2
John’s expression froze.
I suppressed my anger and forced a light
tone.
“What did the doctor say?”
John cupped my face in his hands, his
expression earnest.
“The doctor said you’re fine. We can start
<
trying again as soon as you’re discharged.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll ask the doctor to give you
the best medication. Just focus on
recovering, don’t worry about the baby.”
He immediately got up and left the room.
He didn’t notice my body stiffen, nor the
disappointment in my eyes.
As soon as he stepped out, he made a frantic
phone call.
His voice carried through the wall.
“Didn’t I tell you to switch Sarah to the
Join the bookshelf
く
stronger medication? Why haven’t you done it
yet?”
“We used this medication before, why won’t
you use it now? She’s so weak.”
“I don’t care about side effects! I want her to
recover immediately, preferably within a
week!”
I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, tears
streaming down my face.
This was the man who promised to love me
forever, to always treat me right, when he
proposed.
<
All I got were lies and pain.
I turned to my side and saw another identical
St. Christopher medal on the floor.
Except this one had Ashley’s name engraved
on the back.
So, who was John really praying for at church
that morning? Me and the baby, or Ashley’s
health?
John quickly returned with the doctor to
change my IV.
He thoughtfully helped me sit up, placed a
pillow behind my back, and kissed my
<
forehead.
“Honey, this is imported medication. You’ll be
better soon.
He watched as the medication, full of side
effects, flowed into my veins.
A gentle, caring smile plastered on his face.
I had to admit, he was truly ruthless towards
me, without a shred of remorse.
While he was gone, I booked a one–way flight
out of the country.
I filed to have my identity records expunged.
Join the bookshelf
<
For the next few days, he stayed by my side
at the hospital, personally washing me,
feeding me, and trying every way possible to
cheer me up.
Even the nurses and doctors commented on
how lucky I was to have such a good
husband.
He was putting on a tireless performance,
and I was too tired to expose him.
On the day of my discharge, he surprised me
with 999 roses to celebrate my homecoming.
That night, I had just stepped out of the
く
shower when he eagerly tried to kiss me.
I pushed him away before he could go any
further.
“I just got out of the hospital, I need to rest.”
My rejection caused a flicker of annoyance in
his eyes, but he patiently coaxed me.
“Honey, I asked the doctor today, and he said
you’re fine.”
He moved closer again.
This time, I pushed him with all my might,
catching him off guard and sending him
Join the bookshelf
<
tumbling to the floor.
His face hardened.
“Fine. If you’re not feeling well, then forget it.
I have work to do. I won’t be back tonight.”
He slammed the door behind him.
I put on a coat and went to the study, searching for my documents in the drawers.
After finding my passport and ID, I was about
to leave when I noticed a single, pristine black
book on the otherwise dusty bookshelf.
Curiosity piqued, I reached for it.
Join the bookshelf
<
I pulled, but the book didn’t budge. Instead, a
hidden door in the wall swung open.
Inside, a table draped in red cloth stood in the
center of the room.
Three glass jars sat on the table.
I leaned in for a closer look and nearly
screamed, cold sweat drenching my back.
The jars contained the preserved bodies of
three babies, each missing its heart.
Were these my children?
Once I calmed down, I noticed strange red
く
symbols painted on each jar.
I took pictures and posted them online,
asking for help identifying the symbols.
I blurred the images of the babies‘ bodies before posting.
Several replies quickly appeared.
“Those look like binding runes, usually used to trap the souls of evil people, preventing them from finding peace in the afterlife.”
“I just asked my spiritual advisor, and they said it’s a spell to trap lost souls. Some
people do this after harming someone, out of
E
<
fear of retribution.”
Reading the replies made me tremble with
rage.
John had cursed his own children.
He was truly evil.
Was he afraid for himself, or was he afraid of
Ashley facing retribution?
