Leaving the banquet hall, my decision was made. This time, I would protect my child and myself, no matter the cost.
I didn't go back to my downtown apartment. I went straight to the airport.
Staying in this city had cost me my life once. This time, I had to get out before they could touch my child. They were ruthless, and I had nothing left to lose.
But I had underestimated Titus's reach. The moment he realized I was gone, my bank accounts were frozen. My phone was tracked. The flight I'd booked was canceled without explanation.
I was a prisoner in a city-sized cage.
In the end, I had no choice but to hide in a small rental in the suburbs. The landlady, seeing my advanced pregnancy, took pity on me and charged half the rent. But I knew the peace was temporary.
Sure enough, two days later, Titus appeared at my door.
"Sera, what are you doing here?" he asked, his tone gentle as he stood in the doorway. His perfectly tailored suit was a jarring beacon of wealth in this rundown building.
I looked at him coldly. "Is there something you need, Mr. Costello?"
"What are you talking about, Sera? We were all worried sick."
A flash of sorrow crossed his eyes. "I want to take you home. We can be a family again."
A treacherous flicker of hope ignited in my chest. A family? Had my compliance in this new life finally earned me a place?
But just as I wavered, his next words plunged me into an icy abyss.
"Actually..." An uneasy look crossed his face. "It's about Cassia. We need your help. She… she found an old ritual. It requires the sacrifice of a 'new bloodline' to purify her own. The baby…"
A violent tremor ran through me as the memories flooded back: blinding surgical lights, the sterile sting of disinfectant, the frantic shouts of doctors, and then… nothing.
"Get out!" I screamed, shoving him away. "You're not touching my child!"
Why did I ever let myself hope? It was laughable.
"What is wrong with you?" Titus frowned, his voice hardening. "We just need to induce labor early for the ritual. It won't hurt you. Why are you being so selfish?"
"Selfish?" I burst into hysterical laughter, tears streaming down my face. "Titus, this is your child too! How could you—"
Before I could finish, my father and Elena stormed up the stairs.
"Sera!" Elena threw herself at my legs, sobbing. "Please, save Cassia! She's your sister!"
I shook her off. "My sister? When have you ever treated me like your daughter?"
"You ungrateful wretch!" My father's face was flushed with rage. "We gave you everything—this life of luxury! How can you be so heartless?"
"You're the cruel ones!" I screamed, my heart shattering.
I had already removed myself from their lives, leaving them to their perfect family. Why did they have to corner me like this, demanding the life of my unborn child?
"Sera..." Cassia appeared at the top of the stairs, her voice a faint whisper. "I'm sorry... It's all my fault for being sick..."
Her face was ghostly white, and she trembled so violently she looked as if a stiff breeze could knock her over. Seeing her like this, my father and Elena were heartbroken, rushing to support her.
"Don't say that!" Elena hugged her, tears streaming down her face, while glaring fiercely at me. "It's our fault for ever bringing her back! She brought you nothing but bad luck! She stole everything that was yours! It's only right that she makes a sacrifice to fix what she broke!"
I could only sneer. My own parents, cursing me. Despising me. And for what? What had I done wrong? Compared to them, who was the real monster here?
"That's enough, Sera. Stop this nonsense," Titus said, grabbing my arm.
