Chapter 3

That night, I fell into a fitful sleep.

I found myself standing in a frozen wasteland. The blizzard was terrifying.

The cold cut to the bone. My body stiffened with frost. Just as I felt I might collapse, a warm current flowed from my chest. A tender voice called out, "Mommy..."

My body trembled. Instinctively, I pulled the warmth closer.

The glowing presence was so small—I could cradle it entirely in my hands. Yet it was so warm. Warm enough to bring me to tears.

"I'm sorry... I can't give you a complete family anymore..."

I whispered an apology. Then a warm little finger gently wiped away the tears on my face.

The child's voice was soft, filled with infinite affection and reluctance.

I tried to hold onto that tiny finger, but the child's form grew fainter and fainter.

No!! In that moment, my heart felt as though it was being torn apart. I desperately tried to hold on.

"Baby!!"

I jolted awake from the nightmare, feeling a dull ache in my lower abdomen. Before I could fully process it, a gentle male voice spoke.

"Having a nightmare?"

Damien sat on the edge of my bed, his face full of concern.

"What are you doing here?"

Damien smiled helplessly. "This is our home. Why wouldn't I be here? Victoria, you..."

Before he could finish, a shrill child's voice interrupted.

The next second, the door burst open. A seven-year-old boy charged in like a cannonball. "Daddy!!"

It was Leo, Tara's seven-year-old son.

Leo once said he was bullied for not having a father, so Damien let him call him "Dad" without hesitation, raising him like his own son.

He wrapped his arms around Damien from behind. Damien asked, "Didn't you promise to wait for me outside?"

Leo glared at me viciously. "I was afraid that bad woman would bully you!"

I didn't want to watch them perform in front of me. I got up to leave. But the moment I took a step, Leo stuck out his foot and tripped me.

I had barely slept the night before and was dizzy. I had no time to dodge.

I fell hard to the ground. A sharp pain shot through my abdomen. My back arched instinctively, cold sweat breaking out all over.

"Victoria!"

Damien shoved Leo aside and rushed to help me, his face full of alarm. "What's wrong?"

The pain was so intense I couldn't speak. My vision darkened. The cramping in my abdomen was unbearable.

I tried to call for help, but a shrill female voice drowned me out. "Leo! Damien..."

Tara rushed over. Seeing Leo sitting on the bed looking dazed, she immediately scooped him up. "Leo, what happened? Did you cause trouble again?"

Leo burst into tears. "I didn't! I didn't even touch her, and she screamed so loud!"

Damien's hand froze where he was supporting me. Tara's eyes immediately reddened. "Damien, maybe we should forget about what we discussed before."

"Leo and I are just a widow and her child. We can't compete with..."

Her voice choked with emotion, her expression full of grievance.

Though she didn't finish, Damien understood her meaning perfectly.

He immediately said, "What are you talking about? I promised I'd take care of you both. I won't go back on my word."

His icy gaze fell on me. "Victoria, would you go so far as to frame a child just to keep me?"

He gripped my hand tightly, so hard I heard my bones creak. But what hurt more was my abdomen.

That little life connected to me by blood was slowly slipping away. I thought of yesterday's dream.

Instinctively, I grabbed Damien's collar, opening my mouth weakly. "Help... help me. My stomach hurts so much..."

But Damien said coldly, "Stop pretending. In my past life, you gave birth to our son just fine. Nothing will go wrong this time either."

At that moment, I was in too much pain to speak. Perhaps my expression was too agonized.

Damien hesitated, half-convinced, and started to help me up.

But Tara grabbed his arm. "Damien, let me check on her. I've been through this once. I have experience."

Tara handed Leo to Damien. He seemed about to say something, but the child's sobbing cut him off. He carefully held the boy, gently patting his back as he walked to the window to soothe him.

Tara approached me and slowly pulled back the blanket, then showed a surprised expression.

Crimson blood slowly flowed from between my legs, soaking through my nightgown.

She smiled. "Oh my, you're perfectly fine. Victoria, aren't you being a bit too dramatic?"