Chapter 4

The bullet grazed my cheek, leaving a bloody gash.

The impact threw me to the ground, and blood began to flow from between my legs.

The abortion pill I had taken was working.

I looked up at Silas as he rushed toward me in a panic.

I managed a weak smile, letting my tears fall. "Silas, our child is gone."

For the first time, the usually indifferent Silas lost his composure.

He scooped me into his arms, yelling, "Doctor! Get a doctor!"

Elena chased after him, shouting, "Silas, I didn't miss! Maya moved! She did it on purpose!"

I rested my head against Silas's chest, sneering inwardly.

I had done it on purpose.

Owen was a fantastic shooting coach.

By the end of our time together, I could hit the bullseye every single time.

I could even judge a bullet's trajectory and distance with perfect precision.

Hearing Elena, Silas's expression darkened. "If anything happens to Maya, I will never forgive you."

Later, Silas sat beside my bed, his eyes bloodshot.

Seeing me awake, he pressed my hand against his cheek. "Maya, why didn't you tell me?"

I turned my face away, my eyes red, and let my voice catch in my throat. "What else could I do?"

"Give birth to an illegitimate child? How would your men look at him? And Elena—you're going to marry her. How would she treat my baby?"

I closed my eyes, letting the tears spill over. "I love you, but I still have my dignity."

"I'm human, Silas. I have a heart, you know."

"When you let Elena shoot at me, when you just stood by and watched, do you have any idea how much that hurt?"

A flash of self-mockery crossed Silas's eyes. "Is that why you kept it a secret? How do you know I don't care about you?"

I touched my bandaged cheek. "Even if you do care, it's only because I look like Elena."

"I'm just a substitute. I wish her shot had ruined my face completely!"

Silas pulled me into a tight embrace, gently stroking my hair. "You're not a substitute."

"Maya, you are not a substitute."

"You are important to me."

I buried my face in his shoulder.

I had to bite my lip hard to keep from vomiting.

After struggling for so long to keep up this act, I had nearly forgotten the person I used to be when I was with Owen.

My vision blurred with genuine tears.

Owen, I miss you.

Silas demanded that Elena apologize to me.

It sparked a massive fight between them.

"You allowed this to happen, Silas! And now you're blaming me?"

"It's just a fake losing a kid—what's the big deal? Why should I apologize?"

Silas's voice sounded exhausted. "Elena, you are incredibly special to me."

"But that doesn't mean you can just do whatever you want."

Elena began to cry. "You used to say I could do anything! Now you're taking it back?"

"Have you forgotten about Owen? He disarmed all our bombs. Without my help, could you have ever caught him?"

Last night, while Silas stayed by my side, I had pretended to be asleep and planted a listening device on his collar.

Hearing the name "Owen" through the earpiece tugged violently at my heart and stole the breath from my lungs.

Elena sobbed. "When you first started this group, you were stabbed and too scared to go to a hospital. Who stayed awake for three days and nights to nurse you back to health? Who saved you from death?"

"Are you going to forget all of that just for Maya?"

Her shared history with Silas clearly softened him.

He sighed, pulling her into a hug. "I haven't forgotten, Elena. I haven't."

"You will always be the most important person to me, okay?"

I let out a cold, silent laugh.

A dead, unborn child still wasn't enough for me to replace Elena in Silas's heart.

But that was fine. I never expected to win this war with a single blow.

Silas was already wavering.

I would dismantle his defenses step by step.

A person whose heart is already dead is truly unstoppable.