Chapter 45 Chapter 0045

Chapter 45 Chapter 0045
•ANEIRA•

“The doctor will come to see you soon,” the nurse said after bringing my breakfast and checking my vitals. “If everything continues to look good and there are no new complications, you should be discharged in two days.”

I gave her a polite smile before she turned around and left the room.

The moment the door closed behind her, the smile slowly faded from my face.

Two days.

Two more days trapped in this hospital room, staring at the same white walls that reminded me again and again of what I had lost, and then what?

Would I go back to Rafael’s house? Back to the man who had married me only to use me as a tool for his revenge?

Back to the life that had already taken everything from me, including the baby I never even got the chance to hold?

Rafael had told me I was free.

He had said those words so calmly, so easily, as if freedom was something he could give away after everything he had already taken from me.

But I knew better.

Men like Rafael Sterling didn't let things go unless they had already decided those things were worthless.

And now that I had lost the baby, I had become useless to him.

Slowly and carefully, I pushed the blanket away and forced myself to sit up in the hospital bed.

Pain immediately spread through my lower body, making me inhale sharply as another painful cramp twisted inside my stomach.

It was a cruel reminder that doctors tried to save a life that my body had already failed to protect.

The baby was gone, and there was nothing I could do to change that.

After a moment, I slowly slid my legs off the side of the bed, wincing as my feet touched the cold hospital floor.

My body felt weak and unfamiliar, as if it no longer belonged to me.

Still, I forced myself to stand.

Across the room, I noticed the bag Rafael had brought to the hospital for me while I was still in surgery, and I walked toward it slowly.

Inside the bag were the same clothes I had been wearing when everything started to go wrong.

With trembling hands, I changed out of the hospital gown and placed it on the bed.

By the time I finished, my hands were shaking so badly that I had to pause for a moment to steady my breathing.

I didn’t know if the shaking was caused by the pain, the weakness, or the fear of what would happen next.

All I knew was that I couldn’t stay here any longer.

I slowly walked toward the door, my legs weak and unreliable beneath me, but I forced myself to keep moving.

I had to leave before—

The door suddenly opened.

I froze instantly.

Standing in the doorway was Narra.

For a long moment, I stared at her, unable to breathe or think as the world around me stopped.

“Narra?”

Her eyes were red and swollen from crying.

“Aneira,” she breathed, her voice breaking as she quickly rushed toward me and wrapped her arms around me.

I stumbled slightly as she hugged me, my mind struggling to understand what I was seeing.

“You’re alive,” I said weakly, my voice filled with disbelief. “How are you alive?”

Narra began crying harder as she held onto me.

“I’m so sorry, Aneira,” she sobbed. "I’m so, so sorry for everything that happened to you."

I was surprised that she was even hugging me. We hated each other, and I never even once tried to make things right because she didn't even care for me.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

She hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. “Our mother hid me,” Narra muttered. "She faked my death and forced me to stay hidden so I wouldn't marry Rafael."

She pulled away and looked at me. "She wanted you to marry him because she thought he would kill me when he got his revenge against our father."

I looked at her and swallowed. It didn't surprise me that my mother hated me to the point where she faked my sister's death so I would marry a beast.

A man who had slowly destroyed my life piece by piece.

“Why are you telling me this now?” I asked after a long silence.

Narra looked up again, her expression filled with sorrow. “Because there’s something else you need to know.”

My stomach tightened. “What is it?”

She hesitated before finally speaking. “Mother is dead.”

My heart skipped painfully in my chest. “What?”

“Rafael killed her,” Narra muttered.

Even after everything she had done, I still hurt knowing she died.

“He found out the truth,” she continued. “He discovered that our mother lied to him and hid me so he would marry you instead. When he confronted her, she admitted everything.”

My chest tightened.

Rafael wasn't done killing everyone in my life. He wanted me to have nothing and no one.

"And he killed her for it," she added. "Mostly, he was angry that she didn't want her to marry me. He said he wanted me."

“How do you know all of this?” I asked.

“I’ve been in contact with some of Rafael’s men,” Narra explained. “Some of them felt guilty after everything that happened. They told me the truth and kept watch over you while I was hiding.”

Her voice softened. “They told me about the baby too.”

Then Narra gently took my hands in hers.

“I’m getting you out of here, Aneira,” she added. “I have money and people who can help us disappear. We can leave the country and start a new life somewhere Rafael will never be able to find us.”

For a moment, the idea was tempting. But something inside me refused to let it go so easily.

I shook my head. “I need to talk to him.”

Narra’s eyes widened with fear. “Aneira, no. He’s dangerous.”

I looked down at my trembling hands before answering. “He already destroyed my life.”

Then I lifted my head, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. “But I need answers.”

I swallowed hard.

“I need to hear the truth from him. He killed both our parents, Narra.”