Chapter 30 Bitter Relief
Isabella’s POV
A soft knock on the door shattered through my thoughts instantly, and before I could react, the door swung open. A servant woman entered, carrying a tray. The smell of warm broth and fresh bread hit me so strongly that my mouth watered instantly.
“The Alpha ordered we bring you food,” she said quietly, setting the tray on the small table beside the bed. “He instructs you to eat slowly and not rush.”
Fucking bastard!
After fucking me like a worthless sex toy some minutes ago now he starts to act all caring?
The moment the servant left, I pulled the tray closer with shaking hands. The scent of the rich, savory broth filled my nose instantly, the bread soft.
I ate like someone who had forgotten what food tasted like, dipping the bread into the liquid and devouring every bite without mercy. When I reached the cup of herbal tea at the end, I drank it without hesitation. It was warm and slightly bitter, but still it soothed my raw throat.
For the first time in days, a floor of relief washes through me instantly. Maybe Landon had finally started to see my importance, the importance of his child.
“We’re going to be fine, baby,” I muttered to myself, resting my hand gently on my still-flat stomach. “Just hold on a little longer for mummy—“
CREAK!
The sound of the door creaking open cuts me off before I can finish the words. I flinched immediately, expecting guards or worse, but instead, Clara stepped inside.
She closed the door behind her with a soft click and stood there for a moment, her eyes roaming all over me with an expression I had never seen on her face before — almost… regretful.
“Isabella,” she began quietly, approaching the bed where I was still seated. “I…I came to apologize to you.”
Holy shit!
Did I just hear her right?
I stared at her, too shocked to even say a word in response. Clara? The same woman who had slapped me, threatened my child, and called me rogue filth…was apologizing?
She sat on the edge of the bed, her hands folded neatly on her lap as she parted her lips to speak. “When my brother was hurt… I was terrified. I thought I was going to lose him, I’m sure you understand that any sister would act that way to protect her brother, wouldn’t she? I was cruel to you and I said things I shouldn’t have…”
“…and for that I’m very sorry.”
For a moment, I thought I’d misheard the entire words incorrectly. Her voice sounded sincere, there was even a hint of sadness in her eyes.
Part of me wanted to curse at her, to remind her of every harsh word and every slap, but the exhaustion and the warm food in my belly made me hesitate.
“Uhmmm—“
“I brought you this,” she cut in softly, pulling out a small flask from her pocket and pouring fresh herbal tea into my empty cup. “The healer prepared it specially for you…she said it will help you regain more strength especially since you didn’t eat or drink water for three days. So drink it all for the baby.”
She held the cup out to me without hesitation, a soft, encouraging smile forming at her lips. Before my brain could think twice, I took it slowly, even though every instinct was screaming not to collect it.
Maybe she really did regret how she had acted? Maybe the fear of losing Landon had changed something in her?
I lifted the cup to my lips and gulped every liquid down without stopping. The tea tasted slightly different from the first one, but I finished every drop, not wanting to seem ungrateful.
Clara’s eyes never left me for even a second the entire time, her gaze never leaving the cup until it was empty. The moment I set it down, she reached over and gently squeezed my hand.
“Rest now,” she said softly. “You need to be strong for the baby because my brother would want that.” She stood, smoothing the thin fabric of her dress, “I’ll leave you to recover now. Take care of yourself… and the child.”
With one last nod, she turned and walked out of the room, closing the door quietly behind her. A huge wave of relief flooded through me the second she left, I leaned back against the pillows, feeling strangely warm inside from the food, the tea, and Clara’s unexpected apology.
I placed both hands over my belly and closed my eyes, letting the exhaustion pull me under for a short rest.
A few hours passed. I wasn’t sure how long I had dozed off when the first cramp hit. It started as a dull ache low in my abdomen, but I simply dismissed it as my stomach adjusting to real food after days of starvation.
I shifted on the bed, trying to get comfortable, but the pain grew worse with each movement, twisting inside my stomach like a knife.
“Fuck!” The words tore out of me as I gasped, pressing a hand to my stomach as another cramp followed, stronger this time.
I tried sitting up slowly, sweat dripping across my forehead. The pain intensified into sharp, stabbing waves that made me bend over.
“Breathe, Isabella…” I whispered, telling myself it was nothing, just exhaustion or the baby shifting. But then I felt it — a warm, wet rush between my legs.
I looked down in horror.
“What the—!”
Blood.
Bright red blood was soaking through my gown, spreading rapidly across the sheets beneath me. It gushed out in a sudden, terrifying flood, warm and sticky against my thighs.
“No… no, no, no—” My voice echoed through the room in a panic-stricken whimper as the pain exploded into something unbearable, like my insides were being torn apart. I clutched my stomach with both hands, rising quickly from the bed as another violent cramp ripped through me.
“Help! Someone, please help me!” I screamed out, my voice breaking with every word. “My baby…please, baby!”
The Blood kept coming now, heavier than before, pooling on the floor beneath me. I could feel it — the life I had been protecting with every ounce of strength I had left was slipping away.
“Someone help!” I screamed again, louder this time, the sound echoing off the walls as fresh waves of agony crashed over me.
“Please… no… not my baby…”