Chapter 3

I turned my head and gagged up a mouthful of black blood, my fingers twisting viciously into Roman's collar.

"You know what they did to me. Pinned to the table in that underground clinic... you knew!"

"Enough. Spare me the tears." Roman swatted my hand away in disgust.

"I paid those street rats. It was just to teach you a lesson, to show you your place. They wouldn't dare actually lay a finger on you."

He looked down at me. "Virginia took care of Lucas for six years. What the hell is wrong with you? Playing the victim just to drive her out?"

I froze. A lethal, twisting agony radiated from the organs corroded by years of chemical testing.

This body is giving out, I realized. I'll be free soon.

Before I could even swallow the blood in my mouth, a hand viciously yanked my hair from behind.

"You home-wrecking junkie!"

A pack of socialites swarmed me, their stilettos clicking sharply. A flurry of slaps rained across my face, instantly splitting my lip wide open.

Roman's brow furrowed. He took a half-step forward.

"Roman..." Virginia whimpered, suddenly stumbling against the wall and pretending to fall. Tears welled in her eyes. "There are too many people here..."

Killian didn't even hesitate. He immediately turned and shielded Virginia in his arms.

Looking over the crowd, he shot me a cold, dismissive glare. "Let them blow off some steam. You won't die. Consider it the price for making a scene at the banquet."

Roman hesitated before scooping Virginia up into his arms and striding away without looking back.

My parents hurriedly scrambled after them.

The last protective barrier in front of me was gone. The second they stepped out of the corridor, a pointed stiletto drove mercilessly into my stomach.

Whatever was left of my failing organs finally ruptured. Dark blood gushed from beneath me, rapidly soaking into the carpet.

I curled into a tight ball, gagging up clumps of black blood. My insides felt as though they'd been dumped into an industrial meat grinder.

I somehow dragged myself back to the penthouse, leaving a trail of blood in my wake.

Roman and Killian were hovering over Virginia, fetching her water and dabbing at her face.

Seeing me dripping with gore, both of their faces instantly darkened.

"Who are you putting on this disgusting show for?" Roman sneered.

Killian yanked at his tie in profound irritation. "If you hadn't cornered her at the gala, she wouldn't have been forced to reveal the marriage certificate. Go over there and apologize to her."

The agony in my dying organs made every step feel like walking on shattered glass. I didn't even have the energy to argue anymore.

Virginia stepped forward and dug her fingers into my wounded arm. "Sister, oh my god, how did you get so hurt? It's all my fault, I never should have shown them the certificate..."

She leaned in close, dropping her voice to a vicious whisper that only I could hear.

"That little idiot you birthed only recognizes me now. You know what he said today? He said the stench of your dirty blood makes him want to vomit."

The last thread of my sanity snapped.

I raised my bloody trembling hand. But before I even touched her—

Virginia let out a blood-curdling shriek and threw herself backward, landing hard on the floor and clutching her stomach in fake agony.

Roman charged over. As he went to help her up, he unleashed a brutal, backhanded strike directly across my face.

His eyes were like ice. "When are you going to stop this childish bullshit?! When is it ever enough for you?"

The sheer force of the blow snapped my head to the side.

"Don't you touch my mommy!"

Lucas charged out like an enraged little beast. He grabbed a fruit knife and slammed it right into my forearm.

He yanked the blade out, splattering blood. His face went chalk-white with shock, but he stood his ground, glaring at me.

The surface wound was nothing compared to the agony of my dying organs. But in that moment, it felt as if my entire heart had been scooped out of my chest.

I reached out to him with a shaking hand. "Lucas... what if I told you... that your real mommy... is actually me?"

Before the words fully left my mouth, Killian struck.

He seized me by the collar and violently hurled me backward into the hutch.

"What kind of psycho bullshit are you spouting in front of my son?!" he roared, advancing on me with murderous eyes. "Keep your damn mouth shut!"

Lucas screeched, "You think a smelly, bloody monster like you deserves to be my mom?! If you were really my mom, I'd rather die!"

The very last spark of light inside me flickered and died completely.

Roman pulled out his phone and hit play on a video.

"Apologize to Virginia and record a video clearing her name."

He shoved the screen into my face. "Or I swear to God, I will show Lucas exactly what kind of cheap trash you really are."

I looked down as tears mixed with the blood dripping off my chin. And then... I laughed.

"You don't need to threaten me anymore. I'll post it for you."

I slammed my thumb onto the 'Send' button.

Roman froze, completely short-circuiting.

Shoving past him, I turned and walked straight out onto the terrace.

I hoisted myself over the railing.

Pure panic finally caught up to Killian.

"Octavia, what the hell are you doing?!" he yelled, all the color draining from his face as he took a cautious step forward.

"Get down! I'll give you anything you want—money, the penthouses, the shares! Just stop scaring me!"

"She's just trying to scare us!" Roman shouted, glaring at me. "She knows we care about her, so she's pulling this stunt! It's an act! Get your ass down here and apologize to Virginia!"

The very last trace of warmth left my body. It was time.

I looked at my husband, my biological brother, and the child I had sacrificed my life for.

"You're right." The biting winter wind rushed into my failing lungs, but my voice was unnervingly calm. "Six years of my life... my own child... this ruined, rotting body... It really isn't enough to make up for what I supposedly did to her."

Killian finally read the utter, hollow finality in my eyes. Horrified, he lunged forward. "NO—!"

"So I guess I'll just have to pay her with my life, too."

Just a split second before his fingertips could graze my clothes, I smiled, and let myself fall backward into the dark.