I woke to a sensation of being torn apart from the inside out. A sharp, twisting agony radiated from my stomach, stealing my breath.
Kate Fox stood in the center of Andrew Delgado's office, clutching a strange clay jar and blinking at me with feigned innocence.
"Leah, I brought this souvenir back from the Abbott region," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness. "I heard the Bonding Charm inside could rekindle passion, so I wanted to try it on you... but I made a mistake. It seems I accidentally mixed in a Heartbreak Curse instead."
Her tone was terrifyingly light.
A chill swept through me—nothing to do with the air conditioning.
I remembered the elders whispering about such things. The Heartbreak Curse didn't just hurt. It shredded your liver and intestines until you died in excruciating torment.
"Kate Fox!"
Cold sweat drenched my skin. "That curse kills people!"
The office door swung open before I could finish. Andrew Delgado strode in, brow furrowed in annoyance. He didn't even glance my way.
"Kate is young. She didn't do it on purpose," he said dismissively. "It's just a bug—is it really necessary to make such a scene?"
He stepped between us, shielding her from my gaze.
The agony in my gut clawed up to my heart.
"You have no shame!"
——
I doubled over, sweat soaking through my clothes. The pain came in waves—like a dull knife twisting and sawing through my organs.
Andrew ignored me. He turned to Kate, taking the clay jar from her hands, inspecting her for injuries.
His profile was cold. Unyielding.
"Andrew, I really didn't mean to..." Kate tugged at his sleeve, voice trembling. "I just saw how cold Leah has been to you lately. I wanted to help... The seller said the curses looked similar. I must have mixed them up."
"I know." He patted her hand, his voice dropping to a gentle murmur. "Don't be afraid."
Only then did he look at me, frown deepening. "Leah, you look terrible. But Kate has already apologized. She meant well. It's just a curse—there's always a cure. Calm down. You're scaring her."
"I'm scaring her?"
My face felt bloodless. "Andrew, that is a Heartbreak Curse! It kills! You should be taking me to the hospital or finding an expert—not standing there comforting her because she 'didn't do it on purpose'!"
"Stop being so aggressive."
His patience snapped, voice dropping to a dangerous chill. "Kate is timid; she can't handle your shouting. What's done is done. I've already sent for a friend who knows about these things. Just wait."
"Andrew Delgado." I forced myself upright despite the spasms racking my body. "If she had swallowed this curse, would you tell her to just 'wait' and 'calm down'?"
His gaze wavered. Silence stretched between us.
Kate broke it, her voice thick with grievance. "Leah, don't blame Andrew. It's all my fault. If the curse can't be undone... I'll pay you back with my life, okay?"
Tears streamed down her face.
"Kate! Stop talking nonsense."
Andrew immediately pulled her into a protective embrace. "Don't say such unlucky things. I'm here; nothing will happen. Leah is just in pain, so she's lashing out. Don't take it to heart."
What a touching display.
Meanwhile, I—his lawful wife—was the unreasonable outsider ruining their bond.
"Cough..."
I clamped a hand over my mouth. When I pulled it away, dark red blood dripped through my fingers.
Andrew's expression shattered. He released Kate and took two urgent steps toward me.
"Leah!"
