Tides of Betrayal

My mind roared.

After hiding it for so long, he had finally spoken his true thoughts.

All those times he had said—

"She’s just my sister.

"Your mind is dirty, so everything you see looks dirty.

"Can you stop making a scene?"

Now, they all felt like a cruel joke.

The signs had always been there. I was just a fool, choosing to believe him over and over again.

I simply didn’t want thirteen years of love to turn into a punchline, yet it took him just three days to make me believe the truth.

But what had my child and I done wrong?

After three years of marriage, I had finally gotten pregnant, despite being told I could never conceive.

My always-busy husband immediately dropped everything to stay home with me.

The very next day, Serena was diagnosed with leukemia. Right in front of the entire family, blood poured endlessly from her nose before she collapsed to the ground.

After testing, I was the only compatible donor.

However, my doctor, Dr. Roland Blake, told me clearly that my pregnancy was already a miracle. If I underwent the procedure, not only would the baby be at risk, but my own life could be in danger as well.

I repeated Dr. Blake's words exactly.

My parents’ expressions turned cold instantly.

My mother, Celeste Malone, rushed forward and slapped me across the face. "You’re already pregnant and still lying? Aren’t you afraid karma will befall the child in your womb?"

"It’s just donating bone marrow. Are you going to die from that? Other people do it just fine. You’re just being dramatic! I think you’re just jealous of Selena. You’d rather see her die, wouldn’t you?!"

I held my cheek, looking at her, my nose stinging as I fought back tears. I quickly pulled out the medical report.

"This is what the doctor said. I didn’t lie—"

Before I could finish, she snatched the report from my hands.

I thought that once they saw it, they would believe me.

They didn’t even glance at it. Instead, they tore it into pieces.

My eyes widened in shock and anger. Before I could even question them, the shredded paper was flung straight at my face. The sharp edges sliced across my cheek, leaving a thin line of blood.

"Iris, you really came prepared, didn’t you? You’d rather watch your own sister die than help her?"

My father, Garrett Malone, chimed in coldly, "Iris, to avoid donating your bone marrow, you actually colluded with a doctor to fake a report? You’ve truly disappointed me."

It felt like a hole had been torn open in my chest, cold wind howling through it.

I didn’t understand.

We were both their daughters. Why couldn’t they spare even a single word of concern for me?

The evidence was right in front of them, yet they still believed I was lying, as if molding me into a selfish, heartless villain fit their view of me better.

My defense felt weak and meaningless.

When Lucian stepped in front of me, all the grievances I had been holding back surged to the surface. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.

I threw myself into his arms, wanting to ask why he had come so late.

He simply caught me, wiped my tears, and said calmly, "Saving her comes first, Iris. Let’s not keep the baby."

The embrace that once made me feel safe now felt like it was covered in thorns, stabbing into me until I could barely stand.

I shook my head, clinging to his arm, stubborn and terrified.

"No… I only have this child in my life. Lucian, this is your child, too. You can’t be this cruel. You can’t—"

My vision blurred with tears.

Lucian only looked at me calmly, as if I were a child throwing a tantrum. "Your health isn’t good. This child might not even make it. You know I’ve never cared about carrying on a bloodline. Wouldn’t it be better for us to live our lives as just the two of us?"

So what did that mean?

My body was fit enough to donate bone marrow to Selena, but not fit enough to keep my own child?

I stared at him, nearly breaking, my voice hoarse. "Lucian, do you remember why my health is like this?"

Three years ago, during our wedding photoshoot, a careless mistake by the photographer had swept us into the ocean.

He couldn’t swim.

I had put the only flotation ring on him for the shot, and the heavy wedding dress dragged me down into the water.

I was unconscious for three days before I woke up.