Chapter 5

Tara's POV

The hospital room door burst open.

Ethan froze in the doorway, horrified. "What... what are you doing?!"

Seeing the knife in Selene's hand pointed at my chest, he rushed forward, snatched away the blade, and fumbled to cut the ropes binding me.

In an instant, the murderous madness drained completely from Selene's face.

As if waking from a dream, her body swayed. She clutched her head, looking around in terror.

"Ah! Where... where am I? What am I doing?"

Large tears immediately flooded out, like a frightened child.

"Eric? Eric, I'm so scared... I had such a terrible dream... In it, there was a woman who wanted to steal you away! And harm our baby... I'm so afraid..."

She sobbed, her whole body trembling, tears streaming down her face as she reached out to Ethan.

Ethan's pupils constricted. In one swift movement, he rushed forward and pulled Selene tightly into his arms, patting her back gently.

"It's alright, Selene. I'm here. No one can hurt you or the baby."

Forgotten on the hospital bed, I watched this absurd scene unfold, a fury capable of burning everything down finally overwhelming my reason.

"Ethan! Open your eyes! She just tried to kill me! She's faking it all! She's not crazy at all!"

"I didn't... Why are you saying this about me... And why are you calling him Ethan... Where's Eric? Isn't Eric here?"

Selene cried even more pitifully, suddenly struggling and screaming hysterically.

"Where did Eric go? They said Eric is dead. Is it true? If Eric's dead... then I don't want to live either! Eric's gone anyway, everyone hates me..."

As she spoke, heavily pregnant, she actually tried to ram herself into the wall.

"Selene! Don't do anything foolish! I am Eric! I'm right here!"

Ethan panicked and held her, repeatedly soothing her.

Once she quieted down and collapsed in his arms, when he turned back to me, only fury remained in his eyes.

"Tara! That's enough! Look at her condition! You're still provoking her! What is your heart made of?"

The commotion attracted others too.

Ethan's mother rushed in, shrieking, "Tara! Won't you be satisfied until you drive Selene to death?"

Ethan's father also wore a stern expression, scolding, "You can't have children yourself, so you can't stand others carrying the Lancaster family's child? You're simply unreasonable!"

They swarmed around her, comforting the nearly fainting Selene.

Then they surrounded her, protecting her like precious porcelain, and quickly left the hospital room.

And Ethan held Selene tightly the entire time, not sparing even a glance for me, who had just faced life and death.

I watched his resolute back, tears silently sliding down my cheeks.

Ethan's father's words still echoed in my ears. "You can't have children yourself..."

Can't have children?

My heart was bleeding.

I had a child too, two years ago.

I had the ultrasound photo printed, wanting to surprise Ethan.

But before I could show it to him, we were in a car accident together.

At the critical moment, I threw myself over him, using my body to shield Ethan.

The baby was just... gone.

Not wanting Ethan to be heartbroken, I had the doctor hide this fact.

After that, I could never get pregnant again.

Later, Ethan and I didn't even have opportunities to be intimate.

Perhaps it was for the best. I closed my eyes, forcing back the surging tears.

From now on, that heart that once loved Ethan without reservation would no longer beat for him.

With a cold expression, I pulled out a small, delicate voice recorder from the inner pocket of my hospital gown.

Pressing play, after some static, Selene's voice rang out.

"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!"

This was enough.

I gripped the recorder tightly, my eyes gradually becoming resolute.

Mom, wait just a little longer.

At your memorial service, I will expose them for what they really are!