Chapter 49
“Who is it?” Seb demanded, his voice cracking as he surged to his feet. His heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird.
Elara froze on the floor, her face draining of all color. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.
Damien stepped forward, his eyes filled with a grim sort of pity for his friend. He held out the paper. “It was Amara, Seb. It was always Amara p>
The world around Seb seemed to dissolve. Suddenly, he wasn’t in the Creed mansion anymore. He was back in a sterile hospital room, seven years ago, his body broken and wrapped in bandages.
He remembered the bitter coldness he felt when he finally woke up. He had reached for his phone, desperate to hear the voice of the woman he loved.
“Hello? Amara?” his younger self had whispered into the receiver. “My love… where have you been? You didn’t even visit me. Why aren’t you here p>
There had been a long silence on the other end. Then, Amara’s voice, thin, strained, and sounding worlds away, had replied:
“I… I went on a trip with my friends, Seb. I won’t be back soon. I love you and get well soon.
The flashback snapped shut like a trap.
Seb stared at the wall, his eyes stinging. He finally understood. She wasn’t on a trip as she had said. She was in the hospital, perhaps just a few doors down, recovering from the very injuries she sustained while dragging his body out of the wreckage.
She had lied to him so he wouldn’t feel guilty. She had suffered in silence while Elara had stepped into the vacuum, stealing Amara’s heroic act and wearing it like a stolen coat for seven years.
“I should have known,” Seb whispered, a single tear tracking down his face. “I should have known it could only have been her p>
He looked down at Elara, who was cowering on the floor. The woman he had spent seven years “repaying” for a life she never saved.
“I’m such a jerk,” Seb whispered, his voice trembling as he sank to his knees. “How could I hurt her? How could I do this to Amara p>
His world hadn’t just collapsed; it had turned into ashes. Every lie he had ever told Amara and for marrying Elara because Amara was barren felt like a hot iron pressing against his soul.
But Damien wasn’t finished. He looked at the folder in his hand, his face grim.
“There’s more, Seb,” Damien said, his voice dropping an octave. “I found out that Elara was the one behind the car crash. It wasn’t just a random accident. Amara was crushed by the impact while pulling you out. That’s why she can’t conceive. She gave up her motherhood to give you your life p>
The room went deathly silent. Even Madam Creed stopped breathing.
“Seb, it wasn’t me!” Elara shrieked, her voice hitting a panicked, high-pitched note. “I didn’t hit your car on purpose! It was an accident! I swear p>
“An accident?” Seb’s head snapped up. His eyes weren’t filled with tears anymore, they were filled with a murderous, dark fire.
In one swift motion, he lunged. His hand clamped around Elara’s neck, his grip tightening until her face turned a mottled purple. “You’ll pay for this,” he hissed, his voice sounding like it came from the depths of hell. “Every tear she cried, every bit of pain she felt… I’m going to make you feel it a thousand times over p>
“Mommy! Mommy!” Seren wailed, throwing her small body against Seb’s arm, trying to break his grip. “Let go of Mommy p>
Elara clawed at Seb’s hands, her eyes bulging. “Seb… my stomach she wheezed, her voice barely a whisper. “It hurts so much. I beg you… Please save our baby. The baby is yours… please p>
She doubled over, clutching her abdomen, her face twisted in a mask of agony. It was the ultimate card to play, using an unborn child to stop his hand.
Seb looked down at her with pure loathing. He didn’t know if it was another lie or the truth, but the woman who had ruined Amara’s life was now begging him for mercy.
“You’re still pretending!” Seb’s voice was a roar of pure agony. He didn’t see a pregnant woman in front of him; he saw a monster. “You’re the reason Amara lost her baby. You’re the reason I lost my happy life. I’ll make you pay tenfold for every second of pain you caused her p>
“The divorce papers!” Madam Creed screamed, her voice shaking with a mix of fury and shame. “Bring them now p>
The maids scurried, terrified, returning seconds later with the documents. Madam Creed snatched them up and shoved them onto the floor in front of Elara.
“Sign them!” the matriarch barked. “You will divorce him today. You will take your bastard child and leave this house before I have you thrown in a cell p>
Elara, realizing the game was truly over, stopped crying. She looked up at Seb, her eyes turning sharp and malicious. If she was going down, she was going to take his soul with her.
“Get out!” Madam Creed yelled, pointing a trembling finger at the door. “Get out right now p>
Elara stood up slowly, wiping the blood from her lip. She stared directly into Seb’s hollow eyes. “Seb… why are you acting so righteous?” she sneered, her voice dripping with venom.
“What does your mess with Amara have to do with me? I didn’t force you to marry me. You’re the one who played both sides. You wanted us both. You’re the one who wanted your own child p>
The words hit Seb harder than any physical blow.
“You’re the one who made those men beat her till she lost her baby,” Elara laughed, a cold, jagged sound. “I just opened the door. You’re the one who walked through it p>
“SHUT UP!” Seb screamed, the sound echoing through the rafters of the mansion.
He couldn’t look at her because he knew she was right. His own hand had wielded the knife that stabbed Amara’s heart for seven years.