When Beckett found out Salome was pregnant, he was so excited he couldn’t sleep a wink all night.
This was it. This was perfect.
Now that his brother would have an heir, Beckett could finally go back to Edith and
reclaim her as his own.
Salome’s mother–in–law insisted she stay in the hospital for the duration of her pregnancy, just in case anything happened. That way, a doctor would always be near if something went wrong.
It was obvious–the older woman was thrilled about the baby growing in Salome’s belly.
In fact, she was so overjoyed she couldn’t help but brag a little at every meal, chatting with the Vance family’s household staff about every little thing. “Make this salad a bit more sour, would you? You know what they say–craving sour food means it’s a boy. My darling daughter–in–law can’t get enough, always asking for tangy dishes. I’ll bring her some of this lemony soup later.”
Edith’s cramps were so bad that she could barely eat. After only a few bites, a sharp pain twisted her lower abdomen.
She set her fork and knife down. “You all enjoy. I’m done.”
The moment she started to stand, Beckett looked over nervously. “You’ve barely touched your food. Is something wrong? Does nothing appeal to you?”
Edith almost laughed. Now he cared about her?
What was the point?
The maids, eager to please her mother–in–law, had made every dish so tart it was almost painful to swallow. Edith had always preferred sweets–especially during her period.
Of course, Beckett knew this better than anyone, but he pretended not to notice and asked if the food wasn’t to her liking.
All Edith could think of was an old saying: “Like a toad crawling on your foot–not dangerous, just disgusting.”
That about summed it up.
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15:05
Chapter 6
“If you like it so much, be my guest.”
With that, she headed upstairs without looking back, leaving Beckett and his mother at the table, both of them wearing tight, dissatisfied expressions.
“Tsk, tsk. Just look at her,” the old woman complained, packing up the lemony fish for Salome. “Her sister–in–law gets pregnant and suddenly Edith acts prickly as a hedgehog, snapping at everyone, showing no respect for her elders. It’s disgraceful!”
She kept grumbling as she boxed up the food, her mind already wandering to how the Vance family–long plagued by a lack of heirs–was about to flourish. The smile on her face was so wide it deepened every wrinkle.
Beckett put down his fork, appetite gone, and stared up at the spiral staircase.
Edith’s slim figure had already disappeared around the landing. Beckett sat there, lost in thought.
Late that night, Edith took some painkillers, and as the medicine finally dulled her cramps, she drifted toward sleep–until she heard a faint rustling outside her door.
It creaked open, and a dark figure slipped inside, startling her awake.
She blinked and saw–it was Beckett.
He was holding a small plate of crème caramel.
Edith had never liked eggs, always complaining about the smell. Back when they were together, Beckett used to make her this dessert himself, and out of guilt for making him go to so much trouble, she’d pinch her nose and force it down.
Now, just the scent of it made her nauseous.
Beckett approached her bed, balancing the plate carefully. This room had once been his, too. During the months he’d been busy “helping” his brother start a family, his heart had never truly left Edith or this room. Now that Salome was in the hospital, he finally had the chance to see Edith again.
“I made this myself,” he said softly. “I know you’re not feeling well. Something sweet helps, you know. Don’t rely so much on those painkillers.”
If Beckett’s sudden closeness was meant to be comforting, it had the opposite effect. To Edith, he was more nauseating than the dessert itself.
She turned away from him. “Beckett, this is my room. Don’t you think it’s a bit inappropriate to come in here at this hour?”
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15:05
Seeing her distant expression, Beckett grew desperate, reaching out to grab her hand. “Edith, please, listen to me—*
His touch sent a wave of revulsion through her, memories of the muffled sounds from the next room–nights filled with whispered words and gasping
breaths–rushing back.
She yanked her hand away. “Don’t touch me! Let go of me!*
Her resistance made Beckett panic even more. He iunged closer, forgetting about the dessert in his hand. The familiar hint of jasmine on her skin nearly made him lose control, and his voice grew thick with longing.
“Edith, don’t shut me out like this…..”
In the struggle, the plate slipped from his fingers and shattered on the floor. At the same moment, a shrill scream pierced the silence.
Salome stood in the doorway, her voice slicing through the quiet of the Vance house. “Edith, you shameless witch! Seducing your husband’s brother–how low can you go?”
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