Chapter 3

Mother held me tightly, tears streaming down her face: "Karena! What have they done to you?!"

Father turned to Vernon, his eyes filled with disappointment and rage: "Vernon! You knelt before us and swore you'd cherish her for life! That's why we gave you our daughter! Is this how you protect her?!"

I clutched Mother's arm desperately, like grasping at my last lifeline.

Five years ago on my wedding day, Mom cried her heart out, holding my hand and saying "If you ever suffer, come home—we'll always be waiting." After the first two miscarriages, I didn't tell them... I was afraid they'd worry, afraid knowing I wasn't happy would break their hearts... Each time I smiled and said "I'm fine, Vernon loves me very much..."

This time I finally couldn't hold on anymore. I called them ahead of time.

I thought if they came, my baby would be safe.

But mother-in-law Caroline gracefully approached, her face wearing a polite yet icy smile. She leaned toward my parents, whispering something only they could hear, while raising her hand to point delicately toward the chapel behind the manor.

Mother's body went rigid.

She slowly turned her head toward the chapel. Her expression changed—the fury and heartbreak froze instantly, replaced by something complex I'd never seen before.

"Mom?" I called softly, an ominous feeling rising in my chest.

She released her hold on me.

Stepped back.

She looked at me, her eyes no longer filled with heartache and anger, but something deeper—something I couldn't read. Her voice came out hoarse and stiff:

"Karena... get rid of the baby."

I froze.

I thought I'd heard wrong.

"Mom... what did you say?!"

Mother turned her face away, unable to look at me, but her voice continued: "This child... can't be kept. Listen to your mother, go to the hospital..."

I rushed to her, grabbing her hand: "Mom! Look at me! What are you saying?! This is my baby! Your grandchild! How can you tell me to get rid of it?!"

Mother violently shook off my hand, her voice shrill and piercing: "You don't understand! That child... can't be kept! Absolutely cannot be kept!"

Father looked at Mother's abnormal hysteria, then at that sinister chapel, struggle and fear flashing in his eyes. Finally, he lowered his head, his voice hoarse and strained:

"Karena... Dad is sorry... this child... let it go..."

I stumbled backward, tears blurring my vision.

"Why?! You're my parents! The only people in this world who wouldn't hurt me! Why are even you..."

I lunged at Mother, grabbing her hand, my nails nearly digging into her flesh: "Mom! What did she say to you?! What's in that chapel?! Tell me!"

Mother only shook her head.

Bit her lip hard.

Tears rolling down.

But wouldn't say a word.

Caroline stood to the side, a satisfied curve playing at her lips.

I fell to my knees, clutching Mother's legs desperately, my voice raw:

"Mom! I'm begging you! This baby is my last hope! I've already lost two, I can't lose a third! Please, for the sake of your grandchild, tell me the truth! We'll figure something out together!"

Mother's whole body trembled violently, tears dripping onto my face, yet she kept her eyes tightly shut, refusing to look at me.

Vernon walked up behind me and crouched down.

His voice was tender in a way that made my skin crawl: "Karena, stop making a scene. Mom and Dad are doing this for your own good. This child... truly can't be kept."

I whipped around, my eyes filled with bone-deep hatred:

"Get away from me! You coward! You don't deserve to be a father! You don't deserve to be human!"

Vernon's expression turned cold instantly.

He stood up and nodded to the bodyguards.

Two guards stepped forward, forcibly pulling me away. I struggled desperately, my screams piercing the night:

"No—! Let me go—! Mom—! Dad—! Save me—!"

Mother trembled all over but never turned around.

Vernon approached, looking down at me pinned to the ground with an expressionless face.

He slowly raised his hand—

A sharp chop struck the back of my neck.

Searing pain.

Everything went black.

When I opened my eyes again, my trembling hand moved to my abdomen—flat and empty.

"The baby... my baby... gone again..."

No tears came.

Nothing left in my dried-out eyes.

I turned my head and saw Vernon curled up on the sofa by the bed, brow furrowed, seemingly tormented by nightmares. His lips were moving, murmuring something.

I once thought he was my savior, my only warmth in this cold family.

But today, he knocked me unconscious with his own hands and killed our third child.

Just then, an extremely faint sound came from outside the door—the creaking of wheelchair wheels rolling across the wooden floor.

Enduring the searing pain in my body, I threw off the covers and placed my bare feet on the floor. Each step sent tearing pain through my lower abdomen, but I gritted my teeth and shuffled to the door.

At the end of the hallway, Selena sat in her wheelchair like a wandering ghost.

Looking at her, a mad hatred surged through me.

It's her... every time she enters the chapel, my baby dies... This time, I'm going to find out why she's doing this.

Selena stopped at the chapel entrance, her wheelchair gliding inside.

I hurried forward, gently pushing the door open a crack and slipping through sideways.

Inside the chapel, candlelight flickered, the air thick with the scent of wax and incense. I hid behind a thick stone pillar, holding my breath.

Selena knelt before the statue of the Virgin Mary—though seated in her wheelchair, she still strained to bow down, hands clasped together.

Her voice came in broken fragments.

"Holy Virgin Mary... please forgive me... I've killed another child... the third one now..."

Just then, a tall figure emerged from the shadows—Tristan, Vernon's older brother.

Hearing the conversation between him and Selena, I finally understood why my husband's family and my parents had all forced me to abort three children.