Chapter 3

Xavier hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering to my stomach before a cold smirk tugged at his lips.

He said mockingly, "Eloise, you're getting really creative. Now that you know you can't fool me, you're trying to pin this on Reina? You think I'd believe you?"

Tears blurred my vision, and my heart ached so painfully that I could hardly breathe.

"It was her!"

I lunged forward, rage burning through me, desperate to make Reina pay for my daughter's life.

Reina let out a terrified shriek and clung to Xavier, trembling. "Xavier, help me! Eloise is trying to kill me! What did I ever do to deserve this? Why does she hate me so much?"

Xavier pulled her protectively into his arms, and before I could react, his hand struck my face with a vicious slap.

"Enough, Eloise! She's your sister, and you're accusing her of this? Just because your baby is gone doesn't mean Reina had anything to do with it!"

Reina whimpered, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks, and Xavier's expression instantly softened. He gently wiped them away with his fingertips, his touch unbearably tender.

The sight of it was like a knife twisting in my heart.

When we were kids, Xavier was like that with me, too. If I cried, he would always be the one to wipe my tears away.

Nonetheless, that was a lifetime ago. Somewhere along the way, he had stopped caring, and I had no idea when or why it had happened.

Xavier spoke to Reina in a soft, comforting voice before turning to me, his eyes ice-cold. "Eloise, I won't let you slander Reina like this. Apologize to her."

I shouted, "I won't!"

Xavier had not expected me to defy him.

I did not remember when he started hating me, but I remembered how I used to feel about him. For years, he had been my entire world. I loved him, so I always tried to please him, walking on eggshells to avoid upsetting him.

Yet, he never noticed, and he never cared. To him, my feelings were nothing but a nuisance, something to be trampled on without a second thought.

No matter what I did, I was always in the wrong. No matter how hard I tried, I could never compare to Reina.

Xavier arched a brow, briefly startled. He warned me, saying, "Eloise, don't test my patience."

I had nothing left to say to him. I turned to go, but my defiance only seemed to enrage him more.

He stormed toward me, grabbed my wrist, and yanked me down, forcing me onto my knees in front of Reina. He snapped, saying, "I told you to apologize!"

Reina smirked at me before turning back to Xavier with a sweet, innocent expression. "Xavier, it's okay. Eloise didn't mean it."

Xavier's heart melted at her supposed kindness. "Reina, you're always too forgiving. She hit you, and she falsely accused you. She needs to apologize."

Then, he looked at me, his gaze sharp with warning. "Anyone who hurts Reina will pay for it twice over."

My mind flashed back to high school when a group of guys had cornered me. Xavier had come charging in, shielding me, fighting them off. Now, he was the one hurting me.

Maybe it was because I refused to beg. Perhaps it was because I did not break the way he wanted me to.

Xavier suddenly released me, only to drive his foot into my shoulder, sending me sprawling onto the floor. He snarled and said, "Eloise, don't push me. Apologize. Now."

"I won't!"

His expression darkened. "What did you say?"

I shouted, "I said I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?"

The words had barely left my mouth before his hand came down on my face again. The force of the slap sent me reeling, my body turning to the side.

The vial in my hand slipped from my grasp, and the glass shattered as it hit the floor with a sharp crack.