hall, cold and sharp like a blade slicing the air.%
I pressed my hand to my chest, desperate for breath as a wave of dizziness crashed over me. My lungs seized, and a thick burn crept up from my stomach to my throat. Even Lucian’s hurried steps, the way he lifted me without hesitation, the flicker of fear in his eyes, none of it could ease the terror pounding inside me.”
So, he cared. A small part of my brain clung to that, almost proud. But the rest of me, the part shattered by the weight of what had just happened, knew the truth. My son, the boy I raised, the child I poured my soul into, had just tried to kill me.”
A single tear escaped. It stung as it slid down the cheek he used to kiss so gently. How did we come to this, Lorde? How did our love rot into this?!
“She’s stable now. Don’t worry,” the doctor said, eyes glued to my file. “Thankfully, the dosage wasn’t lethal. The poison’s commonly used on rats.”
Lucian let out a long breath, one that trembled on its way out. If he hadn’t been sneaking bitter glances at me since I regained consciousness, I might’ve thought he truly cared. But no, he was likely irritated, not concerned. Babysitting his wife wasn’t on the Alpha’s agenda.
“I’ll prescribe something to flush the toxins. She just needs rest. She can be discharged tomorrow.“}]
With that, the doctor walked out, leaving us behind with the stillness.}
Lucian didn’t speak for five minutes. Then he stood and broke the silence with something that made my blood run cold.
“Don’t make this bigger than it is. You know Lorde. This was probably one of his little pranks.“}
“A prank?” I whispered. “He wanted me gone.“>
“He’s a child, Hestia. And you provoked him with your selfish talk of divorce,” he snapped. “What do you expect from a kid throwing tantrums?”
My throat burned. I tried to respond, but he raised his phone to his ear as if anything I said now didn’t matter.”
“Beverly, how’s my son?“}
He walked out, and just like that, I was alone again. The question echoed in my head. What do I expect from a child? I expect him to act like a child, not like a stranger with a knife behind his back. I loved him. I gave everything to both of them. I only stopped when I ran out of pieces to give.
“Why are you still here?” That was my welcome when I stepped back into the house.
Fresh out of the hospital, and with nowhere else to go, I returned to the home that felt more like a tomb. My condo wasn’t ready yet because it never crossed my mind that I’d need a place to escape to when I have a family and home.}
I used to endure Lucian because Lorde filled in the warmth. Now, they both couldn’t stand the sight of me.”
“Can I rest for now?” My voice cracked like dried leaves in the wind.”
His face contorted like I had just crawled out from under the floorboards.
“I thought you’d be gone by now. Isn’t that why you’re divorcing my father?“}
I looked at him. Was this really what he thought about all day? Was this really what mattered to him. That I disappear??
1
“I’ll get the divorce papers tomorrow afternoon,” I said coolly. “I’ll stay until then.“}
He rolled his eyes, already turning away. “At least Aunt Bev can finally sleep here once you’re out of our lives.”
I swallowed the weight in my chest. I moved past him, too tired for another argument. Too hurt to explain. This wasn’t rebellion. This wasn’t a tantrum. It was attempted murder.
I reached for my phone to text my stepmother and let her know I was safe. But just as I rounded the corner toward the kitchen to grab my juice and medicine, voices stopped me.”
“She didn’t die at all,” someone hissed. “The obstacles in my path didn’t disappear because of your stupidity.”}
My breath caught. That voice, it belonged to Beverly. And the words? They were about me for sure.
I moved slowly, silently, wanting to caught them offguard.”
“Lady Rhode, I swear, I didn’t mean for it to fail. I got scared the poison would hurt Lorde too if it was too strong. He almost consume the juice-”
“I don’t care. As long as these burdens are out of my way, you should’ve followed what I told you. Fool.””
My heart slammed in my chest. Burdens? Fail? What was this?!
I didn’t hide my steps anymore. I stormed into the kitchen, fury crackling through my veins. Beverly and the maid she was speaking to both froze, wide–eyed.”
“What are you talking about?” My voice was already full of accusation even before I say it. I looked at the trembling maid. “Are you her apprentice for killing me?”
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“Stop What foolishness are you accusing me? And I don’t have a stupid apprentice–“%
1 raised a finger and pointed at her. Shaking with disbelief and rage, I cut her off. “And you? Did you just try to kill me and turn my son into a murderer
Her eyes widened and she took a step back. “Answer me!” I demanded.
