The hatred lingers, and they will never meet

After my third premature delivery ended in stillbirth, I hemorrhaged severely, likely due to emotional stress. Meanwhile,?James Carter climbed the hill to the church, performing a solemn ritual of penance to pray for my recovery.

Fresh from surgery, I lay in the hospital bed, just opening my eyes, about to ring for a nurse.

But I overheard James talking with the doctor outside my room.

"James, this is the third child you and Claire have lost. Even the strongest woman can't bear losing three children!"

"Ellen Hayes says she needs infant hearts for her treatment, and you're killing your own children for her? You're out of your mind."

"I promised Ellen I'd cure her. Once she's well, Claire and I will have a healthy child.I'll spend my life making it up to Claire, treating her right..."

My trembling hand froze.

To him, our children's lives were merely ingredients for Ellen's cure. Now that fate had revealed the truth,?I won't let James deceive or use me again.

"These three pregnancies ending in stillbirths have severely damaged Claire's body. If you keep pushing her to conceive, aren't you worried her body can't handle it?"

"She's your wife, James. This is cruel. How will she face those lost children?"

James cut the doctor off, irritated.

"Enough. I only asked you because you're my friend. This is my family businessstay out of it."

"Make sure Claire gets the best meds to recover quickly so she can conceive again."

The doctor sighed, pained.

"Claire's been pregnant three years straight, and with this hemorrhage, she'll need at least a year to recover before another pregnancy."

"Ellen can't wait a year. I don't care howwhen Claire's discharged, I want her pregnant immediately!"

James's tone was resolute, unyielding.

As the doctor left, he glanced at my chart, a flicker of pity crossing his face.

"James, we've all seen Claire's devotion to you. How can you... Never mind. Just think it over, don't regret this."

"Get the meds ready."

James pushed the door open, and I quickly shut my eyes.

He covered?one hand over the IV tube, warming the cold fluid with his body heat.

With the other, he sent a voice message to Ellen.

"Ellen, you got the medicine, right? Take care of yourself. Don't worry about the supplyI promised to cure you, and I won't break my word."

I fought back tears.

The love I believed in was a complete lie.

James proposed suddenlybecause Ellen was sick and needed treatment.

We soon conceived, with normal checkups, but at seven months, I delivered a stillborn.

I blamed myself, but James held me, kissing and comforting me.

"Sweetheart, it's okay. We're young. This child will come back to us."

"Focus on resting, getting strong."

With his support, I pulled myself together, emerging from grief.

But the next year, at eight months, another stillbirth. The doctor called it bad luck.

James played the doting husband, promising we'd have a healthy baby next time.

This time, it happened again.

Three years of guilt, self-blame, and fear

All a scheme to cure Ellen, a trap set for me.

I slowly opened my eyes.

James's concerned gaze met mine.

"Sweetheart, you're awake? Feeling okay?"

"Need me to call the doctor? Is the incision hurting?"

This scene was the third time.

His acting had grown flawless.

If I hadn't overheard the truth, I'd have fallen for it again.

I touched my flat stomach.

"I couldn't save this child either, James. Let's not try for kids anymore."

Panic flashed across his face.

He fumbled in his pocket, pulling out a blessed charm and pressing it into my hand.

"Sweetheart, I climbed the hill this morning, kneeling and bowing for this charm. It'll protect you and our next child."

"Don't give up, okay? The next one will be healthy."

I stared into his eyes.

"James, my body can't take it anymore."

His expression froze.

Swallowing my grief and rage, I asked casually," What did the doctor say?"

He cupped my face, serious.

"The doctor says you're fine. Once you're discharged, we can start trying again."

"Don't worry, I'll get the best meds switched in. Focus on healing, not the baby."

He stepped out of the room.

He didn't notice my rigid body or the disappointment in my eyes.

The moment he left, he called someone, his voice carrying through the wall.

"Didn't I tell you to switch Claire to the potent drugs? Why haven't you?"

"We used them beforewhy not now? She's so weak."

"I don't care about side effects. I want her better now, discharged in a week."

Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, I wept.?

This was the man who proposed, vowing to love me forever, to always treat me well.

All lies and harm.

I glanced at the floor, spotting another charm, identical to mine.

But this one had Ellen Hayes's name on the back.

So, James's pilgrimagewas it for me and our child's safety, or Ellen's health?

He soon returned with the doctor to change my IV.

He gently helped me sit, placing a pillow behind my waist, kissing my forehead.

"Sweetheart, this is imported medicine. You'll be better soon."

He watched the side-effect-laden drug enter my body, his face warm with care.

I had to admit, he was ruthless, showing no mercy.

When he left, I booked an international flight and applied to erase my identity records.

Over the next few days, he stayed by my side, wiping my body, feeding me, making me laugh.

Even the doctors and nurses envied my" perfect husband."

He didn't tire of acting, and I didn't bother exposing him.

On the day of my discharge, he greeted me with 999 roses.?

That night, fresh from my shower, he kissed me eagerly.

As he moved further, I pushed him away hard.

"I just got out of the hospital. I need rest."

His eyes flashed with displeasure, but he comforted me patiently.

"Sweetheart, I checked with the doctor today. He says you're fine."

He leaned in again.

I shoved harder, knocking him to the floor.

His face darkened.

"If you're not feeling well, fine.I've got work tonightI won't be back."

He slammed the door and left.

I threw on a coat, went to the study, and rifled through drawers for my documents.

?After finding my passport and ID, I spotted a pristine black book on a dusty shelf. When I tried to pick it up, a hidden door in the wall swung open.

Inside, a table draped in red cloth held three glass jars.

I leaned closer and nearly screamed, cold sweat soaking my back.

The jars contained three heartless infant corpses.

Were these my lost children?

Calming myself, I noticed red symbols scrawled on the jars, incomprehensible to me.

I photographed them, blurring the corpses, and posted online for answers.

Replies came quickly.

"These look like suppression runes, used to bind heinous sinners, trapping their souls from moving on, forever cursed."

"My priest friend says these are curses to prevent souls from seeking revenge."

Reading the replies, I trembled with rage.

James cursed even his own children.

Pure evil.

Was he scared for himself, or protecting Ellen from their vengeance?

The next morning, James returned, someone trailing him.

"Claire, long time no see."

Ellen peeked from behind James, flashing a playful smile.

He explained," Mom and Dad haven't seen Ellen in ages. We're having a family dinner today, so I brought her along."

Fearing misunderstanding, he added," I was at the office all night, then picked her up this morning."

Ellen and James were childhood sweethearts, so it made sense his parents wanted to see her.

"Don't worry, I'm not overthinking. It's getting latelet's go."

Seeing I wasn't upset, James quietly relaxed.

He opened the passenger door for me, but Ellen slipped in.

"Claire, I'm frail and get carsick in the back."

She shot me a smug grin.

James didn't object, so I took the back seat.

On the drive, I closed my eyes, resting.

Ellen and James chatted about childhood memories, excluding me.

At the dinner table, because of my third stillbirth, James's parents gave me cold looks.

Pent-up grievances erupted.

Excusing myself as full, I headed to the garden.

I yanked off my wedding ring and hurled it into the pond.

Ellen appeared beside me, standing shoulder to shoulder.

"Claire, three years, no child for James. Must hurt."

"Premature babies don't always die."

"I saw one alive once. His eyes were gorgeous, like yours."

"Shame he never saw his mom before he died"

"Enough."

I raised my hand, not even grazing her.

She fell into the pond.

Before I could react, James scooped her up, yelling at me.

"Claire, are you insane? Why attack Ellen?"

"You know she's frailtrying to kill her?"

Ellen, nestled in his arms, spoke weakly.

"I just saw Claire was sad about the baby and wanted to comfort her. I didn't expect her to push me..."

"Don't blame her. Losing a child hurts."

James's face hardened.

"Claire, apologize to Ellen!"

I laughed bitterly.

"Apologize? You two should be the ones apologizing!"

"Don't you know how my children died?"

Panic flickered in his eyes.

"Didn't the doctor say it was bad luck?"

"You can't blame innocent people just because you lost your kids."

His parents rushed over when they heard the commotion.

"A woman who can't carry on the Carter linewhy bother with her?"

"We shouldn't have stopped you from being with Ellen. Her health's better than Claire's."

"Take Ellen inside to changedon't let her catch a cold."

Watching them leave, I gritted my teeth in hatred.

I stormed out of the Carter estate, taking a cab away.

Minutes later, James texted.

"Don't be upset about today.?I was just acting. Ellen's got a cold and needs to stay here to recover, so I'll stay a few days to be with Mom and Dad."

"They're not really madthey just want a grandchild. Buy some gifts in a few days to smooth things over."

Want a grandchild?

I'd make sure they got a gift they'd never forget.

Over the next three days, James didn't come home.

I got rid of everything in the house that was mine.

Before boarding my flight, I called James.

Ellen answered, whispering," Claire, James is cooking me porridge. No time for your call."

"You probably know the truth by now, but you might not know my illness was cured ages ago. Those three kids'hearts? I fed them to dogs."

"No such thing as a heart-based remedyjust a joke I made, and he believed it."

Before I could respond, James took the phone.

"Sweetheart, I was busy. What's up?"

I bit my lip so hard it bled.?

"James, the gift for your parents is ready. It's on its way."

"Sweetheart, you're the best."

I hung up, tossed my SIM card, and boarded the plane.

James returned to Ellen's porridge, reminding the maid to deliver his gift to his parents.

Minutes later, his parents screamed in horror.

"What is this? James, get over here and see what Claire sent!"