The Silent Womb's Revenge

Chapter 13

Ethan Sullivan lunged forward like a madman, crushing her in a desperate embrace.

"Don't leave me... Please don't go..."

"Ethan, how could I ever leave you?"

Victoria Taylor's honeyed voice snapped him back to reality.

"Aunt Margaret said you locked yourself in your room. I was so worried—Ah!"

Before she could finish, Ethan's fingers closed around her slender throat, his eyes burning with fury.

"How dare you show your face here!"

"Was it you who told Sophia?"

Margaret Sullivan rushed in, frantically pulling at his arm.

"Let her go! She’s carrying your child!"

When her son didn’t budge, Margaret stamped her foot in desperation.

"Even if you kill her, will that bring Sophia back?"

The words stabbed into Ethan’s heart like a knife. His grip slackened.

Victoria collapsed to the floor, gasping for air.

"Ethan, I swear I never said a word."

"I know you only love Sophia. Just being able to carry your baby is a blessing—I’d never ask for more."

"Give me your phone."

Tears streaming down her face, Victoria handed it over—though a flicker of triumph flashed in her eyes.

She’d wiped all evidence clean before coming.

"I never wanted to replace Sophia—"

"Get out."

Margaret had seen enough.

"Sophia left on her own. Why take it out on Victoria? What does she lack compared to Sophia? She’ll stay with me until you come to your senses. We’ll arrange the wedding—the child can’t be born a bastard."

"Both of you, get out. Don’t taint the home Sophia and I shared."

Margaret trembled with rage as she dragged Victoria away.

Victoria glanced back just in time to see Ethan return to the desk, staring blankly at the ultrasound report and a box of old mementos.

The corner of her lips curled faintly.

Five years of marriage. Two lives lost.

He’d never repay that blood debt.

With Margaret’s backing, the title of Mrs. Sullivan would be hers sooner or later.

The villa fell silent again.

Numbly, Ethan pulled out his phone and sent yet another message to Sophia.

[Sophia, please come back. Just one look. I can’t live without you. Have mercy on me.]

Still no reply.

He shattered completely.

"I was wrong, my love. You’re the only one I want."

"I don’t care about the child—I only want you."

"Please don’t leave me. Hit me, curse me, just don’t—"

His voice cracked into broken sobs.

But the one he begged for forgiveness would never hear him again.

Two days passed without a word from Sophia.

Yet Ethan’s phone kept buzzing with messages from Victoria.

[Ethan, Aunt Margaret is taking such good care of me and the baby.]

[The baby kicked today. What should we name them?]

[I know you chose me because I look like her. I don’t mind being her replacement...]

Mixed among them were texts from Margaret.

[Family dinner tonight. We’re introducing Victoria properly. Come if you’ve come to your senses.]

Ethan’s eyes darkened with rage.

No one could replace Sophia. Not even a stand-in.

Gently smoothing the creases from the ultrasound report, he drove to the Sullivan estate.

"Ethan! I knew you’d understand!" Margaret beamed as she hurried to greet him. "Once the relatives arrive, you and Victoria can—"

Ethan smirked coldly and handed her his phone.

"Mother, I brought you a gift."

Margaret looked down—

And her blood turned to ice.