Behind the Veil

Cruel Man

A week flew by. The homecoming party was grandiose, gathering most, if not all, the bluebloods in the city. Nathaniel was holding my hand, our fingers intertwined. He hissed quietly, "You've had enough time to think it through, so don't make a scene."

I said nothing, nor did I give him a moment of my time.

Then, the boy came up to me. Before everyone's eyes, he held my hands and called me his mother.

Finally, I spoke up. "I'm not your mother, and I'll never regard you as my son."

That was a bombshell, and it sent waves rippling across the room. The guests exchanged looks, but the gist of the story hit them almost immediately. When they looked at Nathaniel again, there was only disdain and contempt in their eyes.

The disgraced Nathaniel turned blue and white with rage. His hand clamped down on my wrist. "What are you doing? You can either acknowledge him as your son, or it's the hospital with you!"

He was insistent. He was already a father, so it escaped my understanding as to how he could say something so inhumane. He knew how hard I'd worked to get this baby.

I subjected myself to countless medicines, forcing myself to swallow all sorts of ungodly bitter pills. I took injection after injection just to boost my chances.

Now, he was going to throw my baby away for his love child. I answered, "I will not raise another woman's son."

Helen looked as if I'd just thrown a basin of dirty water at her. Then, the screen in the hall lit up, and the first thing that came up was a photo of Helen and Nathaniel in bed. The screen began to scroll. The photos were taken five years ago.

Chaos galloped into the hall right away. Nathaniel froze, his eyes on the screen. Helen jabbed a finger in my face, her own face flush with crimson anger.

"I know you hate me, Ginevra, but you shouldn't have shown everyone those photos! I know it was my fault five years ago! Nathaniel got drunk and thought I was you, but that doesn't mean you can do this! Hate it all you want, but Nelson is still Nathaniel's son!"

Her words painted a vivid picture for all the guests.

"Ah, so the boy's a love child. That explains it."

"My, my. What juice drama."

Muffled chuckles sneaked into the air. Nathanie hastily told the staff to turn off the screen before slapping me hard.

I could taste metal in my mouth, and my mind was in a daze. When I raised my head, I met Nathaniel's eyes. They were filled with hatred. His chest was heaving with rage, and he ordered someone to drag me to the hospital.

I thrashed and squirmed and tried to fight back, but the bodyguards' strength overpowered mine.

…

A wave of pain stabbed through my stomach, and I felt blood flowing from my lower body. On the way to the hospital, the doctor tried to give me an injection that could save the baby.

Nathaniel blurted, "Perform an induced labor. I don't want the baby."

My mind exploded. "I didn't do it!"

Nathaniel sneered. "It doesn't matter. This is a lesson. I'll teach you to never lay a hand on them!"

My baby was going to die because of this monster. I wailed and begged, "I'm sorry! I shouldn't have done that, but the baby's innocent! You can't kill them! You're the father! Please don't do this to me, Nathaniel!"

My pleas fell on deaf ears. Nathaniel shoved me into the operating room. The baby was stillborn. My baby girl died before she could even see the world.

I lay on the chilling operating theater, my face buried in my hands. I cried my heart out. The tears just wouldn't stop. After a while, a giggle fell from my lips despite the tears rolling down my cheeks.

…

I tossed the divorce papers onto a bench in the corridor and dragged my battered body away, carefully embracing the small body of my daughter in my arms.

I gave him a second chance five years ago, and all I got out of it was nothing but hell on earth. I would not make the same mistake again. I refused.