Blanche stumbled backward, her heel catching on the thick grass. She fumbled. bracing for pain–only to land in a pair of strong, warm arms.
She found herself staring into Eddy’s wide, panic–stricken eyes. She’d never seen him look so terrified.
She was too exhausted to process it all, her mind seemed to shatter, reason slipping away.
Her night vision was poor, Eddy’s figure all but melted into the darkness, his sharp. chiseled features blurring before her eyes. The usually impenetrable black of his gaze now looked stark, almost innocent.
For a moment, the composed, mature man before her seemed veiled, his presence softened, as if he’d reverted to his younger, reckless self–a version she hadn’t seen in ten years. Back then, he wore his heart on his sleeve, unguarded and bold.
He had loved her, introduced her to his parents–Jacob and Loraine–and declared he would spend the rest of his life with no one but her. He’d kept that promise.
Back then, happiness had brimmed over in her heart.
Footsteps pounded chaotically behind her. Loraine rushed over, gathering Blanche into her arms, her voice trembling with fear. “Laney!”
Just before she lost consciousness, Blanche found a strange relief in knowing–this time, she wouldn’t shed another tear for them.
They didn’t deserve her sorrow anymore.
Her body rocked as someone moved her; she could hear Eddy shouting, his voice raw, calling for someone–maybe a doctor.
Panic jolted her awake. Instinctively, she clutched her stomach.
If a doctor came, they would find out she was still pregnant.
And Eddy–Eddy would take the baby away.
When she opened her eyes, she realized she was back in the old house, in the bedroom she and Eddy once shared.
Voices drifted in from the hallway.
“Mr. Simmons, your wife just miscarried. She needs plenty of rest and absolutely no stress. It was Sophie’s voice, calm and professional.
Chapter 122
Blanche finally exhaled, collapsing back onto the massive bed. Cold sweat prickled her skin, chilling her to the bone.
The door swung open. Eddy stepped in, pacing to the bedside. He sat down and took her hand. “Laney, it’s not what you think.”
He’d checked the security footage–Blanche had stood there for a long time. She must’ve overheard the entire conversation between him and his mother.
Blanche stared at the ceiling, unblinking, her heart aching but numb.
There is no pain greater than a broken heart. When your heart is dead, you can’t feel
anything anymore.
She remembered her mother saying that during her darkest days.
Suddenly, Eddy collapsed against her, burying his face in her chest. She felt the wetness of his tears seeping through her shirt, his voice choked with anguish. “Laney, please… say something.”
What did he want her to say? Pretend she hadn’t heard? Or that she still trusted him?
Or did he want her to break down, scream at his betrayal, and order him to leave?
And what would he do to her then?
Eddy only held her tighter, squeezing the breath out of her, but she remained silent. She had nothing left to say.
Time passed. Outside, dawn crept into the sky. At last, Eddy released her. “Laney, Dr. Turner says you need rest. Stay here for a few days and recover.”
He took her phone, cutting her off from the outside world.
Blanche closed her stinging eyes, curling up on the bed. Tears still slid down her cheeks.
It had come to this–he was going to keep her prisoner.
But she was done lying to herself.
She drifted through the day in a daze. By the time she woke again, night had fallen.
After a shower, she changed out of her evening dress and noticed her Cartier bracelet was missing. So be it, she thought. Let it go.
She slipped into black loungewear and went downstairs.
The staff avoided her gaze, as if her composure was something unnatural.
She sat at the dining table. “I’d like-”
Her voice cracked, hoarse and raw, and she couldn’t force out another word.
Loraine appeared almost instantly, her face perfectly composed. She touched Blanche’s forehead. “You’re running a bit of a fever. Must’ve caught a chill last night.”
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