Chapter 324 A Mother’s Lullaby VI

<strong>[ WARNING: THE FOLLOWING NARRATIVE CONTAINS DISTURBING, TRIGGERING, AND SENSITIVE CONTENT. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. ]</strong>

"… but well, you're still the best. That's why you're my favorite."

"Wait." Aries winced and clutched his chest. "I don't feel well."

Joaquin frowned. "My dearest, we should enjoy it as much as we can while your stomach isn't big yet."

"That's what you kept on saying," she argued under her breath. "Not tonight."

Joaquin gazed at her in silence, noticing the desperation in her eyes as if she wanted to be heard. However, something within him didn't sit well with him. The more he looked at her, the more it grew clear to him that everything she had been doing until now was now meant for him. It was for that child.

All the smiles she would flash him, the time, the look in her eyes whenever she would look at him, those weren't for him. Deep in his heart, he already knew that. But he still let himself delude there was something between them, aside from that life within her.

Maybe it was the alcohol and stress that amplified this dismay. Or maybe it was the fact she was making a fool out of him and he was letting her only for her to refuse when he needed her. Either way, he didn't need to listen to her demands.

"Why do I need to listen to you…?" he asked under his breath, completely appalled. "You belong to me and whatever I want to do with you, I can because you're mine. Am I correct?"

"Joaquin…" her eyes shook as her heart hammered against her ribcage. She knew that look and recognized the monster reflecting her in his eyes. Her lips quivered before she winced at another contraction, clutching his chest tightly.

"Please…" came out a muffled plea through her gritted teeth. 'It hurts…'

But her sincere plea brought a different effect on him. His expression instantly grew cold, perceiving this as yet another act to repel him. His jaw tightened as he grabbed her wrist and pinned them down on either side of her. Without a second hesitation, he put his weight over her and bit her shoulder as hard as he could to hurt her.

"Ah!" Aries let out a squeal, and it only caused another painful contraction. She writhed underneath him, struggling with all her might, wishing for him to stop. But the dominant part of her brain was more concerned about the increasing pain in her stomach.

"Ah…!" her toes curled and struggled fiercer, but the pain that felt like a thousand needles were poking every pore of her skin cut all chances to fight back. Joaquin was strong, overpowering her was never a problem for him.

"Stop!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs after the longest two minutes of her life, and then gasped at the crippling affliction she felt within. Coldness instantly seeped deep into her bones, which traveled to the top of her scalp.

She stopped struggling as she underwent shock.

Even though Aries didn't know what was happening anymore as she felt numb from head to toe, her brain pulled her back to all those times she would hum to the life growing inside her. Her memory flashed to the first time she ate nutritional food all on her own, the first time she placed her hand on her growing stomach; she remembered how she felt that day. It was strangely… magical as if her dark world slowly had colors.

The memory stayed to Aries humming until the armchair changed into a rocking chair where she would sit all day. For some reason, she felt the mild midday breeze kiss her face and she would send it off with her humming.

Everything flashed in a fraction of a second and she could confidently say ever since the life inside her came into her life, it gave her purpose. It made things a little better and she could say she still had one last family left whom she would protect with her life.

And as if someone clapped in front of her ear, Aries was brought back to this nightmare, eyes blank, staring at the ceiling.

When Joaquin noticed she stopped struggling, his brows furrowed. He put his weight off of her, gazing at her blank eyes before he noticed his damp knees. Looking down, his eyes dilated upon catching blood — lots of blood — staining the white sheet which clung to his trousers.

That second, the crown prince was brought back to his senses as his rage shifted to panic. Yet, Aries didn't move or speak, lying flat, eyes on the ceiling.

"Aries…" he called through his gritted teeth. Remorse and guilt resurfaced in his eyes, but she didn't see it. She didn't see the brief sorrow that peeked from his eyes while he realize he let his emotions take over him once again.

"A physician!" he roared a second later to catch the attention of the knights outside.

When Aries screamed, no one came. But when Joaquin did, the knights barged into the chambers only to see blood between the two. They only snapped back from their trance when Joaquin glared daggers at them.

"Summon the royal physician at once!" Joaquin's voice thundered, bringing panic to the knights as they executed the order as fast as they could.

But it was already too late.

The physician warned him from the beginning. Aries's body wasn't in the best shape from the consistent beating and the stress she was going through made her pregnancy sensitive. Sexual intercourse was also dangerous. Actually, she would've been in danger and the child if she did it once, but she overcame it to make the crown prince happy. It was already a miracle her pregnancy lasted this long with all those on the table. It only displayed her desire to birth this child.

Aries's miscarriage nearly put her to death, but with the help of the best royal physicians, they saved her… but not the child she wanted to protect. Even when she begged them to save her child before she passed out, they couldn't.

Because between Aries and the child… Joaquin chose her.