Chapter 1

Isla's Pov

The knife cut through me like I was nothing.

I screamed—a sound so raw, so desperate, that it didn't even sound human anymore.

My hands instinctively covered my punctured uterus, but the his hands gripped me tightly like iron clamps.

Unyielding.

Cold.

"Please," I begged, my voice breaking into fragments. "Our baby—please—"

But he just stared at me with those empty eyes. The eyes of a stranger.

The eyes of a man who had decided I was disposable.

They strapped me down. I felt the cold metal against my wrists, my ankles.

Felt the burn of the anesthetic in my veins as it dragged me under. My vision blurred. The walls spun.

I almost lost my mind when they placed my lifeless baby in my arms.

Then—Adrian arrived with his men, guns blazing.

They shot everyone who was present in that room and rushed me to the family's private hospital.

All through the drive, Adrian kept consoling me and telling me I would be alright and we would have another child.

I didn't lose my mind for the sake of my husband but by the time we arrived at the hospital, I was barely conscious and I'd lost a lot of blood.

I don't know how long I was unconscious but when I stirred awake, I overheard a conversation between my husband and his best friend and in that moment, I wished I had died.

"… but what you did was insane, Adrian. Kidnapping your wife and killing her newborn baby, that's next level heartless," Cassian said.

I was certain I was having a bad dream from all the painkillers the doctor injected me and not fully awake because this was insane.

But Cassian continued and I realized it was no dream. I was wide awake but they had their backs to me so they couldn't see that I was awake.

"When you came in guns blazing I was a bit terrified because even though you assured us it would be fake bullets I thought you'd changed your mind."

I froze, the blood drained from my face as my hands fell limply by my side.

"I'd never kill you, Cassian, I just needed Isla to see that I rescued her and killed all the masked men. Besides, I promised Seraphine I won't let anyone take away our son's place as my heir so I couldn't let Isla's son live."

Adrian said casually like it was just another conversation and he hadn't just admitted to killing our baby.

My chest squeezed painfully as I tried to regulate my breathing.

Adrian had betrayed me and killed our son for the sake of his first love, Seraphine, who abandoned him at the altar two years ago.

But they weren't done talking and with each word it felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest.

"But when you took her baby's umbilical cord to save Seraphine's son, you could have left Isla's baby alive and why did you have to ask the doctor to make her sterile too," Cassian said quietly.

My hand instantly went to my flat stomach, that explains the severe pains I was feeling there.

"Seraphine has a son for me who is dying! If I didn't use the cord to save David he would have died. Besides, I don't need Isla having more children when I have Seraphine," Adrian said coldly.

My ears were ringing. My chest rose—but the air didn't come.

I wanted to scream. Rip the IV from my arm and make him say it again—to my face.

But I couldn't.

I just lay on the hospital bed, body frozen, lungs burning, eyes shut tight.

The voice that used to call me "love" now sounded like a stranger.

"I don't know, Man, I just think what you did was pretty messed up. You killed Isla's son with your bare hands and made her watch. What do you think she'd do if she finds out?!"

My hand moved before I told it to. Just a flick—pointless, pathetic. Like my body still believed there was something left to fight for. But it was too late. My baby was gone. And Adrian made sure of it.

"Don't start this shit with me, Cassian, I told you the plan from the start. I did everything so Isla would believe and see with her eyes. Seraphine is my one true love and she ran away on our wedding day because she was pregnant, she fucking panicked! If Isla ever finds out she can't do shit. She's a fucking orphan who doesn't have anyone except me," Adrian barked.

"Stop yelling before you wake her up!" Cassian hissed softly

"She's pumped full of painkillers. The doctor says she's not supposed to wake up until midnight," Adrian said.

My eyes slowly opened as I watched them still talking and walking out of my hospital room.

"I need to check up on Seraphine and my son," Adrian said.

When they were gone, I sat up on the bed with so much force, my head throbbed and my body ached.

Then I broke down into hot bitter tears as I ran my hands over my stomach and the memories of my son dying before my eyes flashed in my face.

How could Adrian do this to me? What have I ever done to deserve this? All I've ever done is love him and this is the thanks I get.

He made me carry my child to full-term and then he killed my baby and made me barren.

All for the sake of the woman who abandoned him and made him almost commit suicide if I hadn't saved him on that bridge that night.

Adrian was right about one thing — I was an orphan.

But I wasn't powerless.

I took out my phone and dialed the number I've not called in two years. The call connected immediately.

"Darling, to what do I owe this honor?" a smooth voice filled the receiver.

"I will accept your proposal only if you help me," I said in a calm voice as I clenched the phone, my knuckles turning white.

"Have you finally come to your senses darling? Anything you want, just name it," a voice said over the phone.

I closed my eyes, breathing calmly as I whispered, "Help me destroy Adrian Thorne and his family. Then I'll marry you."

"Oh darling, that's my favorite pastime. When should I come pick you up?"

"Seven days. I need to tidy things up here," I answered and hung up.

In seven days I will be gone and so help me God I'll make sure Adrian and everyone who hurt me pays in a hundredfold.

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