Chapter 2

Sienna's POV

Two bodyguards step forward. One grabs my hair and yanks it back hard. My scalp feels like it's tearing, neck forced backward at a brutal angle.

Another one punches me in the back. Something cracks. They're avoiding my stomach, hitting everywhere else.

I try to move, but my hair is locked in his grip. Sharp pain shoots through my ribs. Something's definitely broken.

The pain makes it hard to speak. I start coughing, tasting copper. Blood drips from my mouth onto the floor.

Garrett sees the blood. Color drains from his face.

He raises his hand. "Alright, that's enough."

The bodyguards let go. I collapse.

"Had enough?" Garrett asks, trying to keep his voice steady.

I push against the floor, trying to get up. Another cough. More blood comes up, splattering on his suit pants.

Garrett stares at the stain. His face twists. "You fucking—"

He kicks me hard in the stomach.

Pain explodes through my belly, like someone poured molten metal into my womb. I curl up, mouth open, but no sound comes out.

"Disgusting bitch!" Garrett's still yelling. "Good thing my brother never married you! Vanessa's the one who deserves him!"

Something inside tears. Warm liquid runs down my thighs. Blood? Water? I can't tell anymore.

My baby.

Fear washes over me like ice water.

The villa goes quiet.

Garrett realizes what he's done. His face goes white. He stares at my stomach for a moment, then spins around.

"Watch her," he tells the bodyguards. "I need to... I'm going to find my brother."

He stumbles down the stairs and drives off.

The bodyguards stay where they are, faces blank. No one comes closer.

The cold floor presses against my cheek.

I don't feel cold anymore. Just pain. Like fire burning through my womb, consuming everything.

The wetness beneath me keeps spreading. I still can't tell if it's fluid or blood.

My vision starts to blur.

In the darkness, I hear crying.

Soft. Faint. Like it's coming from miles away.

"Mommy..."

My baby's calling for me.

Tears run down, mixing with the blood on the floor. I want to lift my hand, touch my stomach, tell him I'm here. But I can't move.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry, baby.

Mommy can't protect you.

Breathing gets harder, like someone's squeezing my throat. Everything in my vision shakes, losing focus.

I'm dying. My baby and I are both dying here.

At some point, the door lock turns.

"Jesus Christ—"

A man's voice, full of shock.

I force my eyes open. Marcus is standing there, his briefcase hitting the floor. Blake's friend.

He rushes over. "Sienna? Oh my God—"

He sees all the blood and goes pale.

"What did you do to her?! You're killing her!" He rounds on the bodyguards.

One of them says flatly, "We're just following Mr. Harrington's orders."

"What orders?! She's dying!" Marcus pulls out his phone and dials. "Blake, she's bleeding everywhere! Something's really wrong—"

Blake's voice crackles through, impatient. "Marcus, she's playing you."

"But—"

"She's acting," Blake cuts him off, voice ice cold. "Just ignore her, grab the files and go."

"Blake, I really think—"

"Enough." Blake's tone hardens. "If you're my friend, drop it."

The call ends.

Marcus stands frozen.

He looks down at me. I can't speak anymore, can only stare at him, eyes struggling to focus.

Please. Please save my baby.

He clenches his jaw and stands, walking toward the study for the files.

He's leaving. My last hope is gone.

I close my eyes.

Footsteps come closer. I open my eyes again. Marcus is still staring at me.

Finally, he turns to the bodyguards. "Call the family doctor anyway. I don't want to wake up tomorrow and see the Harrington family on the news for a death."

The bodyguards hesitate, then one makes the call.

Twenty minutes later, a middle-aged man carrying a medical bag hurries in.

He sees my condition and sucks in a sharp breath.

"She needs a hospital NOW!" The doctor examines me quickly, voice urgent. "I can't handle an emergency like this here with nothing!"

"Mr. Harrington said she doesn't leave the villa," one bodyguard says coldly.

The doctor glares at them, then pulls out what little supplies he has from his bag.

He gives me a painkiller injection and presses gauze against the wounds.

But it's not nearly enough.