He didn’t even glance at the name on the certificate. He simply assumed it was one more scheme–driven by jealousy and desperation.
Andrew, his arm wrapped tightly around Chloe, looked at me with thinly veiled disdain.
“Even if you’re that desperate to get married,” he sneered, “you’ll have to wait until Chloe gives birth.“}
His eyes flicked to my hand as I tried to pull it free from under Daniel’s shoe.
“Pour your heart out all you want,” he added, “but neither Daniel nor I are going to marry you.“>
Chloe, nestled smugly against Andrew’s side, tilted her head toward me.
“Oh? What’s that in Auntie Elise’s hand?“}
Andrew’s gaze sharpened. He immediately recognized the ring on my finger–an heirloom of the Whitmore Family.
The same ring Demi had placed on me during the quiet, makeshift ceremony in the cemetery.
He stormed toward me and tore it off my hand.
“For the sake of your little performance, you actually stole from our family?“>
“I didn’t steal it!” I shouted, my voice cracking. “Your mother gave it to me.”}
Daniel slammed his foot harder on my already bruised hand.”
“My mom isn’t even allowed to touch this heirloom. And you expect us to believe she handed it to you?” he growled. “You obviously stole it–and you’re still lying.”
Chloe chimed in, her tone deceptively light.}
“Wow. So Auntie Elise has sticky fingers. I wonder what else she’s hiding…”
She didn’t finish the sentence, but her meaning was clear.}
Andrew and Daniel exchanged a glance.}
Then they turned to the house staff. “Search her room.“}
Within minutes, the staff returned with a large bag filled with jewelry, designer items and keepsakes.
Andrew’s face went red with fury. “Still denying it? These are all expensive–family heirlooms. You think you can afford this stuff freeloading off us?”
I stared at the pile. Each piece was familiar–gifts given to me, secretly, by both of them over the years. Gifts offered in guilt, affection and rivalry.
“I didn’t steal those,” I said firmly. “You both gave them to me. Don’t you remember?“}
But they only grew more enraged.”
Andrew barked, “Smash it. All of it.”
The servants obeyed.
I watched in helpless silence as the room I had once called mine was reduced to rubble–glass shattering, wood splintering, every trace of memory turned into debris.}
When one of the staff reached for the last item–an old clay figurine–I rushed to stop them.”
Just as I moved, Chloe stumbled backward dramatically and collapsed to the floor
She clutched her belly and cried out in pain.}
“Auntie Elise, I know you’re angry… but how could you push me? My baby… is innocent…” Andrew and Daniel immediately abandoned the wreckage and raced to her side.§
Their eyes, once filled with fury, now burned with fear.”
“If anything happens to that baby,” Daniel hissed, stepping toward me, “we won’t let you walk away.”
They kicked me–one after the other.”
The first blow landed in my ribs. The second slammed me into the wall.
Pain tore through my chest. I felt blood rise in my throat and spill out across my lips.
They froze as I coughed and choked.
For a moment, maybe, they were about to check on me.
But then Chloe began to convulse on the floor.
“Her condition’s flaring up again!” one of the staff shouted.
They rushed her out of the room, completely forgetting I was even there.”
I looked after them–after the only people I had once believed would protect me–and smashed the small clay figurine still clutched in my hand,
It had been their gift to me, the very first when I was brought into their home.
Maybe it was all a mistake from the beginning.”
I was just a nameless girl. An orphan. Why had I ever thought I could deserve something like love?!
I struggled to rise, but before I could stand, a group of bodyguards barged in.§
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9:03 AM
I was just a nameless girl. An orphan. Why had I ever thought I could deserve something like love?}
I struggled to rise, but before I could stand, a group of bodyguards barged in.
They didn’t speak.
They didn’t pause.
They just grabbed me, ignoring my cries and dragged me straight to the hospital.
When Andrew and Daniel saw me arrive, they didn’t express guilt or regret.
They looked relieved.
“You’ll go in right away,” Andrew said. “I already signed the papers.“>
Daniel nodded, lips tight. “They’re prepping the OR now. You’ll be donating bone marrow to Chloe.”}
