CHAPTER 3

A MONTH LATER

O‍LIVIA’⁠S POV

“Mrs. Lightwood?”

I was forced out of sleep when a knock came at the door, followed by the sound of a maid’s voice. I forced myself to rise from the bed.

“Yes?” I answered weakly.

“Madam Beatrice requests your presence in the dining room.”

I closed my eyes. Damon's mother. Why was she here again? Right. She had decided to come in and insert herself into the house matters as she had been doing more recently. This time around , she dictated that she would deal with dinner, ordering the servants around. In return, I stayed inside to avoid her derision.

No, not just to avoid her.

I pursed my lips at the state of bile and my churning belly. I didn't want to face anything or anyone, especially her in this state.

“I’m not feeling well. Tell her I won’t be coming.”

“She insists, Ma’am.” the maid replied carefully, followed by a brief pause. “She also stated that if you don't arrive for dinner…you could forfeit it for the rest of the night.”

‘Of course she did.’ 

My jaw clenched. She no longer had any issues with threatening me.

And I no longer had any choice.

“Fine.”

I waited until the footsteps were gone before I pushed myself upright and forced myself out of the bed. Weakly, I picked up a loose comfortable gown and looked at my pale swallow reflection. The pregnancy wasn't showing yet but the symptoms had amplified and were draining the life out of me. My body felt heavy and the nausea had gotten worse. Even breathing felt like work.

And I had to face it alone.

Tears pricked my eyes. A month had passed since everything fell apart. Thirty long, suffocating days of silence.

 Damien had made good on his word, moving out of our shared bedroom and staying in the guest wing. He avoided me and by extension, the mansion like I was the plague. If he ever came home, it was in the dead of night. 

Was he outside, spending time with Cassandra? Had he shoved all pretences?

I smiled bitterly. I was falling apart. There was nothing in it and yet, I still chose to stay.

…

By the time I made it downstairs, I'd had to fight another wave of nausea. I stepped into the dining room and paused, taking in the lavish decorations. It felt less like a dinner and more like some kind of celebration. This…it was unusual, even for Beatrice. What was going on?

Then I lifted my gaze and froze.

Damien sat in the side seat beside the head table directly across from me. It felt like he had been looking at me for a long time. It was the first time I saw his face in months. 

My heart ached, the reminder of his betrayal mixed cruelly with the nausea rising in my throat. I couldn't … shouldn't bear to look at him for too long. 

His appearance had barely changed unlike my bedraggled self, but there was something strange. Why did he look so…weary? Hollow?

His gaze flickered for a moment with emotions I couldn't understand, then suddenly he looked away coldly. 

“You certainly took your time.”

Beatrice’s sharp voice sliced through the silence before her face came into view, scrutinizing me.

“At least you look passable for tonight. The least you could do is attend considering that you're incapable of serving this family further.”

Her words, implying my barrenness was still a blow. The baby in my belly begged to differ.

My jaw clenched. Without saying another word I moved towards the closest seat, ironically the same one opposite Damien's. 

‘When was this going to start?’ I just wanted to leave as soon as possible.

The click of heels rang. I and looked up in time to meet see the figure at the doorway. My blood turned to ice. It was…

“Cassandra!”  Beatrice exclaimed, sauntering to the woman bathed in red silk. “I hope the journey here wasn't bad.”

“Not at all ma'am” I heard Cassandra answer beneath the buzzing in my ears. Seeing her face, the face that had smiled victoriously as my life shattered sent a wave of nausea through me. 

“What is she doing here?” I snapped without thinking. 

Beatrice's eyes flashed with anger.

 "Cassandra is an honored guest. You'll keep your mouth shut and show some respect, Olivia. If you can even remember how to do that."

Instinctively, I turned to Damien. Had he planned this, bringing her into this home? 

There was a brief look that seemed akin to shock in his expression that said otherwise. Despite everything, a small, miniscule part of me wished that he would say something. Deny it. ANYTHING. But in the end, he looked away. 

“Let it go Olivia.” He said, his voice, a low murmur but it stung hard. 

He didn't even have the decency to care anymore, humiliating me.

Beatrice looked satisfied, casting a disdainful stare my way before smiling at Cassandra.

“Now that nonsense has been resolved, let's start. It's already late.” Beatrice smiled, taking her seat at the head of the table before, gesturing for Cassandra to sit right beside Damien. My jaw clenched. Cassandra leaned in close as she sat beside him. Damien didn't move, his gaze fixed on the plates, but he didn't push her away either.

‘Was he trying to muster a sliver of dignity?’ my thoughts mocked. 

Bitterness welled up in my chest. This was who I had become, a backdrop for their romance.

For the rest of the dinner, I kept my head down, forcing myself to eat and not cry.  Beatrice and Cassandra talked freely, their laughter filling the room. I didn't miss the jabs thrown my way.

But the worst part was seeing them. Every time Cassandra leaned closer to Damien, the memories of that night flashed by. I tried to ignore it, even as the nausea worsened with every passing minute.

By the time it happened I'd had enough. I stood up abruptly.

“Im done eating. I'll excuse myself.”

"Sit down, Olivia," Beatrice snapped before I could leave and turned to Cassandra, holding her hand smiling, “At least, not before hearing the good news.”

‘What good news?’ my belly churned, an ominous premonition filling me.

Cassandra rose from her seat, a shy look on her face.

“Before you go, I'm happy to say that there is good news for this family.” she said, voice dripping with saccharine. Passing a smile towards Beatrice, she placed a hand over her belly and my heart sank.

‘No.’

"I'm pregnant," she announced, smiling sweetly. "Damien and I... we're having a baby.”

I felt the air leave my lungs stumbling back in shock. No. It couldn't be.

I looked at Damien and met his stricken expression. He didn't know. 

‘Does it matter?’ I thought painfully.

Beatrice looked ecstatic, like she had known all along. 

“Wonderful news!” Beatrice smiled, reaching out to Cassandra, “Finally, a real heir! A miracle for the Lightwoods. Indeed, sometimes it takes the right person to get rid of bad luck.”

She shot a glance towards me, the implication clear, but all I could focus on was Cassandra’s gaze, her eyes dancing with joy as she watched me crumble. 

Looking at Damien one last time, I met his eyes fill of something but I could no longer see it as everything blurred.

 I couldn't take it anymore.

A violent surge roiled in my stomach. I turned away and rushed out of the dining room, unable to hear a sharp call through the roaring in my ears.

I didn't stop until I reached my bathroom and retched onto the porcelain sink. Tears came after, until I couldn't tell the difference.

It was over. Everything was over.

I had held on for so long, all for nothing. 

In the silence, I barely had time to wipe the tears or bile when a sharp violent pain hit my abdomen. I groaned, collapsing onto the cold tile floors before I realised what was going on. 

The pain was blinding, leaving me unable to move when foots‌teps arose. From my blurred vision, the bedroom door I hadn't managed to close properly let in the noise echoing through the hallway. No, not noise. Someone was speaking. Amidst the blinding pain, I barely recognized Beatrice's voice.

“This is not a dis​cussion,” she sn‍a‍ppe⁠d. ”Cassandra‍ is‍ carry⁠ing⁠ your child. A real heir. That girl ha‌s‍ given you noth‍ing. Y‍ou’ve wa⁠sted enoug‍h time.”

“I can't…still my wife…I” another voice said. Damien?

“Then end it.” Beatrice's voice rang, “Let… go, you should… she won't…”

I couldn't hear anymore. Another extrem‌e‌ s​harp pain erupted from m​y abdo‍men, a‍nd a wa‍rm feelin​g spread⁠ between my legs.

​“No…”

 I look‍ed down and my heart dropped as soon as I saw it. 

Blood.