Chapter 2

That night, Callum stayed over in Harper's room to keep her company. Taking in her familiar scent, he undressed her. "Sienna is probably pregnant by now. We can't let her get ahead." She felt a pang in her chest when he still fed her lies. After losing her uterus, she couldn't bear a child anymore. She caught a whiff of Sienna's perfume as his breath hit her neck. Feeling disgusted, she turned him down and mumbled something about being too tired. Harper didn't sleep well that night. She woke up to the sound of moaning and thought to herself, "Isn't Sienna from some high-society family? Why is she so cheap? How can she sneak in at night and throw herself at Callum?" Callum panted heavily on the bed as Sienna let out a sultry whimper. "I just want to carry your child and send you back to Harper. Then, I'll spend the rest of my days being a widow." He chuckled. "Widow? With curves like that, you really think you can play the lonely widow? Let me take care of you in Quentin's place." Sienna responded, "Alright. Be gentle, Callum. Don't wake Harper up." Callum remarked, "What's the big deal, Sienna? It's for a baby. Harper already said yes." The madness went on all night. At daybreak, Callum finally carried Sienna out, her body limp in his arms. Harper had also stayed awake until morning, her eyes dry and wide open. Callum had just walked out when the housekeepers came knocking. She hadn't slept, and exhaustion clung to her like a second skin. But she let the housekeepers drag her off to the memorial hall to recite the family rules anyway. Sitting in a wooden chair, Olivia meditated with a crystal in her hand. It wasn't until Harper's voice turned raspy and her knees began to shake that Olivia spoke up. "We'll stop reciting here. Enna is working hard to continue the Colter bloodline. Do your part and look after her." Harper was led to Sienna's room with a blank face. For once, they weren't in bed together. Callum was quietly carving something, and Sienna snuggled in his arms, like a newlywed couple. Callum was flustered when he saw Harper. He immediately dropped what he was doing and shoved Sienna out of the way. "What brings you here, Enna?" Harper didn't respond. Her eyes were fixed on the lifelike horse Callum had been carving. Seeing this, he explained, "I made it for my future child; I'm just stepping in for Quentin." Harper felt a pang in her heart. She had the same little horse back in her room. Callum said he wanted their child to be born fast and free, like a wild horse. So he'd carved one for him, but the child was long gone. However, as the father of the lost child, he was already expecting another one. The housekeepers spoke on Harper's behalf, explaining why she was there. "Mdm. Holden sent Ms. Vaughn to attend to Mdm. Prescott." Hearing that, Callum sighed. "You're not needed here. Make Sienna some herbal soup." Harper was led to the kitchen once again in a daze. But after drinking the soup she made, Sienna clutched her stomach in pain. The family doctor went through everything Sienna had taken. In the end, he discovered that the issue stemmed from the soup Harper had prepared. Furious, Oliva had Harper pinned down and whipped in the memorial hall. Right as the third lash landed, Callum barged in and seized the whip. He helped her up with care, placing himself in front of her. She clung to his sleeve, her voice barely audible as she tried to explain herself, "I didn't—" He interrupted, "I'll take the fall for you, Harper. You should apologize to Sienna." Her chest tightened. Callum would rather be punished in her place than trust her. That was absurd. Something snapped inside Harper. She somehow found the strength to shove Callum away. "I didn't hurt her." She staggered to her feet, locked eyes with him, and repeated, "I didn't hurt anyone. I'm not apologizing." Seeing the heartbreak in her eyes, he panicked for a moment, feeling like something was slipping away from him. But Sienna was fine, and she was lashed three times. He figured that made them even. As Callum was about to speak, Oliva cut in, "Enna is pregnant." He blinked in shock, the disbelief on his face quickly giving way to joy. Olivia slammed the crystal on the table. "But Harper nearly killed that baby." Callum's softened heart turned cold again. He instructed, "Make Harper stand outside Sienna's room. She stays there until she apologizes."