Chapter 3

When I was first locked in the attic, I pleaded and begged him to let me out.

Because if I was truly locked up for three days, it would mean three lives lost – mine and both my babies!

But Julian, right in front of me, loudly instructed Mr. Davis:

“Go! Throw the keys into the filthiest river you can find! And no one, I mean NO ONE, is to secretly open that door for Iris! In three days, I want her crawling on her knees to apologize to Seraphina!”

Desperate to survive, I tore down a framed picture from the wall, my hands bleeding, and used the jagged edges to pry at the attic window. I clawed at the frame, my fingernails brutally ripping off one by one.

Gritting my teeth against the searing pain, I pushed myself out the window and onto the narrow ledge, clinging desperately to the roof tiles, inching my way towards an adjacent room, hoping to escape.

But what did I find?

Down in the garden, Julian Blackwood was passionately kissing Seraphina, pulling her fiercely against him.

They were kissing with reckless abandon, a wild frenzy that was on the verge of spiraling out of control.

Seraphina abruptly pushed Julian away, her head snapping up towards the attic, and she let out a piercing scream.

Julian looked up and his face contorted with fury at the sight of me desperately trying to escape.

He ordered men to bring a construction crane. He personally operated it, using the huge shovel attachment to pin against my swollen belly, brutally forcing me back into the attic.

Excruciating pain exploded in my abdomen, and blood, seemingly endless, began to stream, gushing relentlessly from between my legs.

Finally, my eyes remained wide open, staring blankly, my blood-soaked baby clutched lifelessly in my arms.

And then I stopped breathing.

Julian held the cup of warm milk to Seraphina’s lips.

“I’ve already sent someone to bring Iris to apologize to you. If she’s sincere, we’ll send her to the hospital. If not, she can just give birth in the attic!”

Seraphina took tiny sips of milk, but still managed to choke on a mouthful, coughing delicately, her eyes welling up with tears, a picture of fragile helplessness.

“Julian, you can’t treat Iris like that! Childbirth is really dangerous for women!”

Julian sighed, his eyes filled with doting affection as he looked at the girl in his arms:

“You’re just too kind, that’s why women like Iris walk all over you! Iris is a wilderness survival expert; she could last three days without food or water! But you, my delicate little thing, you choke just from drinking milk!”

He playfully tapped her nose. “And saying childbirth is dangerous, as if you’d know anything about it!”

A flicker of panic crossed Seraphina’s eyes, but she quickly lowered her head, her voice laced with feigned hurt:

“Only you, Julian… truly understand the delicate heart hidden beneath my strong exterior...”

She looked up again, her eyes misty, her lips glistening from being gently bitten.

Hooking her arms around Julian’s neck, she pressed her chest against his, a subtle, tantalizing rub.

Julian could no longer resist. With a ragged breath, he kissed her, and Seraphina let out a soft murmur.

Their lips tangled fiercely, their bodies hungry for each other.

But at the last second, Seraphina abruptly pushed away the panting man:

“No! You’re a married man, and Iris is still carrying your child! I won’t be a homewrecker!”

Julian’s eyes blazed with barely contained desire. His voice was a raw, husky whisper:

“Alright, Seraphina, I, Julian Blackwood, will never betray your true feelings! Just wait a little longer for me! A *clean* me, free of all this mess, will be worthy of touching a pure woman like you!”

With that, still unsatisfied, he pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead, as if she were the most precious, delicate jewel.

A flash of triumph flickered in Seraphina’s eyes.