Chapter 4

Minerva gave a faint smile. "Oh, it's nothing. The wedding is in a few days. I think I should lose a little weight." That was a lie. Thanks to her little maneuver, the wife's name on the marriage certificate was Rowena's. So naturally, the upcoming wedding belonged to Rowena too. Naturally, the dress needed to fit her. While picking out the rings, Minerva casually handed Rowena a massive diamond, well over ten carats, to try on. She didn't seem to care whether she liked it herself. Instead, she kept asking Rowena for her opinion. Once Rowena said she liked it and that it fit perfectly, Minerva sealed the order. The same thing happened with the wedding shoes. One move after another, it finally began to dawn on Benedict that something wasn't right. As they stepped out of the boutique, he was just about to speak when Rowena tugged at his sleeve. "Benedict, I want mango ice cream." Naturally, Benedict prioritized Rowena's request. Without asking anything, he turned and walked off. Soon, he returned with two cones, both mango flavored. He handed one to Minerva, but she didn't take it. "I'm allergic to mango." A flicker of awkwardness crossed Benedict's face. "I'll go get you something else." As soon as he disappeared from view, Rowena lifted her cone smugly, her gaze fixed on Minerva. "Minerva, you've figured it out by now, haven't you? Benedict has always loved me. Otherwise, why would he remember I like mango but not that you're allergic to it?" The taunting words hung in the air, but Minerva's expression remained perfectly calm. That, of course, didn't sit well with Rowena. She stepped closer to Minerva, and her voice grew sharper, more venomous with each word. "I could never outshine you growing up, but this time, I won completely. Minerva, how does it feel knowing the man you've loved for so long has only ever had eyes for me? God, I'm thrilled. You've always overshadowed me, but now? I finally get to watch you break." A cruel smile curled on her lips, beautiful like a poppy but deadly like poison. It sent a cold shiver down Minerva's spine. Before she could react, Rowena suddenly shoved her. Minerva lost her balance, toppling backward down the stairs like she was falling through space. Everything spun. On instinct, she reached out and grabbed Rowena's outstretched hand. Loud thuds echoed as both women tumbled down the stairs together. Minerva felt like her bones had shattered. As she tried to push herself up, a sharp cramp tore through her lower abdomen. A warm, sticky flow spread beneath her. Her hands trembled as she looked down—blood. So much blood. Beside her, Rowena was already crying out in pain. "Rowena!" Benedict's voice came from around the corner. He was walking over, and the ice cream cone slipped from his hand the moment he saw them. Even though both women had fallen, he rushed straight past Minerva and dropped to his knees beside Rowena. Without hesitation, he scooped her into his arms and ran for the car. He never even glanced at Minerva, who was left lying there, motionless in a pool of her own blood. As if to mock her pain, dark clouds rolled in overhead, and rain began to pour. The rainwater washed over the blood beneath her, sending thin red streams trickling into the gutter. Agonizing pain knifed through her stomach. Her limbs went limp, and her vision blurred. Then, everything went dark. … When Minerva finally woke up, she was in a hospital bed. A stranger had called for help—a passerby. Benedict had been too busy with Rowena's injuries. So busy, he might not have even noticed that she had fallen too. Perhaps even if he had seen her in that state, he wouldn't have cared. Because she wasn't the one he held in his heart. It didn't matter. After all, the name on the marriage certificate listed Rowena as his wife. Pale-faced, Minerva was just about to get up and sign herself out of the hospital when the door to her ward swung open. A doctor stepped in, holding a report. "Ms. Schuman, congratulations. You're pregnant! That fall was serious, but thankfully, you got here in time. Otherwise, the baby might not have made it." The words echoed in her ears, sharp and metallic, like a ringing bell she couldn't silence. How could she have forgotten? In her previous life, it was around this exact time that she'd gotten pregnant too. Back then, the news that she was carrying Benedict's child had filled her with joy. She had sworn to be a good mother, to give the baby all the love and care she could. In the end… what had that child grown up to do? He had stood by her sickbed and urged her to divorce so that his father could finally be with his aunt. At the thought, a bitter smile touched her lips. Her voice was quiet but steady with resolve. "Doctor, I don't want this baby. Please schedule the procedure." The doctor looked surprised but didn't press. Instead, he simply handed her a consent form. "You'll need a family member's signature before we can proceed." That night, Minerva returned home with the abortion consent form in hand. Benedict was in the kitchen, clumsily making soup for Rowena, who had fractured a bone in the fall. When he saw Minerva come in, he barely looked at her. He was completely unconcerned with her injuries. She let out a hollow laugh. Then, carefully concealing the form in her hand, she approached. "Benedict, the wedding planner called. The venue is almost fully set up. They need your signature on this document," she said. Benedict, clearly out of his depth in the kitchen and distracted by Rowena's condition, didn't even hesitate. "You can handle that stuff. Don't bother me with these little things next time." He grabbed the paper and, without glancing at it, signed his name on the abortion consent form.