Chapter 2

I reached for the cold dirt with shaking hands.

How scared were they? Did they cry for me? Did they wonder why Mommy never came?

I couldn't stop screaming. I couldn't stop crying. Rain slowly began to fall, soaking my hair, my clothes, my skin, but I didn't care. Nothing hurt more than my heart.

I stayed there until my voice disappeared and there were no tears left to cry.

I don't even remember how I made it back to the city.

My feet carried me into the black market.

After asking around, someone finally led me into a hidden underground clinic.

"I need two kinds of medicine," I whispered.

The old doctor studied me for a long moment before handing me two small bottle. "This one will end the pregnancy," he explained gently. "It works quickly. And this one... after you take it, your body will appear dead on the ninth day. No heartbeat. No pulse. No breathing. Everyone will believe you've died. Two days later, you'll wake up on your own."

He looked at me with concern. "Miss are you in trouble? If someone is hurting you, tell me. Maybe I can help."

I forced a small smile and slowly shook my head. "No... thank you."

I paid him, took the medicine, and walked away.

I held both bottles so tightly my nails cut into my palms. Blood slowly trickled between my fingers but I didn't even feel it.

How could I? My heart was already dead.

This baby...

I can't bring this child into a world where their own father wants them dead. I won't let Jerome kill another one of my children.

NEVER AGAIN.

‘Jerome… You stole seven years of my life. You destroyed everything I ever loved. So this time… I'll disappear from your life forever. You'll bury an empty coffin. And you'll never see me again.’

…

I went back to the Partridge estate with two bottle clutched tightly in my hand.

The moment I got inside my room, I dismissed every maid and guard. “I want to be alone,” I said quietly. “No one comes in unless I call.”

When the door finally closed, silence filled the room.

I stared at the two bottle lying on the table.

One black.

One red.

One would end my pregnancy.

The other would let me disappear from this world.

My hands shook as I drink the liquid from the black bottle.

I rested my hand over my stomach.

“I'm sorry,” I whispered. “Mommy can't protect you... and I can't let your father kill you too. I'm so sorry, my baby.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I forced myself to swallow. Not long after, a sharp pain exploded through my stomach.

I gasped, clutching my abdomen as if someone had stabbed me over and over again. It hurts!

God...

It hurt so much!

Blood slowly soaked through my skirt.

I collapsed onto the floor, my entire body trembling. Cold sweat drenched my clothes, and my vision blurred from the pain, but I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. I refused to scream.

No one was coming to save me anyway.

Just like before.

Somehow, I forced myself to crawl toward the table. My fingers barely obeyed me anymore as I reached for the red bottle. I drank it without hesitation.

This is it.

Nine days.

Just nine more days then Lorelie will disappear forever.

Darkness swallowed me whole.

...

When I opened my eyes again, the first person I saw was Jerome.

My heart instantly turned cold.

He was sitting beside my bed, holding my hand between both of his. His brows were knitted together with worry, and his eyes were filled with the same concern I'd fallen in love with.

“Lori...” He leaned closer. “You're finally awake.”

His voice was so gentle.

“So what happened? Why did you suddenly miscarry?” He brushed a strand of hair away from my face. “Why didn't you send someone to call the family doctor? Or one of our physicians? You shouldn't have gone through something like that alone.”

I looked into his eyes, and for the first time, I saw it.

Hidden beneath all that fake concern was relief.

He was relieved.

Happy, even. Because the baby was gone.

He didn't have to kill this one himself.

My chest hurt so much I thought it would split open. I wanted to grab him. I wanted to scream, to ask why he had destroyed my life. Those babies were yours too. They called you Daddy before they even took their first breath. How could you murder your own children? But nothing came out.

Only tears kept falling, no matter how hard I tried to stop them.

Jerome sighed softly. “Oh, Lori...” He carefully wiped away my tears before pulling me into his arms. His hand gently rubbed my back. “Don't cry anymore.” He kissed the top of my head. “I know this hurts, but we'll have another baby someday. Right now, I just want you to get better. That's all that matters to me.”

Another baby?

I closed my eyes as a bitter smile slowly spread across my face.

‘No… There won't be another baby. Not with you. Never again. There isn't a future waiting for us anymore.’

...

After my miscarriage, Jerome barely left my side.

As the future Don of the Partridge family, he had endless responsibilities, yet he stayed home to take care of me. He tasted every cup of medicine before letting me drink it. He peeled fruit with his own hands and fed it to me. He searched for rare fruits, expensive jewelry, and priceless gifts from all over the world, trying to make me smile again.

Anyone who saw him would've believed he was the perfect husband.

Even the capos and household staff couldn't stop talking about it.

“Our future Don really worships Miss Lorelie.”

“I've never seen Boss treat anyone like this.”

“They say he's afraid she'll get hurt if he holds her too tightly and afraid she'll disappear if he lets her go. He loves his wife more than his own life.”

Every compliment felt like another knife twisting inside my chest.

Look at him, he fooled me. Now he's fooling everyone else too.

Sometimes... Even I almost forgot it was all an act.

Until today.

A mountain of business from Partridge Consolidated had piled up, along with matters involving the family's hidden operations. Jerome finally had no choice but to leave my side.

“I'll be in my study for a while,” he said, gently squeezing my hand. “If you need anything, send someone for me immediately. Don't push yourself, alright?”

He smiled, kissed my forehead, and walked away. The bedroom door slowly closed behind him.

Not long after Jerome left, someone knocked on my bedroom door.

Before I could tell them to leave, Vivienne walked in. She was wearing an expensive designer dress, looking every bit like the elegant Donna everyone admired.

But I knew better.

Behind that sweet smile was the woman who had ruined my life.

“My poor little cousin,” she said with a fake sigh. “I heard about your miscarriage, and I felt so terrible. So I made your favorite chicken mushroom soup. They say it's good for healing after losing a baby, especially for your womb.”

She lifted the insulated food container with a smile.

“I spent hours making it myself. I really hope you'll eat some.”

I looked at her without a trace of warmth. “I don't want it.”

Her smile didn't move.

“Oh, come on, Lori. Don't be like that. Even if you hate me, don't reject my kindness.”

“I said no.”

She walked closer anyway. The rich smell of chicken and mushrooms filled the room as she poured the soup into a bowl.

“Just one spoonful,” she said softly. “Please? I made this because I was worried about you.”

I felt sick just looking at her. “I said take it away.”

She ignored me again and held the bowl toward me.

Something inside me finally snapped. I pushed the bowl away and barely touched it.

But Vivienne suddenly let out a loud scream. “Ah!”

She deliberately twisted her wrist. The bowl tipped over, and the hot soup spilled all over her own arm before crashing onto the floor.

She immediately threw herself backward and collapsed onto the floor, crying as if she were the victim.

“My hand! Lori, why?!” she sobbed as tears streamed down her face. “It hurts... it hurts so much!”