Chapter 4

Tara's POV

I quickly recognized them, Selene and Ethan.

I instinctively wanted to flee, but those obscene sounds surrounded me with crystal clarity.

"Eric, I'm scared. Hold me tight, okay? Just like before..."

"Selene, don't do this... You're pregnant..."

"The doctor said we're past the dangerous period. It's fine... I know you want it too..."

The sound of clothes rustling, mixed with a woman's moans.

The man laughed helplessly. "I really can't do anything with you... Just for a little while. Be careful of the baby."

Outside the door, I leaned against the wall, barely holding myself up.

Every coquettish moan, every gasp inside tortured what little dignity I had left.

Intense pain instantly swallowed all my senses, even breathing hurt.

Ethan, is this what you meant by 'absolutely won't touch her'?!

You not only gave her your heart, your body betrayed me too!

I bit down hard on my lower lip, the taste of blood spreading between lips and teeth, barely suppressing the sobs threatening to burst from my throat.

I couldn't cry, couldn't collapse. At least not now.

Intense hatred drove me to lift my heavy arm, pointing my phone camera at that half-open door.

Those images and conversations were clearly recorded.

I don't know how long passed before the intense sounds inside gradually ceased.

I withdrew my phone and silently retreated to my own hospital room.

The moment the door closed, I slid to the floor.

My heart belatedly sent a sharp, twisting pain that made me curl up, gasping for air.

When I raised my head again, my eyes were bloodshot.

I had to recover quickly.

I would make that pair who deceived me, humiliated me, and killed my mother pay the price!

I struggled to climb up, collapsed onto the bed, and forced myself to sleep.

But the peace I expected didn't come.

As dawn approached, a familiar perfume scent invaded my nostrils.

I jolted awake with a start.

I tried to move, but my limbs were firmly bound to the hospital bed.

I looked up in terror, and what met my eyes was Selene's face wearing a bizarre smile.

"You're awake."

Selene toyed with a sharp scalpel, cold light flowing between her fingers.

"Selene?! What are you doing? Let me go!"

I struggled desperately, but to no avail.

"What am I doing?"

Selene tilted her head, her smile innocent yet cruel.

"Killing you, of course!"

"Why?! Haven't you taken enough? You want my life too?"

"You're too composed. Watching Ethan and me together, you can actually pretend nothing happened."

Selene leaned down, the cold blade sliding across my hospital gown.

"So I have no choice but to kill you. Only when you disappear will Ethan belong completely to me."

I looked at her in shock. "You... you've been pretending all along? You're not crazy at all! You know Eric is dead. You know he's Ethan!"

"That's right."

Selene smiled even more happily, undisguised triumph in her eyes.

"The one I've always loved is Ethan! If he hadn't only had eyes for you back then, why would I have settled for marrying Eric? Now Eric's dead. This is fate giving me a chance!"

"Calm down! Selene, murder is illegal! You'll go to prison!"

I tried to awaken her reason.

"Prison?"

She tapped my face with the blade's back.

"Don't forget, Ethan loves me now. Even if I kill someone, he'll cover for me."

"Besides, everyone knows I'm a lunatic who suffered trauma. If I have an episode and accidentally kill someone, do I need to take legal responsibility?"

She straightened up, raising that gleaming scalpel and aiming it at my chest.

The smile faded from her face, leaving only bone-deep coldness.

"Don't be afraid. Soon... you won't have any more troubles."