Blind Devotion, Bitter End

Xavier never cared about me or our child, let alone my feelings. Even now, after losing our baby, he did not even realize it had happened.

I took a step back, my voice cold as I said, "Don't touch me, you filth."

Once, I had clung to him, desperate for his attention. However, I could no longer stand him coming near me.

Xavier started to step forward, but Reina spoke up first. "Eloise, Xavier asked you a question. Did you give birth? Why are you hiding the baby? He's busy, and you must be more understanding. You—"

"Reina, shut your mouth!" I raised my hand and slapped her across the face, pouring all the pain of losing my daughter into that single strike.

I growled, saying, "You know what you did to me. Don't push me, or I swear, I'll kill you."

Xavier was about to say something, but at that moment, his expression twisted with fury. He shoved me hard, and I stumbled, nearly dropping the vial holding my daughter's ashes.

He yelled, "Eloise, she's your sister, and you hit her?"

My voice trembled with rage. "Sister? What kind of sister wraps her arms around her brother-in-law like that and throws herself at him?"

Reina leaned pitifully against Xavier's shoulder, her eyes welling with tears. "Xavier, it's my fault. Don't blame Eloise… She's just given birth, after all."

I looked at Xavier. "Why don't you ask her what she did before running off to sleep with you last night?"

Xavier's expression darkened. "Reina? What could she have done? Eloise, not everyone is as manipulative as you."

His words cut into me like a knife. He had not been home in so long and never cared about me. Of course, he would not care what Reina had done to me, either.

In his eyes, I was just a villain.

I thought about my baby kicking inside me as if she were protesting—protesting the fact that her father never paid attention to her.

The physical and emotional toll of my pregnancy had been unbearable. The pain, the exhaustion, the loneliness—it had only gotten worse over time.

I had begged Xavier to stay, had even dropped to my knees, pleading for just a little of his time—just once.

I had even promised him that after the baby was born, I would leave, and he would be free. For a moment, he hesitated. He looked at me with an expression I could not quite read—something between satisfaction and conflict.

"Are you serious?" he had asked.

The pain had been unbearable, but I had nodded, tears streaming down my face. I had known him since we were kids. I had found him under a bridge, homeless and alone, and begged my parents to take him in.

From that day on, he had become my brother in name, though we were not related by blood. When my dad passed away, my uncle took Reina in, leaving me and my mom to fend for ourselves.

I did not want Xavier to end up back on the streets, so I begged my mom to keep him with us. Due to that, he had hated me for years.

He had wanted to leave with Reina, but before my mom passed away, she had entrusted me to Xavier. She told him that only with him by my side could she rest in peace.

Xavier had agreed, but he had never once mentioned marriage. So, I had lived in this nameless, meaningless relationship with him.

My mom had died without ever seeing the wedding she had dreamed of. After we buried her, Xavier finally showed his true colors.

"Your mother was just as selfish as you," he had said coldly. "Did she think she could tie me to you forever?

"I've done more than enough for you. Don't expect anything else from me. My bride will only ever be Reina."

He even said, "There's no one for me except her. I don't love you. I don't want you. This is what you deserve."

He had wanted to marry Reina, but because of me and the baby, she had refused. I had already decided to let go—so why was he still so cruel?

"Xavier, our baby is gone," I choked out, my voice breaking. "She's dead. It was Reina. Reina pushed me down the stairs, and that was why I gave birth too soon. It was all because of her!"