Chapter 5

Blood soaked through her clothes as she dropped the dagger, letting out a piercing scream.

Before I could process what was happening, I was shoved roughly to the ground.

Alexander rushed to Sophia, holding her in his arms as he turned to me, furious:

"Olivia, have you lost your mind?!"

Sophia, tears streaming down her face, quickly jumped in:

"Alex, I was just trying to explain to Olivia as a fellow mother. I thought she'd understand, but she accused me of trying to steal her child. She even threatened to cut off my breasts so I couldn't breastfeed anymore!"

She sobbed, continuing, "I only wanted to help Andy. He was hungry, and I felt so bad. But Olivia… she attacked me."

Alexander's face twisted in anger as he glared at me:

"It's your fault for falling down the stairs and breaking your leg. Now you're blaming Sophia? You're the one who caused all this!"

He turned his attention to me, his voice dripping with disdain:

"You're not even a real mother! You took medication, and now you can't breastfeed. Sophia's just trying to help, but you're acting like she's the enemy! You don't care about the child, do you? You won't even let anyone else love him. Is that it?"

Tears flooded my eyes as my anger boiled over:

"I'm not a good mother? Then tell me, Alexander, where's my child? Where's the baby? And what kind of medicine did I really take?!"

He frowned in confusion:

"Andy is in his room, asleep. The medicine was for your leg pain, don't act like you don't know that. And you fell down the stairs because you were careless. Everyone was around, but only you fell. You're just incompetent."

His tone was condescending, like I was the one in the wrong.

"How dare you hurt Sophia? You're a mother, too. How can you do this to another mother? Apologize to her right now!" he ordered, his anger rising.

The injustice of it all made me laugh bitterly. My husband, a liar, a murderer… How had I been so blind?

I grabbed the dagger from the floor and, without thinking, slashed at my chest, the pain burning through me as I tore into my own skin, over and over again, until my shirt was drenched in blood.

Alexander's eyes widened in horror:

"Olivia, what are you doing?! Stop this right now!"

I dropped the dagger and met his gaze calmly:

"You're right, Alexander. I shouldn't hurt a mother. So, I'm atoning for your beloved. Does that seem sincere enough?"

Without another word, I turned and walked away.

As I staggered, leaving a trail of blood behind me, Alexander hesitated. He wanted to come to me, but Sophia held onto him, her voice full of feigned distress:

"Alex, I'm in so much pain. Can you take me to the hospital? We can't let Andy go hungry."

He hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly picked her up, walking in the opposite direction from me.

Hours later, my phone buzzed.

"Olivia, have you treated your wounds? Don't worry, I've had Sophia use a special ointment, so it won't affect breastfeeding. I'm sorry for what I said earlier."

I could hear him trying to smooth things over, his voice too calm:

"The doctor said the medicine you took isn't suitable for breastfeeding, but Sophia has plenty of milk. Formula isn't nutritious enough. Andy still needs her. I'm just taking care of her to show my gratitude. Please don't take it personally."

I replied flatly, the pain in my chest barely noticeable now compared to the heartache:

"I'm fine. Take care of her. Don't let the child go hungry."

He sounded relieved:

"I knew you'd understand. I've spoken with Mom, and she won't be a problem anymore."

"You've given our family a son. You're such a great contributor. To make it up to you, I'm throwing you a celebration party the day after tomorrow. Just stay at home, darling."

Meanwhile, local news outlets were broadcasting nonstop about how the CEO of Carter Group, furious over his beloved, had chartered a helicopter to bring in top experts from around the country, all for a mere wound.

I sat alone in my room, taking out some iodine and hemostatic drugs. With a steady hand, I cleaned the cuts on my chest.