Chapter 8
Kendra was lucky. Despite the heavy bleeding, the baby survived.
Meanwhile, Aria was finding it impossible to accept her circumstances. Her years in prison had scarred her, triggering her depression. She had managed to keep it under control for a long time, but this blow was too much. It had shattered her faith in everything.
Those with acute depression often oscillate between deep sadness and sudden violence. But instead of hurting others, they often hurt themselves.
It was the same for Aria. She needed to inflict pain on her own body. The physical pain was the only thing that reminded her she was still alive.
She needed to survive. For Leo. Without her, he would be utterly alone.
After what she had done to Kendra, she knew Cade would make her pay.
Indeed, he came to see her after Kendra’s condition stabilized.
He found her lying prostrate on the bed. With ferocious aggression, he grabbed her shoulder. “Aria, how could you be so cruel! After everything you’ve done to Kendra, you even tried to take away her baby?”
“Did you know the baby…”
Cade gripped her shoulder tightly, but she didn’t stir.
Her lack of response enraged him. With mounting anger, he flipped her over and seized her by the throat. “Explain yourself! How could you be so cruel!? You killed our child. Are you trying to kill Kendra’s baby, too?”
A drop of blood landed on his hand. Finally, he realized something was wrong.
Blood was oozing from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes were tightly shut. She looked frail, enfeebled. The skin on her arms was crisscrossed with fresh, horrendous injuries. Like a broken doll, she looked fragile and lifeless.
How did she end up like this?
A wave of panic swept through him. “Aria, wake up! Aria, open your eyes! Doctor! Doctor!”
He slammed the emergency button, calling for a doctor. After a thorough examination, the doctors concluded the blood was from gastrointestinal bleeding caused by stress. As for her arms, the injuries were self-inflicted.
The doctors told him self-harm was a common sign of acute depression.
Cade was utterly confused. Six years ago, she had left him for Julian Kinsley. They had been together ever since. How did she get depressed?
What exactly had happened during that time? Did she get depressed because he broke up with her?
Cade had no idea that Aria had been imprisoned. He could have easily found out everything she had been through, but he never had the courage to face the truth.
He cared for her so much that he allowed his own cowardice to blind him. Her attachment to Julian was the last thing he wanted to confirm.
Aria slept for three days straight. All that time, Cade was by her side. He held her hand, caressing the back of it with his thumb.
He planted a soft kiss on her knuckles. “Aria, wake up. I’ll give you another chance if you just wake up.”
“You always wanted a paternity test between me and Leo, right? I’ll do it. Just wake up.”
Kendra stood at the door, overhearing his monologue. She covered her mouth, trying to stifle a gasp of alarm. She never thought he would agree to the test.
Nothing could change the fact that Leo was his son. Her years of careful planning would be for nothing once he found out the truth.
Therefore, she could not allow that to happen. The test must not be done.
She glared defiantly at the unconscious woman on the hospital bed. She would never truly have Cade’s heart as long as Aria was around. The obstacle had to be eradicated. Aria must die.
Aria, I’ll only have peace of mind once you and Leo are both dead.