“If you can’t give me a child, then what are you still here for?”
That was the first thing he said when I told him the truth. Not a pause. Not a moment of silence. Just that.
I could no longer get pregnant. The doctor’s words were final. My ovaries were weak. Two failed pregnancies had sealed that fate.
I grieved. I broke. My marriage with Darius was founded on love. It was arranged by our elders, but even before that, we already loved each other. That made our union effortless. But everything crumbled the moment I told him I could no longer carry his child. The life we built began to collapse, one piece at a time. No matter what I did, I ended up with nothing.
tet like now.
“Rosella, prepare this,” he said the moment he walked through the door.
I saw my favorite dish. The same one from the restaurant he once built for me. But I couldn’t smile or feel the same excitement as before. I knew it wasn’t for me.
“L–Luna…” said the woman beside him, bowing her head like she was ashamed.
She stepped into our home like a visitor, but I knew better. She wouldn’t leave. Her presence was permanent. My eyes narrowed as I caught the unmistakable curve in her belly. It was something her clothes could no longer hide.
“Did you get the room beside ours ready?” Darius asked again,
I took the shopping bags from him. “Let her stay in our room. It’s more comfortable there,” I said without looking at him.
I heard her gasp softly. I don’t know if she’s faking it because how could she be shock for something she surely…expected?
“Luna, I… I can’t stay in your bedroom…
“You’re carrying his child. You’ve shared his bed already. Surely, a bedroom isn’t where your draw the line,” I replied.
I turned to walk away when Darius grabbed my arm. That used to shock me. That used to make me cry. But not anymore. I had become stone.
“What is with your attitude? If Sasha gets too emotional, it might harm the baby,” he snapped.
My jaw clenched. That tone, that protectiveness, used to be mine. He used to look at me like that. Now he was shielding someone else. From me.
“I’ll handle it,” I muttered and left them.
I walked to the kitchen, shoulders sagging, heart sinking. I remembered how this day used to be. Roses scattered on the floor. A candlelit dinner he personally prepared. A gift waiting
at the end of it all.
This was our anniversary.
Chanter 1:
3/4 2.43
1421 Sun, 1 Jun
But not this year.
This year, he brought another woman. Pregnant with what I could never give him.
I bit my lip, trying to hold it together as I heard them walking in. I signaled the maids to
help.
The beef tapa is for Sasha. She’s been craving it. She’s exhausted. I don’t want to wait for a new order,” Darius said.
Moments later, I heard him pull the chair beside the head of the table. His usual spot. It used to be mine too, right next to him. He would always serve me first.
Now someone else needed serving. That wasn’t me.
I silently placed the dishes in front of them and took a seat at the farthest end of the table. The space between us was filled with food, but the silence was louder.
ther eat first, Rosella,” he said.
nked, confused.
“There’s plenty of food. Why wait? I’m hungry too,” I answered without emotion.
He glared at me. “She eats first. She’s pregnant.”
“She can’t eat everything, Darius. There’s a lot of food.”
“You are hungry, but you are carrying nothing, Rosella. Your hunger can wait. End of discussion,” he said sharply before turning to Sasha. His voice softened. “What do you want to eat first? The beef tapa? The shrimp?”
Sasha glanced at me briefly, then pointed quietly at what she wanted. My husband served. her like a servant. My fists clenched, and I looked away.
He used to do that for me too. When I was pregnant. He’s sweet, overprotective of me and the baby but I lost it. I lost him, too.
“She should eat too,” Sasha mumbled, barely audible.
Darius sighed and turned to me. “Fine. Sasha wants you to eat. So eat, Rosella. Just don’t upset her.”
But my appetite was gone. Only bitterness remained.
“I’ll rest. I’m not hungry anymore.”
He gritted his teeth, clearly displeased. But I didn’t care. I walked away without waiting for him to stop me.
I headed straight to the closet. My luggage was already packed. I was just waiting for the council’s separation papers. Until then, I couldn’t file for divorce. In our world, both the human government and the council had to sign off to fully dissolve a marriage.
I started gathering the rest. Jewelry he once gave me. Memories I no longer wanted to wear. Then came the loud banging on the door. One of the maids was calling my name in a panic.
I opened it quickly, but instead of the maid, Darius barged in. He slammed me against the wall.
Chanter 1
14:21 Sun, 1 JUM
“What the hell did you put in the food?”
My chest heave. “What? I didn’t-”
“You poisoned her and my son?!” he roared, pointing a shaking finger at me. “If anything happens to her…”
His voice broke into something monstrous.
“You’ll pay for it.”
