Chapter 3 She Ate Her Baby

"What?"

Sophia froze, her mind going blank.

She grabbed Rainey and shook her frantically, her disheveled hair plastered to her tear-stained face. "That's impossible. You're lying!"

Rainey enjoyed her breakdown, her smile full of satisfaction. "Why would I lie? Your parents are in the morgue on the second floor right now. If you don't believe me, go see for yourself."

Sophia threw off the blanket and struggled out of bed.

But her body was already falling apart. The wound below was still bleeding, and every movement sent a knife-like pain through her abdomen.

As soon as her foot touched the ground, her leg gave way and she crashed onto the floor.

Sophia let out a pained groan but still pressed her hands against the floor, desperate to stand.

Her arms trembled too, unable to support her. She barely pushed herself up before collapsing again.

Rainey walked over, lifted her right foot, and brought her high heel down on Sophia's hand.

"Ahhh!" Sophia screamed. The sharp heel pierced her finger, and blood gushed out.

"Oops, sorry, I stepped on you." Rainey tilted her head with a smile and pressed down harder.

Sophia's whole body shook with pain. Her nail was about to tear off, but she still bit her lip and glared up at Rainey.

Rainey ground her heel against the back of Sophia's hand, then bent down. "Look at yourself, crawling on the floor like a dog. If I were you, I'd die and go to hell to be with Mom and Dad instead of living and embarrassing myself."

Sophia's tears poured down. She couldn't cry out loud—a lump in her throat let out only broken sobs.

She tried to get up, but with her hand pinned, she couldn't move.

Rainey finally lifted her foot, straightened up, and stepped back, looking at Sophia like garbage.

Sophia ignored her wounded hand and crawled toward the door on both hands.

She was still bleeding below, and each time she crawled, she left a long trail of blood on the white tiles—stretching from the bedside all the way to the door.

The hospital room door was only a few steps away. But those few steps felt like a whole street.

Rainey stood still, watching Sophia crawl, her smile growing deeper.

Sophia finally reached the door. A pair of shiny leather shoes appeared in her vision.

She looked up and saw Joshua standing before her, looking down expressionlessly.

She reached out her bleeding hand and grabbed his pant leg, her fingernails caked with blood. "Joshua... tell me... is my child dead?"

Joshua looked down at her hand, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Are my parents dead too?" Sophia's voice began to shake. Tears streamed down her cheeks, dripping onto the floor and mixing with the blood.

Joshua didn't answer. He just stared at her.

Just then, Rainey rushed up from behind, her expression instantly changing.

"Oh my, Sophia, why did you get out of bed?" Rainey reached out to help her. "I told you to stay in bed. You're not well yet. Where are you trying to go?"

Sophia violently shook off Rainey's hand, her eyes full of hatred, squeezing out words through clenched teeth. "Get lost!"

Rainey stumbled back a step, her expression freezing for a moment before quickly recovering that pitiful look. "Sophia, I'm just trying to help you."

Sophia ignored her and kept pulling at Joshua's pant leg, sobbing. "Say something!"

Joshua didn't speak. He bent down, picked Sophia up from the floor, and turned toward the hospital bed.

Rainey called out from behind, "Joshua..."

"Get out," Joshua said coldly without looking back.

Rainey's expression froze. Her lips moved as if to speak, but seeing Joshua's cold back, she didn't dare. She reluctantly left the room.

Joshua placed Sophia on the bed. Just as he was about to let go, Sophia grabbed his sleeves with both hands, her voice trembling. "Where's our child? The child is still alive, right?"

Joshua stood by the bed, looking down at her, his thin lips parting. "Don't mention that bastard to me."

"Bastard?" Sophia looked at Joshua in disbelief and screamed hysterically. "That's your child, Joshua! Are you even human? You won't even acknowledge your own flesh and blood."

"Mine?" Joshua let out a cold laugh, his eyes full of mockery. "Sophia, you're still pretending? The paternity test is in black and white—that child has nothing to do with me."

Sophia kept crying. "That child is really yours. If you don't believe me, we can do another paternity test right now."

"Enough." Joshua grabbed Sophia's throat, his eyes bloodshot. "You want to see that bastard? Fine. I'll grant your wish."

He let go, and Sophia coughed violently, gasping for air.

Joshua straightened up and shouted toward the door, "Bring it in."

Sophia looked at him blankly, not knowing what he would do.

The hospital room door opened. A subordinate walked in carrying a white porcelain bowl, placed it on the nightstand, and left.

Sophia turned to look at the bowl. The broth was murky, with a thin layer of oil floating on top and an indescribable fishy smell.

"What is this?" Her voice trembled.

Joshua stared at her, his lips curving into a cold arc. "Didn't you want to see that bastard? Drink it, and I'll take you to see him."

Sophia froze for a moment, then suddenly grabbed Joshua's sleeve, hope rekindling in her eyes. "I knew it. The child isn't dead, is he?"

Joshua looked down at her, his eyes devoid of any warmth. "Drink it first."

Sophia let go of his sleeve and picked up the bowl with trembling hands. The fishy smell made her want to vomit.

But to see her child, she forced down the nausea, gritted her teeth, and tilted her head back, gulping it down.

Soon, the bowl was empty.

Sophia set the bowl aside, wiped the corner of her mouth, and looked up at Joshua with bloodshot eyes. "I finished it. Can you take me to see the child now?"

Joshua stood by the bed, looking down at her, his lips curling into a sinister smile. "You've already seen it."

"What?" Sophia stared at him blankly.

Joshua's gaze fell on the empty bowl, and he said word by word, "It's now become one with you."