Chapter 3

I really broke down. Why was this happening to me?

Through the crack in the door, I saw Mina give me a provocative look. They did it on purpose, just to disgust me. But I had no strength left to run.

I don't know how long it went on. The sounds. The moaning.

Then Mina stood over me. She was covered in marks of intimacy, wearing my newest nightgown.

"Zara, you want to compete with me? Take a look at yourself."

"You shamelessly threw yourself at Felix, and got gang-raped by five men on your own wedding night. Now you're carrying their bastards. Are you happy? Next time, I'll arrange ten for you."

Her face was a mask of jealousy, twisted and ugly. She bent down, seized my chin between her fingers.

"Felix has never touched you. He married you only for the company. His body? His heart? They belong only to me."

Despair spread through my whole body.

I looked at her and said sarcastically, "I stayed by him for ten years. You're just a secretary who slept her way up."

Her expression snapped. That saccharine facade cracked wide open, replaced by something raw and venomous.

"What are you so proud of? Tomorrow I'll have Felix send you to a nightclub."

I slowly stood up and said calmly, "Mina, what do you really want? If you want my position, I'll give it to you."

Mina was jealous to the point of madness. She grabbed my wrist. "Give? I will pull you down from that position myself."

She picked up a vase from nearby and smashed it on the floor, her eyes fierce. Then she picked up a piece of broken porcelain, cut her own cheek, and quickly shoved it into my hand.

"Help! She's trying to cut my face!" Mina shrieked, stumbling backward. "I just came to check on you, and you attacked me!"

Then, louder: "We found a priest. He said your children will bring bad luck to Felix and kill him."

Felix appeared in the doorway within seconds. He took one look at Mina's bleeding face, one look at the shard in my hand, and crossed the room in three strides.

Mina sobbed against his chest. "I was only trying to help her. Why would she do this to me?"

Felix stood in front of me, took the shard from my fingers, and dragged it across my cheek.

One clean line. Just deep enough.

"Now we're even," he said.

It was always like this. Any scratch on Mina's skin, and he'd carve the same wound into mine.

"I didn't do it—"

Mina pressed closer to him, her voice trembling with calculated fragility. "Don't be angry at her, Felix. I don't mind being scarred. After all, she's the Kingsley heiress…"

He looked at me with eyes that could freeze marrow. Then he picked Mina up—bridal style—and turned to leave.

As he passed me, he shoved me with his shoulder. Hard.

I was already unsteady. My stomach hit the sharp corner of the coffee table.

The teapot and cups crashed to the floor. I doubled over, arms wrapped around my abdomen, a scream trapped in my throat because the pain was too enormous for sound.

"Zara, all these years—how did I never see what a hypocrite you are?" His voice came from above me, cold and final. "Mina is an innocent blank slate. Don't hurt her."

I clutched my stomach. Sweat had soaked through my clothes. I forced words out through clenched teeth.

"Felix—I didn't do it. I would never—"

"Enough! The priest told us your first pregnancy would kill me. Mina was looking out for me—for us. "

He carried Mina out of the room. As he passed, his heel came down on my foot—deliberately, grinding—before lifting away.

"You're quite the actress, Zara. Too bad there's no audience tonight. Enjoy the solo performance."

Over Felix's shoulder, Mina turned her head.

And gave me a triumphant smile.

---

I bit down on the inside of my cheek until I tasted copper.

*Don't pass out. Don't pass out. If you lose consciousness now, no one is coming.*

Blood was pooling beneath me. My legs had no strength left. I couldn't stand.

So hands and knees across the cold marble floor, dragging my body toward the couch where I'd left my bag. Every inch sent white-hot agony ripping through my abdomen.

My fingers found the zipper. Found my phone.

I dialed the only number that mattered.

I gasped the address between ragged breaths. "This is my location… please hurry…"