Chapter 3

Her mind went completely blank. Elizabeth felt something slowly slipping away from her body. It was something she couldn't bear to lose, yet couldn't hold on to. The pain was unbearable, but all she felt was numbness inside. She was hurting so bad, but still let out a weak, bitter laugh. Tears streamed down her face like they'd never stop. So this was how it ended. “I'm sorry, baby. I was so excited to meet you… I never thought your father would hate you that much—enough to kill his own child.” Watching Elizabeth lying unconscious, Catherine no longer hid the jealousy and hatred in her eyes. “Why do you get everything, Elizabeth? Born into the Smith family, married into the Turner empire, with William by your side. I tried everything to take it all, but no matter what, I couldn't win.” “I faked the DNA results, I even set you up with those fake cheating photos, but William still chose to let you off!” Her gaze fell on the harsh red stain on the bedsheet. Her once soft face twisted into something almost unrecognizable. “Since life isn't fair, I'll make it fair. I'll take back everything!” “Just wait, Elizabeth. This is only the beginning.” When Elizabeth came to again, she found herself in a different ICU room. Her hands moved to her stomach—a flat, empty stomach, just like before. But she knew the life once growing inside her was gone. She didn't even get the chance to truly feel him. “Stop crying already, ma'am.” The cold voice belonged to Mary, a servant at the Turner house. Her wrinkled face was full of disapproval. When she saw Elizabeth's hand on her stomach, her expression turned downright disgusted. “Good riddance to the little bastard. Old Mrs. Turner would've thrown a fit if she found out.” “Where's William?” Elizabeth didn't even flinch at the sharp words. Her voice came out flat; face empty of emotion. She didn't care about what others said—that baby's paternity? William and Catherine were the only ones who knew the truth. She deserved an answer. She had loved William for ten whole years. From fifteen to twenty-five. Loved him so much that now he hated her to the point of killing their own child. At the thought of her baby, tears welled up again in her eyes—just as the door opened and William walked in with Catherine. “You're awake? Catherine said to keep you calm, don't get too worked up.” William frowned as he took in Elizabeth's devastated look. Catherine stepped up to hold Elizabeth's hand. Her face, hidden from William, was smug and mocking, but her voice came off soft and sweet. “Enough, Elizabeth, don't be sad. That illegitimate child wasn't worth anything. You'll have more kids in the future.” That snapped something in Elizabeth. She shoved Catherine hard to the floor, her eyes red with anger. “You don't get to talk about my baby! I treated you like my best friend, and you? You teamed up with the man I love to take my child's life!” Catherine clearly hadn't expected it, and she hit the floor hard, her face twisting in pain. William, trying to keep his temper in check, immediately rushed to help Catherine up, then turned back to Elizabeth with a cold stare. “What's wrong with you? You brought this on yourself. Don't you dare blame her for your mess!” Soft like water, Catherine leaned into William and tried to calm him down. “It's okay, William. Don't be mad. Elizabeth didn't mean it.” Seeing them so close, remembering her child who was gone—and worse, blamed for something that wasn't true—Elizabeth felt like her heart was tearing all over again. The tears came back and fell silently as she shut her eyes. “You're right. It's all my fault. If I hadn't married you, none of this would've happened…” That one line made William completely snap. When he needed her most years ago, she'd left him. Just when he was about to marry Catherine, she drugged him and forced a marriage on him. Now? She had the nerve to accuse him of betrayal. She cheated, got pregnant with another man's kid… and still, he had held on like a fool, hoping she'd change. And now she says she regrets it? How dare she. How dare she!