(Elara’s POV)
I barely slept that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I kept hearing the same words repeatedly.
“She existed for that reason.”
My chest tightened painfully again.
The room felt empty without Damien beside me but strangely… for the first time in years, I didn’t check my phone desperately to see if he had replied to my messages, nor did I send him any messages.
I slowly placed my hand against my stomach.
Last night, I had wanted to let this child go.
But after lying awake in that empty room for hours, something inside me changed.
This baby was innocent, unlike the Vale family.
Tears gathered in my eyes as I whispered softly, “I’ll protect you.”
I slowly sat up and wiped my face.
Seven days.
I would give myself seven days to leave this marriage.
Deep down, I knew the Vale family wouldn’t let me leave easily. Families like theirs cared too much about reputation and control.
Still… I was going to try.
I would quietly gather my documents, my savings and disappear before they noticed.
Then my thoughts drifted toward Mila. My heart softened immediately.
Maybe if I spent more time with her again… maybe if we became close like before… I could leave with both my children.
That tiny hope was the only thing keeping me together as I forced myself out of bed.
***
“Mila, wake up sweetheart.”
I gently brushed her curls away from her face inside her bedroom.
Mila frowned sleepily before turning away from me. I swallowed the ache in my chest and carried her toward the bathroom.
Steam slowly filled the room while I carefully bathed her myself.
I wanted to reconnect with her little by little, even if she hated me right now.
While shampooing her hair gently, Mila suddenly said, “Mommy Vivienne smells better than you.”
My hands paused briefly.
Mila continued innocently while playing with the bath bubbles. “She dresses prettier too.”
I quietly rinsed her hair. “And Daddy smiles more when she’s around.”
Every sentence quietly chipped away at me, but I endured it because she’s still my daughter.
After bathing Mila, Mrs Nora entered the room to help dress her for school. I quietly left for the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
Not long after I finished cooking, Mila and Mrs. Nora walked into the dining room laughing about something.
Mila’s face was bright with excitement.
And strangely… that hurt me too, because she never laughed like that around me anymore.
I forced myself to smile anyway and placed her breakfast in front of her.
Mila stared at the plate blankly before taking a bite. Then immediately frowned. “You always make vegetables.” She said, pushing the plate away “while Mommy Vivienne lets me eat whatever I want.”
I swallowed hard before saying softly, “Too much junk food isn’t good for you.”
Mila sighed dramatically “You always nag.”
The stress from the previous night combined with every hurtful word Mila had said suddenly hit me all at once.
My vision blurred slightly, and I gripped the edge of the dining chair tightly.
Mrs Nora noticed immediately.
“Mrs Elara?”
She quickly hurried toward the kitchen nearby to get water.
When she was taking too much time, I reached weakly for Mila's water bottle. Mila suddenly grabbed it away “That's mine!”
I swallowed helplessly, feeling my chest being stabbed over and over again.
Mrs Nora soon returned with a glass of water and I quickly took it, gulping it because my throat felt unbearably dry.
But the moment the water slid down my throat, the taste felt strange.
I instinctively looked toward Mrs Nora.
The older woman avoided my eyes while adjusting Mila’s school bag nervously.
For one brief second, unease settled inside me... but I quickly dismissed it.
Mrs Nora was the only person in this house who had ever treated me like a human being. She would never hurt me.
Before I could think further, Mila started complaining loudly,
“I’m going to be late for school!”
The tension immediately broke. I quietly grabbed my purse and followed Mila outside.
The car ride was painfully silent.
Mila sat beside the window fiddling happily with the diamond bracelet Vivienne bought her while avoiding me completely.
I stared at her small face quietly.
She looked so much like Damien.
When we finally arrived at school, I moved to step out of the car but Mila immediately stiffened. She muttered quietly, “Can you not come down?”
I froze.
“Why?” I asked softly.
Mila avoided my eyes. “The other moms look prettier, and they dress better too.”
The words stabbed directly into my chest.
Still, I forced myself to smile weakly to respond when a familiar feminine voice suddenly echoed behind us.
“That’s not the way to speak to your mother, Mila.”
I turned immediately.
Vivienne stood there elegantly in a cream-colored outfit, sunglasses resting atop her hair while a luxury handbag hung loosely from her arm.
The moment Mila saw her, her face lit up instantly “Mommy Vivienne!”
My chest tightened painfully again.
Mila rushed straight into Vivienne’s arms excitedly. Vivienne hugged her naturally, “I came to return something you forgot at the party.” she said, handing Mila a small luxury gift bag.
Mila gasped excitedly “Another gift?!”
She hugged Vivienne tightly again.
I stood there silently watching them, unable to do anything.
Vivienne slowly lifted her gaze toward me. Beneath her graceful smile was triumph.
Then casually, she said softly,
“You should really take care of yourself, Elara.”
Her eyes briefly flickered downward toward my stomach for a second, just enough to make me uneasy.
Then she added quietly,
“Stress can be very dangerous for delicate things.”
My fingers instinctively curled around my stomach.
For one brief moment, suspicion flickered through my mind.
Did Vivienne know?
But I immediately dismissed the thought. No one knew about the pregnancy.
No one.
Soon afterward, Mila walked proudly into school beside Vivienne, holding her hand tightly.
I stood there watching them disappear until my chest hurt too much to keep looking.
Then quietly, I entered the car again.
Not long after the car started moving, the driver suddenly received a call. His expression immediately changed “Mrs Elara…” he said apologetically. “I’ve been summoned to join the escort lineup for Mr and Mrs Vale’s arrival from the airport.”
Dread immediately settled heavily inside my stomach.
Damien’s parents were returning... And that meant hell inside the mansion would become worse.
I quietly nodded.
The driver dropped me off at the nearest junction before hurrying away. Only after the car disappeared did I realize where I was.
This part of the city was filled mostly with elite private residences. There were barely any taxis around.
I wrapped my arms around myself and started walking slowly.
The more I thought about Evelyn Vale’s return…
the sharper the pain in my stomach became.
At first, I tried calming myself and breathing slowly but the pain only intensified.
My vision blurred.
A terrified sound escaped my lips before I could stop it.
Then suddenly... warm liquid began trickling down my legs.
I looked down.
Blood.
Panic crashed into me instantly.
My knees weakened as hurried footsteps sounded behind me, but the pain was too overwhelming for me to care who it was.
Everything around me spun violently...
Just before I hit the ground, strong arms caught me.
The last thing I heard before darkness swallowed me whole was a deep male voice saying my name.
“Elara?”
