Chapter 4

Everyone implicitly looked at me.

I stood frozen, not yet understanding what had happened, when a startled cry came from my stepmother in the distance.

"Iris!"

Iris had fainted, terrified by the curse.

Julian's face changed drastically. He bent down, scooped Iris into his arms, and strode towards the first aid room.

My mind was blank until a resounding slap landed on my face, jolting me back to reality.

"How could I have given birth to such a monster!" My father's eyes were red with fury, veins throbbing on his forehead. "Your sister is already so sick, and you dare to curse her?!"

I staggered back half a step, accidentally knocking over a champagne tower, scattering wine everywhere.

I collapsed amidst the shattered glass, explaining through the sharp pain: "It wasn't me!"

"Shut up!" My father roared, cutting me off. "I saw through you long ago; you just can't stand us treating your sister well. But she's already a dying woman, do you have no sympathy at all?"

"Someone, lock this ungrateful wretch up!"

…

I was thrown into a small, dark storage room.

I’ve been afraid of the dark since I was a child and also suffer from claustrophobia.

The moment the door closed, my breath hitched. Darkness surged from all directions like a tide.

I desperately pounded on the door, my bloodied hands leaving glaring marks on the wooden panel: "Open the door! Please, let me out!"

However, outside was dead silent.

I gradually lost strength, sliding to the floor, my breathing becoming more and more rapid, my vision starting to blacken.

I don't know how long passed.

Just as I was about to lose consciousness, the door finally opened. I quickly scrambled out.

**截断点**

But the next second—

"Splash!"

A basin of thick, foul-smelling liquid was poured over my head!

Then came the second basin, the third…

I choked, almost suffocating.

Through my blurry vision, I vaguely saw a familiar figure standing at the doorway.

It was Julian.

The man stood at the boundary of light and shadow, coldly watching his subordinates pour basin after basin of the liquid over me, never telling them to stop.

Until the last basin of liquid was emptied.

Julian slowly walked towards me, leaned down, and wiped my cheek with a silk handkerchief, his tone as cold as ice.

"Iris is awake. She didn't blame you for cursing her; instead, she even pleaded for you, saying you were just under a dark influence, not truly malicious."

"These foul-smelling liquids, I had my people prepare them to drive away evil," he paused. "But for them to work, you need to soak in here for three days and three nights."

A trace of terror flashed in my eyes. I struggled to grab Julian's hand. "Those curses really weren't from me, please believe me…"

"Mia," Julian pried my fingers open one by one, his actions slow and cruel. "It's a lesson even a three-year-old knows: you must accept punishment for your mistakes."

Feeling the warmth disappear from my fingertips, I opened my mouth, my last struggle turning into a humble plea.

"Please, don't leave me here, I'm afraid of the dark…"

"What about Iris?" Julian's gaze was cold and clear. "When you cursed her, did you ever consider that she might be afraid too?"

I felt a pang of disorientation.

I remembered a stormy night once, when the power went out at home, and I huddled in a corner, trembling.

It was Julian who lit the room with candles, holding me tightly in his arms, his warm palm stroking my back: "Don't be afraid, Mia, I'm here."

And now, the same man was pushing me into the abyss of darkness with his own hands.

Suddenly, a tearing, agonizing pain erupted from my abdomen.

I instinctively clutched my stomach, feeling warm liquid gush out from below.

Realizing I might be having a miscarriage, I trembled as I grabbed Julian's pant leg, my voice distorted.

"Julian, my stomach hurts so badly, it feels like a miscarriage. Please, take me to the hospital…"

Julian froze, frowning slightly: "You're not even pregnant. How could you have a miscarriage?"

The pain made my vision blacken. "It's true, I'm pregnant with your…"

"Enough." Julian clearly didn't believe my words, dropping a "I'll pick you up in three days," before turning to leave.

A small, animalistic whimper escaped my throat. My fingers desperately dug into the ground, but I still couldn't hold onto the man's receding back.

My spasming fingers futilely grasped at the air, eventually falling limp.

I lay collapsed in a pool of blood.

Before consciousness faded, a desolate laugh played on my lips.

Julian…

This time, I truly see you for who you are.