Chapter 2

"Melanie, what are you doing here?"

As soon as he saw her, Spencer's expression softened. He glanced at me, still sprawled on the floor, and quickly raised his hand to shield Melanie's eyes. "Don't look. You're pregnant, and you shouldn't stress yourself. I don't want you having nightmares tonight."

"That's not very nice. You might hurt Lorelei's feelings."

Spencer smiled indulgently. "I'm just being honest. Lorelei looks a little frightening like this, doesn't she?"

Melanie giggled while covering her mouth, unable to stop laughing.

"Lorelei, this is Rowena's ashes."

I shakily took the small urn from her, and for a moment, it felt like Rowena was standing before me again, tugging at my sleeve, calling out to me in her sweet, innocent voice.

Then, the image shifted. Rowena was lying under the wheels of the truck, covered in blood, reaching out to me with desperate cries. "Mom… it hurts…"

The child I had carried for nine months and raised myself was now reduced to a small urn. I never even got to see her one last time…

A metallic taste flooded my mouth, and I coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"Lorelei!" Spencer finally noticed the blood soaking my legs and rushed to lift me up. "I'll call the doctor!"

After he left the room, Melanie's smile vanished. She tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with mockery. "Lorelei, you really haven't changed, have you?"

She reached out and pressed her hand firmly against my legs, relishing the sound of my scream.

"Think carefully about what you should and shouldn't say."

For a moment, I was transported back to those terrifying school days, to the filthy, dreadful bathroom where Melanie had stood in front of me, smirking. "Lorelei, I don't know whether you heard, but the new building at school was sponsored by my dad.

"The teacher will have a talk with you tomorrow. There'll be reporters there too. If you still want to attend school here, think carefully about what you should and shouldn't say."

Fear spread through me, and I could feel my teeth chattering.

Right then, the door to the hospital room suddenly swung open, and Spencer's mother, Courtney Ford, stormed in with an air of authority.

"Lorelei, I'm telling you right now—I don't approve of your marriage to Spencer!

"You're not worthy of my son! I only tolerated you for Rowena's sake, but now that she's gone, you can forget about becoming Mrs. Ford!"

She hurled insults at me, then grabbed Melanie by the arm. "Melanie, how are things going with Tyrone? Any good news?"

Tyrone Ford was her younger son, Spencer's brother.

Melanie rubbed her belly, blushing as she nodded. "I'm two months along…"

Courtney's face lit up with joy. "Really? That's wonderful! Melanie, I'm sure you'll be a great mom, unlike someone…"

She cast a disdainful glance at me. "You shouldn't spend too much time with a woman like her. She couldn't even keep her child alive. She's probably got some bad karma; maybe that's why her daughter ended up dead!"

"Mom!"

Spencer walked in just as Courtney finished speaking.

"Lorelei is the woman I've chosen. I love her, and that doesn't change even if she can't walk again!"

Courtney, furious at his words, nearly collapsed in disbelief. She couldn't do anything about it, so she stormed out with Melanie, fuming.

Now, it was just Spencer and me in the room. He took a ring from his pocket and slipped it onto my finger.

"Lorelei, don't worry. Our wedding won't be canceled. When your sins are forgiven, we'll move to Myrathia, leave this sad place behind, and never look back."

As Spencer whispered those words, I could no longer hold back the pain that had been building inside me.

He hated me for bullying Melanie, constantly demanding that I atone for my actions. But the person who had been bullied all along had always been me.

-

The wedding was happening in three days. To make it in time for the rescheduled ceremony, I discharged myself from the hospital as soon as I felt a little better.

Spencer drove to pick me up. On the way home, he kept trying to cheer me up. "Think on the bright side, Lorelei. Even though Rowena is gone, we're still young. After we're married, we'll have more children."

No, we wouldn't. Spencer and I would never have children again.

The night I found out the truth, I had already booked a flight abroad.

This twisted relationship had to end.

I held the urn in my hands and turned my head to look out the window. For a moment, it almost seemed like Rowena was waving at me.

The car drove all the way to the Ford family's mansion, where Melanie was already waiting at the door.

As soon as she saw Spencer, she pouted and playfully complained, "What took you so long? Courtney and I have been waiting for you forever."

Spencer affectionately rubbed her head and promised her several sets of expensive jewelry, which made her smile brightly.

Spencer and Melanie laughed and talked as they made their way to the villa, leaving me behind with my broken legs. Only the cleaning staff, pitying me, helped me into the wheelchair.

At dinner, Melanie, still rubbing her belly, suddenly spoke up. "Spencer, I'd like Lorelei to be the baby's godmother. Is that okay?"

Before I could say anything, Courtney snorted. "The baby in your belly will lead the Ford family someday. How could someone like her be its godmother?"

Courtney had never liked me. After Rowena's death, she became convinced that my bad luck had caused my daughter's death, and that her son might be affected by it too. Her hostility toward me turned unbearable.

"But her daughter died so tragically… I just don't want her to get too upset."

Melanie looked at the urn I was still gripping tightly and fell silent.

Courtney's face immediately hardened. "Lorelei, why are you still holding that urn? If you upset Melanie and affect the baby, you'll be sorry! Someone get rid of that thing!"

Spencer frowned. "Rowena's gone. You should bury her and let her rest in peace."

I bit my lip and shook my head, choosing to retreat to my room with the urn.

Spencer followed me. "Lorelei, my mom doesn't mean to target you. It's just… Melanie's pregnant, and seeing the urn might upset her."

The pain in my heart was unbearable. Rowena was his flesh and blood, yet in his eyes, she had become something he didn't want people to see.