“I promise, I didn’t do anything,” I told his right hand.
My eyes followed the fading trail of my husband’s car. He left immediately to be with Sasha after confronting me. He wants me to admit something I didn’t do. He even sent Desmond to force it out of me.
“Even I don’t believe you could do that, Luna Rose,” Desmond muttered quietly.
My chest cracked as I felt the pain behind my back from where Darius pinned me to the wall earlier. The bruises were worse now, especially on my arms and neck where he grabbed me.
“Alpha wasn’t like this before. Did he really hurt you?” Desmond asked, voice full of disbelief.
faced him with an embarrassed smile. They knew how gentle Darius used to be, he never let me get so much as a scratch. That was the kind of husband he was, until I lost our first child. He died with that baby, even if he kept breathing. He never even knew about the second one I lost after I saw him with another woman. He said he needed a son, an heir, through Sasha.
“I’m so sorry. I’ll try my best to counsel him,” Desmond offered.
I shook my head. “I used to believe my husband died. This is nothing to me,” I lied again.
I left him there and went inside. The council was already present, investigating the poisoning. I gave them my statement. I even suggested they ask the maid. But what’s the point? They all saw me preparing the food. Did they think they saw me put something in it?
I let out a shaky breath.
By nightfall, I assumed Darius would stay at the hospital with Sasha. I was pouring my herbal medicine to help me sleep when he barged into the room beside ours.
“Is that the poison you used on her?” he accused, his voice low and threatening. Pain rose in my chest, but I forced it down.
“Who would I poison next then?” I said quietly. “Myself?”
I stirred the contents of the glass and raised it to show I would drink it. But he lunged at me, snatching the glass and throwing it against the wall. Shards flew past my face. One nearly cut my neck.
I let out a shriek. It was too violent.
“What will you do now? Kill yourself to escape the guilt?”
“No!” I shouted. How dare he say that? “You think her presence here is enough to make me
a murderer? That I would take my life for something I didn’t do?”
“Wouldn’t you?” he barked back.
My heart pounded as he grabbed me by the throat again. I struggled to breathe, but he didn’t care. My eyes widened as my vision blurred.
2/1
1421 Sun, 1 Jun
“She needs a blood transfusion, Rosella. Can you give her
32%
your blood?” With one harsh move, he tossed me onto the bed. My head hit the headboard, and everything went black.
I
When I woke up, my vision was hazy. I saw three figures around me.
“She’s awake,” the police chief said.
I panicked. Why were they here? I turned my head and saw Darius standing by the door, glaring at me.
“Choose, Rosella,” he said coldly. “Donate your blood to Sasha or get detained for attempted murder.”
My throat tightened. Attempted murder?
“You really think I could kill her?” I asked, my voice shaking.
“You did. The maids confessed. Said you added something to the dessert out of jealousy.”
He motioned for the officers to step outside.
“How could you try to kill her? That child would make you a mother. You’d be a mother because of Sasha.”
But I never wanted it like that. How could I be happy over a child that wasn’t mine? A child born from betrayal?
He sighed, placing his hands on his hips before pointing at me.
“You’ll give Sasha your blood. That’s what she wants. If you agree, the case will be dropped. If not, you’ll go to prison.”
He walked away without another word.
I cried silently. I couldn’t have a criminal case under my name. The council and government would reject my divorce petition if I did. That meant I’d suffer longer in this marriage.
I swallowed my pride and stepped out of the room. Darius, Desmond, and the rest of the council were there.
“I’ll… give her my blood,” I said, voice trembling as tears pooled in my eyes.
I knew what it meant. I might not survive. I was already low on blood. I had a condition. But could I survive a prison sentence for something I didn’t do?
The council looked at me with disgust.
“So, our Luna really committed a crime? Attempted murder?” one of them said. “This is a disgrace.”
I dug my nails into my palm. Their disappointment clung to the air, still heavy when a man barged in, storming toward me.
He didn’t hesitate. He slapped me hard across the face.
“You tried to kill my daughter?” he shouted.
Desmond stepped between us. Darius almost did too but stopped himself and looked
away.
“She’s the Luna. Show some respect,” Desmond said firmly.
32% N
“How can you respect a barren woman who tried to kill someone carrying a child? She’s a murderer. Not a Luna.”
I wanted to vanish. The council didn’t say a word in my defense. They just sighed in disappointment. And everyone else? They looked at me like I was filth.
14:22 Sun, 100n
