ManyWriters

Xavion's newly acquired seventy-second lover was pregnant. I discovered this just after I had finished dealing with his previous obsessively clingy little bird who was already showing.
Right in front of me, lover number seventy-two cradled her belly as she perched on Xavion's lap:
"I heard that Serenity's opera performances before her pregnancy were among the best in the circle. I'd love to hear it~ Mr. Winters, could you make her change into costume and sing for me right now? If she pleases me..."
She leaned closer to Xavion, her eyes filled with seduction.
"Tonight, Mr. Winters can play however he wants."
Xavion's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, then in the next instant, he looked up at me.
He didn't say anything, but everyone present understood his meaning.
With a pale face, I clutched my stomach and pleaded with him:
"Xavion, please, no. Singing and dancing, I'll miscarry!"
The crowd burst into laughter. Xavion, feeling embarrassed, looked at me with disdain:
"It's not like you haven't miscarried before. If you lose it, can't you just get pregnant again? Why are you still standing there?""Strip off your clothes now! If you can't cheer Vivienne up, you might as well not come down from that stage tonight!"
With that, the crowd roughly tore off my outer garments.
I was stripped bare, their mocking gazes roaming over every inch of my body. Their disgusting stares made my pregnant belly ache with pangs of discomfort.
Finally, having had their fill of looking, they tossed me a costume like some kind of charity.
With trembling hands, I put on the costume, watching as Xavion and Vivienne shared a passionate kiss surrounded by the adoring crowd.
In the chaotic breeze, I began to sing, my laughter bitter.
Xavion, this is the seventh time, and it will be the last.

My Heart Ached Seven Times In the Harsh Winter

Mrs. Winters felt her eyelid twitch, suddenly feeling a bit afraid of her son standing before her.


Getting the affirmative answer, Xavion walked out without another word.


This left Mrs. Winters feeling uncertain.


After a sleepless night, the next day she heard about Vivienne's miscarriage from Xavion's assistant.


Vivienne was hanging on for dear life on the whipping post, her mouth constantly begging for mercy.


Xavion sat in the viewing stand, fiddling with a lighter, his expression unreadable.


After a long while, he finally lit a cigarette and let Vivienne go.


Vivienne tried to hold him back reluctantly, but only received his mockery.


"You? A cheap whore who's been used up by others, wanting to be my Mrs. Winters? Why don't you take a good look in the mirror and see if you're worthy! The bastard in your belly could be anyone's, and you really thought you could lord it over Serenity if you gave birth to it?"


Chapter 8