Chapter 3

Isabella's POV

Fake death?

"Marcus, I can't... I'm pregnant," I said tremblingly, revealing this secret.

Marcus's face instantly turned pale. "Dear God... then you absolutely CAN'T let Alexander know! If he discovers you're pregnant, he'll never let you leave! You'll become his prisoner forever!"

"But this drug... will it hurt the baby?"

Marcus was silent for a long time, his voice becoming aged. "Miss... this drug might cause... miscarriage."

"NO!" I covered my stomach. "I can't lose this child!"

"Miss, if you don't leave, both you and the child will die!"

Just then, footsteps came from downstairs.

"Someone's coming!" Marcus's face changed. "Miss, I have to go! Think carefully about this drug, but there isn't much time!"

He pressed the vial into my hands and quickly climbed toward the window.

"Marcus!"

Marcus disappeared into the darkness without looking back.

The room fell silent again.

I gripped the small vial, my hands trembling. The liquid inside glittered in the dim light.

The footsteps grew closer, stopping outside the door.

The sound of the door lock turning.

I quickly hid the vial and pretended to be organizing my clothes.

The door was pushed open.

A woman in a tight red dress walked in—blonde, blue-eyed, heavily made up.

My blood instantly froze.

"Sophia?"

Impossible! This was impossible! She should be dead! Two years ago, because she had killed my child, Alexander told me personally that she had been executed!

But there she stood before me, very much alive, and smiling coldly!

"Well, well, well, look who it is," Sophia laughed as she paced. "Our noble Lady Moretti? Surprised? Did you really think I was dead? Alexander's quite the actor, isn't he?"

"How... how are you still alive?" I stared at her in disbelief, my entire body shaking.

"Oh, dear Isabella," Sophia's smile was icy. "Did you really think Alexander would kill his favorite bed partner?"

What?

"Look at you now!" Sophia slowly approached me. "From a high-and-mighty family princess to a prisoner in her own home. Can't even leave your bedroom—how PATHETIC!"

"You bitch!" I shot to my feet. "You should be dead! You killed my child!"

"Yes, I poisoned the child," Sophia admitted carelessly. "But do you want to know who gave the order?"

"No..." I shook my head, refusing to believe it.

"It was Alexander," Sophia's smile twisted. "Your beloved husband personally ordered the death of your child. Because his position wasn't stable then—he couldn't allow you to bear an heir."

"YOU'RE LYING!" I screamed hysterically. "You're LYING!"

"Lying? Isabella, do you really think Alexander loves you? You're just his tool! A pawn to consolidate power!"

I lunged at her, trying to grab her throat. "I'm going to KILL you!"

"Want to kill me?" Sophia dodged nimbly, sneering. "Don't overestimate yourself!"

We grappled together, me gripping her hair tightly. "You fucking whore, DIE!"

Sophia kneed me in the abdomen. I gasped and released her, but lunged again, my nails scraping across her cheek.

"Let go of me!" Sophia shrieked, striking back at my face.

Furniture toppled, glasses shattered as we rolled on the floor fighting.

"Do you know we've been together for ages?" Sophia panted, smiling viciously. "Even on your wedding night, he was in MY bed enjoying himself!"

"NO! SHUT UP!" I got up from the floor and lunged at her again.

"He told me that making love to you was like completing a chore—boring as hell! Only with me does he feel real passion!"

I completely lost it, attacking her desperately, but she shoved me away and I crashed hard into the wall.

"Oh, by the way," Sophia turned to leave, glancing back at me. "He wanted me to tell you—there's still that reconciliation meeting tomorrow night. If you dare refuse again this time, there will be consequences."

The door closed.

The room fell deathly quiet.

I sat on the floor in a daze, feeling like my soul had been hollowed out.

So everything had been a lie.

So I had been a joke from beginning to end.

I trembled as I pulled out the small vial, staring at the clear liquid inside.

This was my salvation, and also my curse.

I gently touched my belly, tears falling silently. "Baby, I'm sorry. Mommy can't let you be born into this world full of betrayal. Mommy can't let you become that demon's child."

I raised the vial.

This time, no one could stop me.

I drained the vial in one gulp.

Bitter! A taste more bitter than any poison instantly filled my mouth, burning my throat like liquid fire.

Then the pain began.

First my chest, like a knife slowly twisting. My heart began beating irregularly, each beat feeling like it would burst from my ribcage.

"Ahhh..." I moaned in pain, curling up on the bed.

Then my blood vessels, as if countless needles were piercing simultaneously.

I gripped the bedsheets, my nails nearly tearing the fabric.

"Marco..." I called my brother's name in agony. "Brother... come get me..."

My lower abdomen began tearing pain. I knew what that meant.

My child... my baby...

"No... don't..." I tried to stop it, but my body was no longer obeying.

Warm liquid flowed between my legs—I knew it was blood.

My child was leaving me.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... baby, I'm sorry..." I cried hysterically, but even my tears were becoming thick.

My vision began to blur, but my memories became extraordinarily clear...

Columbia University, a spring afternoon, cherry blossoms dancing.

Young Alexander stood timidly at the law school entrance, holding a bunch of cheap roses.

"Bella, I... could I buy you a coffee?"

He had looked so humble then, so sincere. The deep affection in his eyes made me believe it was true love.

"Bella, I swear on my life to protect and love you. Without you, I am nothing."

It had all been lies.