Chapter 7
The second video ended, only for the third to begin.
The camera shook slightly, my weak hands unable to hold it steady.
“Benedict, there’s something you didn’t know. We had a child. But I won’t live long enough to bring him into this world.”
The scene opened with faint background noise–Benedict’s voice, tense as he dealt with yet another of Tylor’s suicide threats over the phone.
Moments later, he left the house, leaving a suffocating silence behind.
I moved to my bedside drawer, pulling out two medical reports.
“The day of our third wedding anniversary, I went to the hospital for a pregnancy check–up. Instead, I collapsed in pain and learned two things that changed everything. One paper confirmed I was pregnant. The other sentenced me to death.
“I’ve been labeled a curse all my life, the cause of my mother’s death and my father’s hatred. And then you appeared, calling me your lucky star, pulling me out of the darkness.
“I never expected the light you offered to be a crueler swamp. I stepped in willingly and became trapped, sinking deeper with every step.
“Benedict, you don’t understand. The pain of being given hope only to have it destroyed is far worse than being treated like a curse from the
start.
“Will you regret it when you see this? Will you understand what it feels like to have your heart die piece by piece?
“Benedict, you’ve lost everything. Do you regret it now?”
The screen went black. In the room, Benedict was sobbing uncontrollably, pounding his fists against the floor. His breakdown terrified the crowd, who shuffled uncomfortably, unsure of what to do.
A sharp, grating voice sliced through the tense atmosphere.
“Kendra’s really pulling out all the stops, isn’t she? I fake a suicide attempt, and she stages her own funeral? How pathetic can she get?”
Tylor burst into the room, dragging a group of servants behind her.
“Tear this sham of a funeral apart!” she demanded.
The servants exchanged hesitant glances, frozen by the menacing glare Benedict shot their way.
Frustrated by their inaction, Tylor stomped forward and reached for my portrait, intent on smashing it to the ground.
Before she could, a hand clamped down on her wrist. Benedict yanked her back with a force that left her stumbling.
“Tylor, enough!” he roared. “Haven’t you done enough damage?”
Tylor stared at him her eyes wide with disbelief.
“Benedict! She’s just trying to manipulate you! She wants to take you away from me!” she cried.
“You can’t really be falling for this woman’s tricks!”
Victor, leaning casually against the doorway, smirked as he watched the scene unfold after sending the guests away.
Benedict’s eyes darkened, his expression full of venom. He slapped Tylor across the face, the sharp crack echoing in the room.
“Shut up!” he barked.
12:57 PM
<
“What do you mean, ‘take me away‘? Kendra was my wife. My lawfully wedded wife! I’ve always belonged to her!”
Realizing she was losing ground, Tylor changed tactics, her demeanor softening as she reached for Benedict’s arm.
“Benedict, I’m sorry,” she whimpered.
“I didn’t mean for things to get this bad. Please don’t be angry with
Benedict coldly pried her hands off and signaled to the servante
“Take her back to the estate. She is not to leave the house without my permission.”
