A Womb Full of Vengeance

"Papa—"

The next morning, Cassandra burst into her father's bedroom and stopped dead.

The scene before her was impossible. She found me, naked, nestled fast asleep in her father's arms.

She flew into a rage, pouncing on me like a lioness, reaching to grab my hair and drag me from the bed. She shrieked, "You filthy slut! Are you that desperate for a man? How dare you climb into my father's bed? I'll kill you!"

I didn't fight back. I only gave her a frightened, innocent, doe-eyed look before quickly averting my gaze and closing my eyes. But my trembling shoulders sold the act.

"That's enough, Cassandra. Stop it." A satisfied Silas Costello propped his head on one hand, lazily leaning against the headboard and watching the show.

"Papa, how could you let her seduce you?" Cassandra whined, her voice taking on a childish pout.

Silas glanced at me. I kept my head down, sobbing silently. He assured Cassandra, "She's just another woman. After your mother passed, I have my needs."

"But… but…"

"That's enough. You're an adult now. Stop acting like a spoiled child. Get out."

Cassandra shot me a venomous glare before reluctantly backing away.

"Papa, for all these years, I never minded you having mistresses, but what gives this woman the right to spend the night here? She's not worthy of sleeping in this bed!" Her voice rose, taking on an accusatory edge she was too furious to notice.

Silas's face darkened. "Get out!" he ordered, his tone brooking no argument.

...

That morning, Silas led me by the hand to the dining room for breakfast. When Cassandra saw us, her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

I smirked inwardly. This, too, was all part of my plan.

Just moments before, after Cassandra had stormed out, I had feigned a fall onto the cold floor. When Silas asked what was wrong, I shyly explained that he had been so... thorough... last night that my legs were still weak.

The remark was clearly the highest compliment a woman could give, and it put him in an excellent mood as he proudly led me downstairs.

Cassandra had completely lost her appetite. She suddenly interjected, "If only Mamma were still here."

Her words sent a chill through the dining room. She looked at me smugly, pointedly reminiscing about the times when her mother was alive. Finally, she concluded, "Papa, I don't care how many women you have, because I know you promised Mamma you would never remarry."

She pointed a finger at me. "Papa, be with anyone you want, just not her. I hate her. Please, don't see her again."

After a long silence, Silas slowly nodded. His answer swept the gloom from Cassandra's face. She excitedly hugged him and kissed his cheek. "Papa, you're the best!"

Then, she arrogantly placed her hands on her hips and yelled at me, "Get out!"

I gave Silas a deep, meaningful look, my eyes welling with tears, but I didn't beg.

"Alright, alright," he sighed. "Let her finish her breakfast before she leaves."

An oppressive silence fell over the room.

He finally spoke. "My lost little bird, I haven't asked your name."

"My name is Seraphina Riley," I answered, then quickly lowered my head. "I'm finished eating."

He frowned, looking at the nearly untouched plate in front of me. Nevertheless, he ordered the driver to take me home.

...

Life after that night became exceptionally difficult, as Cassandra grew even more brazen in sending her men to harass me.

"You think sleeping with my father for one night makes you special? You reek of the slums to your very core, and you can never wash it off! You'll always be beneath me!"

Oh, is that so?

I smirked, gently stroking my lower abdomen. What Cassandra didn't know was that the women in my family were gifted with a rare fertility; we are all incredibly fertile, and our pregnancies are always unusually smooth.

My mother gave birth to ten children. My aunt had eight.

After that night with Silas, I could already feel a new life taking root inside me. Cassandra, the so-called Costello Principessa, thought she could do as she pleased because she was Silas's only heir.

Now, she had competition.