Chapter 1

Araceli POV

It was two o'clock in the morning.

The amniotic fluid and scarlet blood soaked the carpet and mixed with the aroma of roses, brewing in the cold air.

The never-endingly cloudy sky began to drizzle with fine rain.

My name was Araceli Chancey, and I was the eldest daughter of Eclipse, a mysterious and powerful pack.

I was locked in the warehouse of Eclipse's villa, just about to give birth.

I couldn't help but let out a scream.

My face turned pale, and my body was drenched in sweat.

My uterus clenched in bursts. Scarlet blood continued to pour out of my vagina.

I knew how dangerous it would be to go into preterm labor at eight months pregnant.

I clutched my dress and trembled in fear.

Thinking about it, I crawled to the door, rapping hard on it.

"Ms. Blake, I'm in labor. Please help me. I'm begging you..."

A middle-aged woman was sitting outside the door. Her name was Brynlee Blake, and she was Eclipse's housekeeper.

She said coldly, "Shut up, you bitch. You should not have conceived this illegitimate child. It will ruin Eclipse. You only have yourself to blame for how this will turn out."

My tears fell uncontrollably.

Eight months ago, I was photographed by a reporter lying naked on a queen-size bed in a hotel. Everyone in the city was calling me a slut.

Then, I was pregnant, but my father, the alpha of Eclipse, was ashamed of me and forced me to have an abortion.

I escaped from the ward the second before I was wheeled into the operating room.

I would rather die than kill the baby in my womb. So, my father locked me up in this warehouse.

He said, "Never let her out."

Then the door was slammed hard.

I was locked up for eight months from the time I was conceived to now.

"Ms. Blake, please. Save my baby. Please help me..."

I cried out as I rapped on the door.

The sharp pain in my abdomen came in bursts. I screamed and fell to the floor.

Brynlee smoked her cigarette as if she hadn't heard me.

The blood poured out of my vagina in a gush. My dress was stained red with blood, and my body was also soaking in the blood.

I grabbed the doorknob in near desperation and banged on the door like crazy.

"Fuck! You're so annoying!"

Brynlee impatiently pulled the door open and grabbed me with the hair and tried to throw me in.

The rain was pouring down. A few raindrops fell pattering upon my face and body.

Instead of feeling cold, I felt comfortable because of the fresh air I was breathing.

"What's happening?"

A cold voice came.

Brynlee's hand paused. She turned back to me and said respectfully, "Ms. Chancey."

I looked at the woman who had walked into the warehouse.

It was Melany Chancey, my younger sister.

She and I had grown up together and were very close.

It kindled the flame of hope in my heart, which resounded with thunder.

"Melany, I beg you to help me..."

However, Melany didn't look at me. She sneered and said to Brynlee, "Ms. Blake, this is my sister, the eldest daughter who is treated like a princess in Eclipse. How can you drag her around like this? She's not a dying animal!"

Brynlee's eyes flashed, and she said more respectfully, "Ms. Chancey, this bitch tried to escape. Mr. Chancey ordered me not to let her out. If people outside know that Eclipse's eldest daughter is carrying an illegitimate child, it will greatly affect our family's reputation. I am doing this for Eclipse's own good."

Melany nodded. "That's great. I will tell my father. It is rare to find such loyalty and thoughtful consideration among servants these days."

Melany looked at Brynlee approvingly.

Melany turned her head, and her eyes fell on my belly. "Araceli, you are so lucky. Dad said that if you gave birth to this bastard, he would send it to a village abroad. But if it dies, we'll pretend nothing happened."

Her voice still sounded as sweet and melodious as it did when she was a child, but the words she uttered at that moment were so desperate to me.

"No! My baby will not die!" I screamed.

I felt Melany's fierce gaze, covered my abdomen and crawled back in a hurry.

My hands, my face, and my hair were all covered in blood and sweat. My lips were dry, and my eyes were filled with tears. I was dirty and smelly at this moment.

Melany stared at my face. Seeing me in such a mess, she suddenly burst out laughing.

She knelt down, gently lifted my chin, and gazed into my eyes.

"Araceli, my sister, I guess I have never told you that, but you are really beautiful. Sadly, tomorrow everyone will mourn your beautiful face and proud spirit."

There were flames burning in her eyes.

My body quivered, and I could only stare at her with fear in my eyes.

She slowly came close to my ear and said, as if blowing gently.

"Araceli, do you know why you had a one-night stand with that man eight months ago?"

Melany sneered sarcastically, "As a matter of fact, I was the one who did it."

I froze.

I remembered Melany plying me with alcohol during my coming-of-age ceremony until I was completely drunk and unconscious. Then I was taken to a room by a man and locked up. After that, I didn't know anything.

That very night, I had sex with a strange man. I didn't know what happened, but he seemed to desire my body. He kept whispering in my ear that he was into me, but I only felt sick.

I didn't have the strength to resist and could only be pinned down by him.

My uterus clenched again. More blood kept pouring out.

Melany giggled, "You grew up as Eclipse's most beloved daughter and were treated like a princess. And what about me? What do I get out of it? You even have 30% of Eclipse Group's shares! Do you know how jealous I am of you? Since you are so pure and noble, I will make you fall and be spit on by countless people!"

My face was full of disbelief.

I had thought of many possibilities, but I had never thought that the person who ruined my life was my dearest little sister.

"During the eight months you were locked up here, I have become the new heir of Eclipse Group. In their eyes, you're just a slut who's been fucked by a cheap men. You have stained our family's name!"

Melany shouted and laughed frantically.

Next second, she suddenly took a deep breath, stared at me and smiled tenderly. Her tone was soft and calm.

"Have you ever seen a rotting rose, Araceli? You'll be rotting for the rest of your life."

I looked up, my face full of tears. The tears ran down my chin to my neck.

A sharp cramping pain came from my abdomen. I felt like my body was about to split open.

I was on the verge of passing out from the pain.

"Ah! Help me! It hurts!"

I couldn't help but let out a scream and collapsed to the floor. Then, I gasped for air and stared at the ceiling. Instinctively, I opened my legs and pushed hard.