Chapter 2

As the tension mounted, Skylar, feigning awkwardness, stepped forward and said:

“Sister, please don’t blame Julian. I willingly offered to bear a child for you both.”

I stared at Skylar, my voice cold:

“Do I need that?”

Skylar’s expression was one of pitiful innocence:

“Sister is a witch. The elders say witches often struggle to conceive… Sister, I genuinely want to help you and Julian…”

I angrily cut her off, my voice sharp:

“Nonsense!”

The words had barely left my lips when Skylar suddenly dropped to her knees with a soft thud:

“Sister, I know you and Julian have a deep bond, and no one should interfere. I never intended to come between you two; I just wanted to bear a child for Julian!”

I couldn’t believe such an absurd scene was unfolding in my own home.

Skylar knelt without warning, her voice trembling with a hint of a sob, urgently continuing:

“Sister, Julian is a prominent man in the city, with a brilliant future ahead. How can he be without an heir?”

Seeing this, Julian immediately rushed to help her up, his face filled with concern:

“Skylar, what are you doing? The floor is cold, get up!”

But Skylar stubbornly shook her head, her voice resolute:

“I won’t get up! Julian, if Sister can’t accept this child, I’ll stay kneeling until she does.”

Watching their intimate exchange, my heart felt like it was being pricked by countless needles, a spreading, stinging pain.

I looked at Skylar, my tone unyielding, leaving no room for negotiation:

“Even if you kneel until you die, I will never accept this!”

Julian looked at me in disbelief, his eyes wide with shock, as if the person before him was a stranger he’d never known.

Then, anger surged through him, and he loudly demanded:

“When did you become so heartless?!”

His words stunned me into silence. I never imagined that in Julian’s eyes, I had become such a cruel person.

I let out a bitter laugh:

“I’m heartless?”

Julian took a deep breath, trying to suppress his rage.

His gaze fell to my stomach, his voice tinged with helplessness and disappointment:

“Elara, you know… I’ve always wanted a child, but after all these years, you…”

“Julian, are you so sure this child is even yours?”

I cut him off, a cold sneer on my face.

At that, Julian froze, and a flicker of guilt crossed Skylar’s eyes.

Julian quickly recovered, anger sweeping over him again:

“Elara, what do you mean by that?”

My expression was cold, my voice terrifyingly calm:

“Do you really think that after five years, we have no children because of *me*?”

“Isn’t it?” Julian retorted without hesitation.

My heart felt like it had been slammed by a heavy hammer. I couldn’t believe Julian actually thought that.

I didn't want a misunderstanding to create more distance between us.

So, forcing down my heartache, I spoke in a voice that was cold, but resolute:

“Of course not! Your destiny is fragile, you are simply not meant to have children. You are incapable of being a father!”

Julian looked as if he’d been frozen in place, standing dumbfounded, muttering:

“What did you say?”

I pointed at Skylar again, repeating each word slowly and clearly:

“I said, the child in her belly… it cannot be yours!”

Julian was too stunned to speak, while Skylar, after a moment of panic, quickly composed herself, feigning distress, and whimpered:

“Sister! Just because you can’t get pregnant, you can’t accuse me of such a thing! Julian is my only man, and the father of my baby!”

I couldn’t help but sneer, looking at Skylar with utter contempt:

“Is that so?”

Julian took a step forward, admonishing me sharply:

“Enough! Elara, Skylar is not like you; she’s pure and innocent, completely guileless. She would never deceive me! I know this is hard for you to accept right now, but you can’t use that as an excuse to defame Skylar!”