Longing Beneath the Ashes
Chapter 4
Laura lay on the ground, bloodstained and unconscious, with no one by her side. Fearing the worst, the event organizers immediately called for an ambulance.
When she opened her eyes again, the familiar smell of disinfectant filled her senses.
Her body was covered in scrapes; even the slightest movement sent waves of pain through her.
At the hospital, the doctor had cleaned and dressed her wounds, carefully removing the glass fragments embedded deep in her skin. The pain was so intense it kept pulling her in and out of consciousness.
Laura picked up her phone—only to see a prenatal report Benjamin had shared on his social feed. The caption read: **[A gift from heaven.]**
Beneath it, Jessica had commented: **[I’m the one who delivered it!]** A flood of congratulations followed.
Laura felt nothing but bitterness.
After ten years of marriage without a pregnancy, she had tried everything—seducing him in bed, using every trick she knew—yet she had never managed to conceive.
Because of it, she had endured endless gossip and judgment from the outside world.
Benjamin would always retreat to his meditation room, refusing her with detached calm. “I’m sorry, Laura,” he would say. “I don’t wish to indulge in desire.”
Suddenly, she remembered a moment at a banquet, when guests had teased them about having children. Benjamin had looked at the crowd, earnest and firm, and declared, “I, Benjamin, will have a child one day.”
Back then, Laura hadn’t thought much of it. She had even lowered her head, a little shy—completely missing the knowing glances exchanged around the room.
So his so-called “abstinence” had only ever applied to her.
A cold realization struck her: Benjamin’s older brother Ronald had died in an accident just a year ago. How could Benjamin be so certain he could be with his sister-in-law?
Before she could dwell on it, noise erupted outside her room. The door swung open.
Benjamin entered with Jessica, who stood shyly, a hand cradling her stomach.
“You’re being reckless, Laura. You still represent our family’s reputation. Do you have any idea how much of a scene you caused at the auction?”
His voice was thick with irritation.
“Consider this a chance to make amends. Jessica is carrying the heir to our family. You will return home and take proper care of her. That is your duty as the lady of the house.”
Laura almost laughed. Had Benjamin spent decades in some ancient temple, training his mind to be filled with nothing but outdated nonsense?
Her dismissive expression only angered him further.
He couldn’t understand why his once-obedient wife had become so defiant lately. The eyes that used to look at him with adoration were now filled with… scorn? Mockery?
He grabbed her and yanked her off the bed, furious at her defiance—completely ignoring how the movement tore open the wounds on her arm, blood soaking through the bandages.
Only when he saw the steady drip of blood hitting the floor did Benjamin release her in a panic.
“Laura, was this your plan? Cutting yourself up just to keep me here? Jessica is newly pregnant. Blood is inauspicious.”
He quickly pulled Jessica out of the room. Before the door closed, Jessica glanced back, her eyes locking with Laura’s in a clear, triumphant challenge.
Watching Benjamin’s hurried retreat, Laura felt every suppressed emotion surge to the surface at once.
It was as if those shattered glass fragments were piercing her heart all over again—slicing her insides into ragged, bleeding pieces.
Outside the room, Benjamin stared at the trail of blood, a knot of frustration tightening in his chest. A stray, unbidden thought flickered through his mind: *Did I push her too hard?*
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