Chapter 8

Angelina looked into Leo's eyes. Her heart seemed to stop for a moment. Her pupils trembled; her voice was strangled: "Destroy... your happiness?" "And what about me?" Angelina stared at Leo in disbelief. She hadn't expected there was no room for her in his heart. Before, she'd naively believed Samantha was just a novelty for Leo. Given time, he'd realize his mistake. Now, it was clear: she was wrong. Utterly, completely wrong. Leo had changed long ago. He no longer loved her. Perhaps he never had! Angelina's unprecedented defiance startled Leo. A bitter ache rose within him, leaving him momentarily stunned. Samantha chose that moment to reappear in the doorway. "Angelina, how can you be so selfish? "Clearly, I love him more deeply than you ever could. Why should he unconditionally accept everything from you? "You're just using Leo, binding him with the name of love, but you don't truly love him at all!" Samantha screamed the words with all her might. Her body shook with the effort; tears streamed convincingly down her face. After her outburst, she seemed utterly spent, collapsing backwards. Leo saw it and immediately rushed to catch her. His eyes were full of concern for her. The two embraced intimately. After comforting Samantha, Leo turned a venomous glare on Angelina. "Angelina, I misjudged you. So this is who you are." Angelina looked at the group surrounding her in the room. Her spirit broken, her mind blank. She wanted to scream defiance, but rage choked her throat, leaving her voiceless. Before she could react, bodyguards seized her arms. "I don't believe it! I don't!" Angelina was nearly hysterical. She tried to touch her belly, but the strong bodyguards held her fast. Last night, she had dreamed of her and Leo's child. For ten years, she had longed to have a child with Leo. She loved him; she yearned to build a life with the man she loved, to raise the fruit of their love. Last night's dream had been so long, so vivid. She could still feel the baby moving inside her. Waking up, they told her bluntly. The baby was gone! She refused to believe it! "Impossible! My baby, my baby is still alive!" Angelina fought like a wild animal. No one could take away her right as a mother. Yet the bodyguards' grip was like iron chains, pinning her brutally to the bed. "Leo, she's insane! "She must be using the child as leverage to blackmail you. How vile, threatening you with a baby! "She doesn't love you at all!" Samantha shouted. Everyone deemed her the criminal. Her throat was raw from screaming; her whole body ached. Angelina looked at Samantha, cherished in Leo's embrace. Despair consumed her. She cried, tears flowing like blood. "I beg you... I don't want anything, I want nothing... "Leo, I won't interfere with your happiness. Just let my child live, and I'll leave immediately... Okay?" Angelina wept and begged. She would have knelt if she could, groveling as she had before. Leo released Samantha and walked slowly towards Angelina, seeming satisfied. Angelina's face tear-streaked. A thousand knives carving her heart. Her pride, her love, were utterly crushed. This should be enough, right? It should end now? She was too tired, too exhausted. She no longer wanted this kind of love. But when Leo approached, he gripped her chin, his eyes filled with a twisted possessiveness. "Angelina, you're quite the schemer! "Everyone knows only you are recognized by my family. If you really have that child, what happens to Samantha?!" Leo's grip tightened, threatening to crush her. Angelina was utterly helpless, at his mercy. "And besides, you miscarried long ago! Don't try to fool me!"