Chapter 4
I turned around in disbelief, staring at Frederick,
“What did she just say?”” |||
Frederick pressed his hips together and avoided my eyes. []
“Serena. I’m just thinking about what’s best for the baby~||
“You don’t want him growing up with people whispering that his mom’s from a disgraced family, do you?”
I stood there, stunned, like someone had reached inside my chest and s
d started squeezing my heart.
I could barely breathe.
I didn’t know if my child would one day be ashamed of me-
But right now, I was sure Frederick already was. [
My fingers dug into my palms. I rushed to him, grabbing his sleeve with both hands.
“Frederick, you promised.”
“You said you’d speak at the military tribunal in three days to clear my family’s name.”
“Once that happens, I won’t be that woman, and our child won’t have to grow up under a shadow.”
Pain started stabbing through my belly, but I ignored i
I just stared at him, desperate.
But Frederick’s face turned pale. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
Lavinia’s smug voice cut through the silence:
“Oh, Serena, didn’t he tell you?“]
“The General cashed in his service record for a Congressional marriage order.“”
“As for the Hollingsworths?
“Clearing their name can wait.”
Gult fuckered across Frederick’s face.
His voice was so low, I barely heard him:[]
“Serena the past is the past. Your father’s gone. It won’t change anything now ”
I stared at him, stunned-]
And then I laughed.
Laughed until tears rolled down my face. [
So that’s it
“The past is the past.”
ப
the point?]]
Time. All of them [
1 inoked him dead in the eye Whatever light was left in mine–died out.
16
“You lied to me.“[
“You bed to me
Tears spilled down my cheeks, but I didn’t even have the strength to wipe them away. [
If you never really wanted to help me-
Why promise?
Why give me hope?|||
Why say you’d stand by me, only to turn around and throw me away like garbage?
Frederick, you’re cruel.
The pain got worse.]]
Blood started soaking through my dress and down my legs.
One of the maids screamed.
“Oh my god, she’s bleeding!”
Trederick’s eyes snapped wide. He rushed over and scooped me into his arms.
“Call the doctor! Now!”
The courtyard exploded into chaos as the staff ran off in different directions.
Lavinia stepped up beside him, voice calm, but laced with venom
“Frederick, everyone says childbirth’s the messiest, most cursed thing.
You should come outside before you catch any of it.” []
“And with how much blood she’s lost? I doubt she or the baby were ever meant for luck”
“Maybe..”
“Shut up!” [
Frederick turned on her, eyes red, voice like a growl.
He grabbed my hand, voice shaking.
“Serena, I’m sorry–1 shouldn’t have said what I did.”
“If you make it through this, I’ll go to Congress myself
“I’ll clear your family’s name, I swear.”
“Just please don’t leave me.”
Even through the haze of pain, I heard every word.
All I felt was bitter amusement.
why
hy is it people always realize what they had..
Only when they’re about to lose 117]
And what good is regret when it only comes at the end?
With what little strength I had left, I whispered
Frederick to open the hotton drawer of my jewelry box [
I knew childbirth walked the line between life and death.
And if I didn’t make it.
I refused to let my child carry his last name.
That was my last shred of dignity as a Hollingsworth.
Frederick stiffened, but nodded.
He whispered something to the maid, who ran off
His tears fell on my hand.
They felt like acid.
The doctor and midwife finally arrived.
They pushed Frederick out of the room.
{sighed-[]
Then the pain came crashing in like a wave, drowning everything else.
Frederick waited in the courtyard from sunrise to nightfall.
He didn’t move until the baby’s cry pierced the air.
He jolted to his feet, eyes wide, knees weak.
The midwife came out v with the baby in her arms.
Frederick lit up.
He reached out and took the child, hope rising in his chest-
Until she handed him an envelope.
His heart stuttered.
Before he could ask, the midwife spoke, exhausted:
“General this is the d
divorce you requested.”
