Without warning, Elijah tore off her thin pajamas, his actions cold and devoid of care. The sharp, unrelenting pain tore through Sienna, forcing cold sweat to bead on her forehead. She didn’t dare make a sound. Her teeth bit down hard on her lower lip, drawing blood, while her trembling fingers gripped the bed sheets tightly, her knuckles turning white.
Each passing moment felt like an eternity. Just when she thought she might lose consciousness from the agony, he leaned down and crushed her lips with his own, his kiss as cold and suffocating as his presence. It wasn’t an act of comfort; it was domination, a brutal reminder of her powerlessness.
For a fleeting second, Sienna truly believed he intended to destroy her completely—body and soul.
When he was finally done, he left her discarded on the bed without a second glance. The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom as she lay motionless, her body trembling from the ordeal.
When Elijah returned, freshly dressed and composed, he tossed her clothes at her without care, his tone sharp and impatient. “You have ten minutes. Get up and go to the hospital with me to apologize.”
...
In the hospital ward, Elijah pushed Sienna forward and said firmly, “Apologize to my mother.”
Nancy frowned in disdain, her tone cutting. “Tell her to get out and stop causing trouble for me.”
“Mom,” Elijah said smoothly, a calculated calmness in his voice. “The doctor mentioned the baby is weak and needs breastfeeding. I left the child in her care, and it’s my fault for not clarifying things sooner. This misunderstanding is on me.”
He subtly nudged Sienna, signaling her to speak. Panicked, she quickly stammered, “Madam, I’m sorry. I truly didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
Nancy let out a huff, but seeing her son take responsibility, she relented. She shot Sienna a scornful look before turning her attention back to him. “You’re supporting her now?”
Elijah met her gaze without flinching, lying with perfect ease. “Support her? Of course not. Who started such baseless rumors?”
His mother’s sharp eyes shifted to Courtney, who froze under the weight of her gaze. Courtney’s face paled, and she quickly lowered her head, her hands trembling slightly.
Satisfied, Elijah turned back to his mother, his authoritative tone leaving no room for argument. “I’ll keep an eye on her and the child myself. Surely, you have no objections to that, right?”
Nancy thought for a moment before speaking, her tone softer but still firm. “Then let her live in the Morgan Family home. It’ll prevent further gossip and rumors.”
Sienna’s heart sank, her watery eyes darting to Elijah. Desperation filled her gaze, silently pleading for him to refuse. She knew living under the same roof as Nancy and Courtney would be a nightmare.
But Elijah remained unmoved. Ignoring her silent protest, he nodded decisively. “Fine. She’ll move in with the child tomorrow.”
Outside the ward, Sienna finally found her voice. “Do I really have to go? Can’t I stay where I am?”
Elijah’s response was ice-cold. “No. You don’t have a choice.”
Her lips quivered as she bit back tears, her voice barely above a whisper. “But—”
“Do you want to lose the child?” he interrupted sharply, his words a blade to her heart.
Sienna clenched her fists, her voice trembling as she asked, “And my brother...?”
When Sienna mentioned her brother, Elijah’s lips curled into a chilling smile, one that sent shivers down her spine. It wasn’t a smile of amusement but one cold and bloodthirsty, sharp enough to cut through her resolve.
“I forgot to tell you,” he drawled, his tone laced with cruel indifference. “I’ve heard your brother isn’t doing too well in there. In fact, he might not survive.”
Sienna’s legs buckled as a wave of panic washed over her. Desperation overtook her, and she clung to his shirt as though it was her lifeline. “Please,” she begged, her voice trembling, “don’t do anything to him. He didn’t mean for the car accident to happen. Please, I’m begging you.”
Elijah’s expression darkened, and in a swift motion, he pinned her against the wall. His sharp, piercing eyes bore into hers, leaving no room for hope. “Sienna,” he said slowly, his voice like a blade against her skin, “if you want your brother to stay alive, you will do exactly as I say.”
Her heart sank, and an icy dread spread through her veins. She felt trapped, regretting every choice that had led her to this moment. She didn’t want to continue this nightmare, to be reduced to nothing more than a wet nurse and a pawn. But she had no escape. Her brother’s life depended on her submission.
Without another word, Sienna left, her steps heavy with resignation, and began packing her belongings.
The next morning, Elijah’s assistant arrived in a sleek black car to escort her and the child. The vehicle glided through the city streets before arriving at Orchid Grove, the Morgan Family estate.
As the massive black iron gates creaked shut behind her, Sienna felt a suffocating weight settle over her chest. The estate was grand, sprawling, but to her, it felt like a gilded cage—her freedom now locked away with an uncertain fate.
The housekeeper, a middle-aged woman with a rigid posture and an icy demeanor, met her at the door. Without sparing a glance at Sienna, she led her into the nursery.
“This is the young sir’s room,” the housekeeper said curtly. “Take good care of him. Do your job and don’t cause any trouble.”
Sienna lowered her head, biting back a retort. She placed her luggage in a corner and carefully lifted the baby into her arms. His small, fragile frame stirred her heart, but it also reminded her of her predicament—her tether to the Morgan Family’s cruelty.
The Morgan mansion was eerily silent, its vast halls echoing with emptiness. With Nancy still in the hospital, the oppressive stillness felt even more pronounced. Every shadow seemed to loom, every corner a reminder of the cage she was now confined to.
