“Laureen, why didn’t you tell me you were being discharged? Do you know how risky that was?! You shouldn’t be moving around alone in your condition.”
He walked over, his hand naturally resting on my stomach.
“Don’t do that again,” he said softly. “Tell me next time. What did the doctor say? Is everything okay? Is the baby fine?”
The baby.
I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, another voice came in.
“Sister, you’re already home?” Elizabeth stepped in, smiling brightly. “You didn’t even tell us,” she continued, “Do you know how worried Joaquin was? He almost turned the whole hospital upside down looking for you.”
I looked at Joaquin.
He immediately explained, “Liza wanted to leave the hospital for a few days. The air here is better, so I let her stay just until she feels stronger.”
Elizabeth clasped her hands together, her smile soft and innocent. “I hope I’m not bothering you, sis. I’ll only stay for a short while, I promise.”
Her eyes met mine and there it was. That quiet challenge. Waiting. Watching.
‘Go on, break,’ her gaze seemed to say. ‘Show them what you really are.’
I didn’t. I just nodded.
“I won’t disturb you,” I said calmly.
…
That afternoon, I stayed on the sofa just… watching.
No one asked me to join. No one noticed I didn’t.
Joaquin moved around the house like I wasn’t even there.
He personally told the servants how to prepare Elizabeth’s room. I heard every word.
“Make sure the mattress is soft enough,” he said, “She had back issues before, don’t make it uncomfortable for her. And check the temperature, she gets cold easily at night.”
I sat there, hands resting on my lap, and just listened.
At dinner, it was the same.
“She doesn’t eat spicy foods,” he reminded them. “And peel the seafood properly, don’t leave anything. The soup… let it cool a bit before serving.”
I stared at my plate.
When was the last time he remembered what I liked? Did he ever?
And then… things started clicking in my head.
Moments I ignored before. Moments I thought meant nothing.
Every family gathering, his eyes always found Elizabeth somehow. Just for a second, just a glance but it was always there.
Every time she got “sick,” he somehow had a reason to pass by the hospital. Coincidences, he called them.
Even after I got pregnant, those times he seemed distracted, those long silences…
He wasn’t thinking about me.
He was thinking about her.
How did I miss all of that?
I closed my eyes slowly.
Laureen… you’re really pathetic.
For a second there, I really thought I was loved.
I barely ate that night. Just a few bites, enough so no one would ask questions, then I went back to my room.
Not long after, the door opened.
Joaquin walked in.
“Why did you eat so little?” he asked, sitting beside me on the bed. His hand slid into my hair, gentle, familiar. “Are you not feeling well?”
I moved slightly, avoiding his touch. “I’m not hungry.”
He caught my hand instead, his fingers wrapping around mine. “Not hungry at all?”
“I’m fine,” I said quietly.
He leaned closer. “And what if I’m not?”
I froze.
Before I could say anything, he lowered his head, his lips brushing against my collarbone.
My body stiffened instantly.
It wasn’t the first time.
Before, after I passed the early stage of pregnancy, he couldn’t wait. Even when I cried, even when I told him it hurt, he would just hold me tighter, kiss my tears away, and whisper, “Just this once, okay? I love you.”
It was never the last time.
I pushed against him weakly. “The baby…”
“It’s fine,” he murmured, gripping my wrist gently but firmly. “You can just… help me a little, okay?”
I didn’t answer. What was I supposed to say?
The arms I used to run to now felt suffocating. His kiss deepened, and I felt my chest tighten more and more—
Then a knock.
“Joaquin? Laureen? Are you asleep?”
Everything stopped. Joaquin pulled back immediately, and the look in his eyes changed so fast it almost made me laugh.
He stood up and opened the door.
Elizabeth stood there, smiling gently.
“Sister,” she said as she stepped in slowly, her eyes landing on me. “You’re already this far along… it must be exhausting, right? I’ve been learning prenatal massage recently. It helps with stress and tension. I can help you relax a bit.”
“I don’t need it,” I said.
Her expression shifted instantly, her eyes turning red and her lips trembling slightly.
“Do you not trust me?” she asked softly, then looked at Joaquin. “I just wanted to help, Joaquin. I thought maybe I could do something for her…”
Joaquin walked back to me, his hand warm as he touched my face.
“Liza means well,” he said gently. “Let her help you, alright?”
Elizabeth smiled again and stepped closer.
“For prenatal massage, it’s important that your body stays completely relaxed,” she said lightly. “If you move too much, it can cause strain. We usually secure the hands and feet a little, just to keep everything steady.”
Something cold slid through me.
Joaquin didn’t question it. He just nodded and reached for a rope nearby.
I watched him as he tied my wrists to the headboard.
Slowly. Carefully.
The sound of the knot tightening echoed in my ears.
Why am I still hoping he’ll stop? I thought. Why am I still waiting for him to realize something’s wrong?
“Joaquin,” Elizabeth said softly, smiling at him. “Thank you for trusting me. You can go out now. It’s better if it’s quiet.”
He nodded.
Before leaving, he leaned down, his fingers brushing my cheek gently.
“Be good,” he said softly. “Listen to Liza, okay?”
Then he walked out.
…
I stared at the closed door, and my chest tightened so hard I could barely breathe.
He didn’t hesitate. Not even for a second.
She called, and he left. Just like that.
“Sister, relax,” Elizabeth said softly behind me as she stepped closer. Her fingers brushed over the ribbon tied around my wrists, slow and deliberate. “If you’re this tense, the massage won’t work. You’ll only make it harder for yourself.”
I looked at her, my voice cold. “I told you, I don’t want this. Just leave.”
She paused for a second, and the smile on her face slowly faded.
Then she leaned closer, her lips near my ear. “So… you know, don’t you?” she whispered.
My fingers trembled a little, but I kept my face still. “Know what?”
“Oh come on,” she let out a quiet laugh. “Stop pretending. You’re not that stupid. You already know Joaquin only got close to you for the baby. For the fetal stem cells. For me.”
My chest tightened, and I didn’t move.
She sighed softly, almost sounding sorry. “But even if you know… what can you do? You can’t stop any of this. You never could.”
Her hand moved down, her fingertip pressing lightly against my stomach.
“Before, it was you I played with,” she murmured. “After this baby is born… it’ll be your child instead.”
Something inside me snapped tight. I bit down hard on my lip until I tasted blood.
“Are you done?” I asked, my voice rough. “If you’re done, then get out.”
She laughed again, quieter this time. “You think I came here just to talk?”
She turned and walked toward the cabinet, taking something out. A small bottle.
“I said I’m here to help you,” she added lightly.
The next second, something cold splashed across my back.
It burned.
Before I could even react, the pain exploded through me.
“Ah—!” I screamed, my body jerking violently.
