Chapter Eleven

JESSICA'S POV ~

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, shocked by the swelling on my face, as though I had been beaten mercilessly. My lips curled into a self-loathing sneer as I picked up the heating pad beside me and began dabbing it on the spot where Sofia had slapped me twice.

I despised being a lowly omega despite my years of effort to elevate my rank and appear strong; still, my build remained the same. My body functions continued to act like an omega, and couldn't quickly heal, I was almost a human and it was utterly disgusting to me. I longed for a moment when I could tear my skin off, hoping my omega traits would disappear, even if only temporarily.

I never expected the shock I received today. No, it wasn't the slap that shocked me but Emma revealing my long-hidden secret to Keagan and his family. I thought I would die on the spot. I remembered how my heart had lurched into my throat, my stomach had knotted, and how I wished to vanish into thin air at that moment.

I recalled the countless times I had pulled my hair, punishing myself for being so careless. I had scribbled a few things on the diary, promising to hide them in my deeper drawer once I was done only to forget.

How could I be so careless? Right now, I felt terrified and panic-stricken. I had no idea what Keagan might be planning for me.

I sighed for the umpteenth time before pulling myself away from the mirror and returning to my bed, every ounce of appetite vanishing from my body.

My eyes snapped open after only a few seconds of closing them, and my heart sank. Does Emma know about my pregnancy? Had she told Keagan?

Sweat broke out on my skin and I wondered if Keagan would claim ownership or ask me to abort the pregnancy. Or would he have me give birth and then make me disappear? Why was he so quiet? The suspense was killing me. If he was angry, at least I would understand.

I broke into sobs, hugging the pillow on the bed as my body shook. I bit the pillow to muffle the sounds of my pain, but it was so heart-wrenching that the horrible sounds slipped out.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps outside the door brought my tears to a halt, and my heart raced with panic. I slowly sat up, wondering if it was Keagan right outside the door about to enter and kill me. I tried to sniff out whose scent it was, but my sense of smell wasn't acute enough to detect scents from such a distance.

"Oh my God! This is so bad. I can't believe it," I heard one of the maids exclaim outside the door, making me tense up even more. Were they talking about me? My chest tightened.

"Where is she?" the second voice asked, and I strained my ears to listen.

"I heard she's bleeding profusely and has been admitted to the hospital. I can't even imagine how she is right now. I hope she doesn't lose her life. She has been so nice to everyone here unlike the Alpha's first wife." the first one answered, causing me to frown.

I wiped away my tears and slowly climbed out of the bed, my expression marked with confusion.

Who were they talking about? I didn't understand. It was clearly not me, because I wasn't admitted anywhere nor I was bleeding

I slowly unlocked the door, and the maids' eyes widened in shock when they realized they had been caught. They tried to scurry away, but I stopped them, stepping fully out of the guest room.

"Uhm, hey," I called out to them, noticing their nervous glances. "Who are you talking about?"

The maids shared a look once more before one of them reluctantly answered, "It's Mistress Emma..." My heart squeezed slightly with jealousy upon hearing them give her a title, but I tried to push it away. "...She has been admitted to the hospital where she's fighting for her life. She got into an accident earlier.”

I gasped in shock, taking a step back as my hands flew to my mouth.

The heck! How was that possible!?

It wasn't like I was gloating over what had happened to Emma, but damn! That girl was too cruel to be a friend to anyone. Perhaps this was karma striking her. I felt bad but not bad enough.

Still pretending to be horrified, I shook my head continuously and took several steps back.

"Uhm…Where's... Where's Keagan?" I asked, feeling slightly uncomfortable that the maids must have known what had transpired today between us.

"Someone called him. The alpha and his parents are currently on their way to the hospital or must have arrived by now to see her," the second maid answered. I felt a bitter taste rise in my throat before my heart did its usual clenching again.

I nodded, muttered a thank you, and then moved back into the room to slump on the bed, a swirl of emotions churning inside me.

Several hours later, I made my decision. I was already dressed and boarding a taxi, despite the guards' attempts to prevent me from leaving the house. It seemed like I was on house arrest but I didn't care. I yanked my arm away from their grip and slipped into the car, yelling at the taxi man to speed away.

Finally, we made our way to the hospital.

It was challenging to locate Emma's ward since she had been admitted to the VVIP section, and access was restricted to only family members.

Upon arriving at the ward, I couldn't help but notice the level of care Keagan was providing for Emma. He had placed numerous security guards across the hospital buildings, with two particularly intimidating men right outside her ward.

It made my lips curl into a bitter smile, but I didn't want any emotion that was unhealthy for the baby to engulf me. Maybe I was wrong. Perhaps Keagan was indeed in love with Emma, and all this time, I had been feeding myself with delusional hopes. Maybe this was meant to happen.

Recognizing me, the guards allowed me into the ward, and my jaw went slack at the sight. The ward was massive, perhaps not as wide as a mall, but it was unusually large for just an hospital ward.

Painted in a stunning gold, it exuded luxury.

The only thing that made it feel like a hospital was the smell of antiseptics and medicines filling. my nostrils. They almost made me want to puke, but I swallowed repeatedly before proceeding. Sofia was sobbing near Emma's bed, and I couldn't tell if Emma was awake or unconscious.

My stomach tightened, and I couldn't help but rub my belly, trying to reassure my unborn child that I was there for him or her.

As I began making my way into the ward, the soles of my slippers slapped against the marble floor, and Keagan's head lifted in my direction. His gaze instantly darkened. I saw him tense, and that look did nothing but stab me a million times, causing me to falter in my tracks. I bit my lip unconsciously, fiddling with the side of my loose gown.

As usual, Sofia was the first to snap. "What in hell's name is this witch doing here?" She paused her sobs and turned to me with a murderous glare, accompanied by Evan's disgusted look. I gulped hard, as though I had swallowed a large rock.

"I'm asking you, and you're keeping mute, you bitch!" Sofia continued. "Keagan, take a look at this—she's putting on her fake pity expression to charm you. Stop staring into her eyes. I know her type. She must have sent a black spell at Emma and caused her accident." Sofia roared, shaking with fury, and for a moment, I thought she might have a heart attack.

My mouth hung open at her words, and I couldn't believe it. "I'm... I'm not a witch!" I tried to correct her, but Keagan was already growling, making my stomach sink further.

"Go home, Jessica. You're not meant to be here!" Keagan said in an eerily calm tone that made every hair on my neck stand up. He was so calm. My eyes stung so painfully that I bit my lip.

"Keagan... Please... Emma is my—"

"Go home right now! I don't want to see your fucking face!" Keagan growled, and I flinched from both pain and shock.

My hands almost flew to my tummy, but I clenched my fists and stared deep into Keagan's eyes, wishing he could read my emotions and realize how much I loved him. Keagan, however, threw a cold glare my way before turning back to look at Emma, who lay sleeping with bandages wrapped around her body. He took her hand gently and kissed it, and the tears I had been holding back began to fall.

Sofia gloated at this and smirked. "Get away from here, bitch! People like you should never see good things—you should just die."

My chest clenched so tightly that I instantly spun around, wanting to escape this cruel situation. Just before I could race to the ward's door, it clicked open, revealing a doctor and two nurses with a trolley.

Seeing them, I paused in my tracks, lowered my eyes to hide my tears, and stepped out of the way for them. But before I could completely move away, my eyes caught a report in the doctor's hand, and I froze. I needed to hear what was about to be said.

So I moved behind the changing curtains and peeked through the slits in it.

"Alpha Keagan," I heard the doctor say with a curt nod. Keagan didn't bother to respond to his greeting so he continued. "I brought the reports from the tests we conducted, and here they are." The doctor handed the file over to Sofia, whose expression turned solemn.

My heart almost jumped into my throat. Oh Goddess! Was Emma pregnant too?

I clenched my fists and jaw tightly, holding my breath and waiting for the doctor or anyone to read aloud the contents of the report.

"I don't understand any of this, doctor," Sofia scowled, giving the file back to the doctor, who sighed as he took it.

Thank God! I was dying from curiosity and anxiety.

"I'm sorry to announce this, but the tests indicate that due to the trauma of the metal that pierced her, Miss Emma has lost her womb, meaning she will never be able to bear a child. My deepest condolences," the doctor said, taking a few steps away from Emma, who began to stir awake.

I shouldn't have done that, oh goddess, but at that moment, when the room turned pin drop silent, a shriek escaped my throat, and all eyes turned to me.