My child is dead.
The man who was my first love and the father of my child was cruel until the very end.
“That child was a mistake anyway.”
My first marriage, full of wounds, ended with my death.
In this second life, I made a vow.
‘I’ll have a daughter and leave with her.’
And to meet my child, I needed that man.
“You have to cling to me. Even if you hate me to death.”
I no longer intend to beg for your attention.
Once I have my child, we’re done.
—
“You’re not this kind of person.”
Ariana bit her lip before whispering.
“My daughter isn’t your child, Your Grace. So why…?”
“It doesn’t matter. She’s yours, isn’t she?”
Eyes, once a deep teal, now dark and lifeless, burned as they stared at her.
“You and your child are both mine.”