Chapter 1

/-Claire-/

“She's losing blood. She needs an urgent transfusion.” 

I heard the voices from a distance.

“She has a rare blood type, sir. The blood bank is out of it…”

My brain was not processing anything other than the pain between my legs. Tears pooled in my eyes as I stared at the very man who put me in this condition.

His eyes were cold and unfeeling, unsympathetic to my suffering. 

“If she continues this way, she will bleed to death! Even if we can cut the bleeding, she will still need blood. Is there anyone in the family who can donate blood?” The nurse asked. 

“No,” came a cold response. 

A tear slipped past my cheek as I reached for his hand. 

“Regal…” my voice came out croaky. My throat hurt from the dryness. “Please…”

“You heard them, the blood bank doesn't have your blood type,” he stated. “I don't know what you expect me to do.” 

“Annabelle…”

He snatched his hand from me. 

“Have you lost your mind? Do you want your pregnant sister to donate blood to you? Have you thought about the health implications?” He snapped at me. 

Tears streamed down my cheeks. 

It had always been this way. My sister was everyone's priority. No matter how pressing my needs were, Annabelle's cravings would always be considered first.

“Do you really have no atom of love left for me?” I asked weakly. “Even when I'm dying, you can't even pretend to care?” 

His eyes hardened.

“You want me to risk the life of my baby for you? Look, I did love you once okay, but now, I think I love your sister and I can't risk her life for you,” His tone was condescending like I was nothing. 

It didn't matter to him that I was his wife. It didn't matter that I had forgiven him for betraying me in the worst way possible by impregnating my sister. It didn't matter that the reason I was bleeding on this operating table was because he had hired doctors to take out a three-month pregnancy. 

All because Annabelle felt threatened by my pregnancy.

His phone rang at that moment and I saw his eyes light up. I knew who was calling. He was the only person who could draw that smile from him effortlessly.

Annabelle.

“I'm sorry I will be late. I have something urgent to take care of,” his eyes flickered to me in annoyance, like I was forcing him to be with me. 

“Alright, I'll be there shortly,” he hung up and turned to the nurses. “I have to leave now. Do your best for her.” 

“Regal, please don't leave me,” my voice came out barely above a whisper. “I'm scared…”

“The nurses are here, you will be fine.”

My heart shattered to pieces as he walked out of the room without looking back. The pitiful glances the nurses threw my way made me feel more terrible. 

My life has been a web of disappointments and heartbreak. Growing up in the orphanage, I had wanted nothing other than a family. 

When I got adopted, I assumed my life would change for the better. I would be loved and accepted but it was quite the opposite. 

There was someone else in the picture. The star of the family. Their little princess. The one they valued more than the skinny misfit they picked from the orphanage.

I was forced into her shadow and neglected by everyone. In public, she was an angel, asking about my well-being and openly showing affection, but in private, she would shove my face down the toilet for using her shampoo or rip her clothes off my body if I ever tried them on and blame me for it. 

My parents would take her side. Everyone would.

I often wondered why they adopted me since they already had a lovely daughter they dotted on but Annabelle had made it clear that her parents only adopted me because they couldn't have any more children and didn't want her to be lonely. 

I didn't want to believe it until my mother confirmed it. I was like a present for their little princess. 

When Regal came into my life, I assumed I had found the one. I couldn't wait to get away from the maltreatment and hatred. 

Nobody believed he would pick me over my sister. 

Annabelle was everything. Beautiful, slender and graceful. 

I, on the other hand, was skinny, short and average-looking.

“The love I have for you is beyond physical appearance, Claire,” he had said those words to me when I bared my insecurities to him. 

But Annabelle had been arrogant when I told her about our engagement.

“He's not that good-looking, so I'll let you have him for now. I have a better-looking man asking for my hand,” she shrugged, shoving my fingers off her face. 

Everyone put her engagement over mine, even though it came a week later and when it abruptly got cut off for reasons she wouldn't reveal to anyone, she turned the aggression on me. 

I should have known then that something was off with how close she suddenly became to Regal. 

But my naive mind waved it off and three months after our wedding, he became a total stranger. 

I didn't push him to consummate our marriage because he was always busy with work and came back tired. I didn't demand his love and affection for fear of being tagged a nag.

Now, I could only reminisce on the memories and curse myself for being so stupid. 

Because of love, I endured everything he threw my way. Even when he had taken my virginity in a drunken state. 

I didn't hate him for forcing himself on me. He was my husband after all. He had a right to my body. 

But he didn't come home after that. For three months, I couldn't reach him and he didn't bother to send me a message. 

His family ignored my queries, treating me with disdain. Only for me to discover he had been on a romantic getaway with my sister.

My sister! When we haven't even had our honeymoon!

Once again, I forgave him, believing I was in the wrong. I thought the news of my pregnancy would make him happy since he had been away for so long. 

I could still remember the excitement and nervousness that overwhelmed me as I delivered the news.

“I am three months pregnant, Regal!” I informed. “We are going to have a baby.” 

The irritation in his eyes was the first thing that startled me. 

“You don't look happy…” I drawled, worriedly. 

“Get rid of it,” was his monotonous response.

“Why?” 

“Because I am not ready for a child with you!” He snapped. Then he left home for a week.

His words hurt me but I tried to reason with him. That was when he revealed that my sister was carrying his hair and he didn't want anything to take his attention from her. 

His words broke me.

But I was adamant about getting an abortion simply because he preferred my sister's child.

So he gave me an ultimatum. 

It was either the baby or him. 

My current state was proof of the decision I made. In order to please the man I loved, I had thrown away my own life. 

“The bleeding won't stop, doc. We need to move to the hospital!” The nurse panicked. 

My body was weak and pale. 

“Her husband specifically instructed that she must not be moved from the house. He already ensured we were provided with all the medical facilities we need,” the doctor stated. 

A painful chuckle fell off my lips. 

Maybe now my pathetic life would end and I would finally have true peace. 

Slowly, I faded into unconsciousness, with no hope of ever seeing the light again.