Her words were like a drop of cold water splashed into hot oil. Miles‘ head snapped up, his eyes savagely piercing me. He was de- manding an answer. “You knew the raiders were coming, didn’t you? You deliberately chose today, just to stir up jealousy?!” He adv- anced on me, his voice rising. “From the very first day Sienna arrived, you’ve targeted her at every turn! Now, to frame her, you’ve sacrificed everyone’s lives!”
I stared at his contorted face, suddenly finding the whole situation absurd. To protect Sienna, he was actually pinning the blame for
the raider attack on me!
A harsh slap struck my face, the fiery pain exploding across my cheek. I stumbled back, hitting the cold metal cabinet behind me,
the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth.
Ethan grabbed my collar, his eyes wild with fury, “Was it you, you wretched woman, who lured the raiders here to kill everyone?! All
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Ethan grabbed my collar, his eyes wild with fury. “Was it you, you wretched woman, who lured the raiders here to kill everyone?! All
to get revenge on the Captain?!”
I shook my head, tears blurring my vision. He violently slammed me to the ground, his knee pressing down on my abdomen. The back of my head struck the concrete with a sickening thud, and my vision swam with pain.
Someone, unable to watch, ran over to intervene. “Don’t you know Olivia? How many lessons has she tutored our children? The last time the raiders came, who carried the wounded for three miles?!” But Ethan was beyond reason. “You don’t understand! She’s the one who brought the raiders here! Why else would she be the only one unharmed?!” His voice began to tremble, cracking with ang- uish. “My mother, my wife, my child… how could you do this?!”
More and more people were willing to believe his words. The crowd slowly tightened around me, their bloodshot eyes brimming with hatred. They advanced closer, and I instinctively recoiled, shielding my abdomen. Just as I thought I would die there, Miles
pushed through the crowd, stepping before me once more.
Miles‘ figure emerged from the back of the crowd, the Island Guard members automatically parting for him. He was dressed in crisp, new clothes, his boots gleaming, a stark contrast to the blood–stained figures surrounding him. I huddled in the corner, my fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of my garment, knuckles white from the strain. The child in my womb seemed to sense the
danger, kicking me lightly.
Miles knelt before me, reaching out to brush away the tangled hair from my forehead. “Olivia,” he breathed, a sigh in my given na- me, his thumb tracing my swollen cheek. “Does it hurt?” His warm breath ghosted past my ear, but the words he spoke were pois-
oned. “Though you are my wife, you caused the death of everyone. I cannot let you live.”
He was here to personally condemn me. Once I was branded with the crime of luring the raiders and causing the death of everyo- ne’s loved ones, I would be publicly executed. This way, no one would hold him responsible for taking all the men, leaving the island‘
s defenses vulnerable.
When Miles‘ boot viciously connected with my abdomen, I heard the sound of life shattering. I crumpled to the ground, my nails digging into the concrete cracks. Warm blood gushed from between my legs, pooling into a blinding stream on the pale ground. My trembling hand went to my lower belly. The gentle swell that had been there was now terrifyingly flat. Five months of life, sevente- en fetal movements, all those late nights talking to ultrasound photos… all of it, in that one kick, reduced to a bloody ruin.
Sienna, meanwhile, poured fuel on the fire. “Oh, Olivia, darling, you’ve gone too far! Even though Miles and I have spent a lot of time together, you’re always the most important person in his heart!” She batted her eyelashes, a single, perfectly timed tear rolling down her cheek. “You shouldn’t play such cruel jokes like this!”
Just as Miles raised his hand, signaling the Island Guard to deal with me, “Stop!” A familiar voice cut through the air. Everyone
turned to see Lily, my sister–in–law, approaching with a large group of children.
From Lily’s trembling account, we learned that to protect the next generation, my mother–in–law and all the women had chosen to fight the raiders to the death. With their own lives, they had carved a bloody path of hope for Lily and the children.
The agitated men rushed forward, embracing their children. The children were safe, but the mothers and grandmothers who had
died would never return.
Miles‘ face was ashen, his lips trembling, unable to utter a word.
“We’re not dead!” Lily turned to all the Island Guard members, pointing at her brother, her eyes blazing with hatred. “If you hadn’t taken all the men, how would this tragedy have happened today?!” She screamed, “It was you and Sienna who caused the death of
everyone!”
“Captain, didn’t you say Olivia was just jealous, deliberately lying, telling us to focus on guarding you and Sienna for her birthday celebration? Now… how could my mother be dead? Where is my wife?!” Ethan Reed glared at him, his eyes bloodshot.
The men, consumed by grief and fury, advanced on him step by step. Miles‘ face turned chalk–white. I looked at the pervasive bloo- dshed, tears streaming down my face. I had been reborn, I had changed my own fate, but I hadn’t saved everyone else’s lives…
winegenantly
The enraged men swarmed towards Miles and Sienna! Their screams rose in waves, echoing incessantly.
00:07
This scene should have brought me satisfaction. Yet, a deep sadness and desolation filled my heart. The next second, I collapsed
into a heavy, unconscious sleep.
