They Sold Me to Hell and Called It Love Chapter 03

They Sold Me to Hell and Called It Love Chapter 03

“Sister, are you angry that I’m carrying Kael’s baby? Is that why you hate Uncle too?”

Lila Hart hurried over, grabbing my arm as her voice wobbled with fake tears.

“Sister, what happened between Kael and me was just an accident. After the baby is born, you can raise it. Please don’t be mad anymore, and don’t cut ties with Uncle, okay?”

Her words were soft, but her eyes glinted with malice. When her fingers found the scars on my arm, her sharp nails dug deep into the unhealed flesh.

The pain shot through me like fire. I couldn’t help it—I shoved her away.

“Ah!” She let out a piercing scream and stumbled backward, falling perfectly into Kael’s arms. Her eyes were wide and innocent, like a wounded little rabbit.

“Sister, why did you push me?”

The next second, a slap landed across my face with brutal force.

Half my face went numb instantly. The sharp, metallic taste of blood flooded my mouth.

My uncle looked at me with heavy disappointment. “You knew Lila was pregnant, and you still put your hands on her. You’re even crueler than you were five years ago.”

Kael stared at me coldly, like I was already dead. “You wanted a divorce paper? Fine. I’ll give you one.”

“But first, you’ll attend the celebration for Lila’s design exhibition. You’ll apologize to her in front of everyone and admit that her talent as a designer far surpasses yours.”

A sharp ache throbbed where my legs had been amputated.

I started to refuse, but before I could get the words out, Darius Voss approached with two maids. His voice was ice.

“What are you waiting for? Take Mrs. Rourke upstairs to change clothe.”

I had no strength to fight back. The maids dragged me up to the second floor and shoved me into the bathroom. The door slammed shut behind me.

I stared at the reflection in the mirror—hollow cheeks, skin stretched over bone. My chest tightened with bitterness.

Once, if I lost even two pounds, the three of them would fuss over me, trying every possible way to build my strength back up, terrified that I wasn’t eating enough.

Now I was skin and bones, covered in wounds, and they hadn’t noticed a thing. Their eyes, their hearts—they belonged entirely to Lila.

A maid pushed the door open. When she saw the scars covering my body, she didn’t bother hiding her disdain. She grabbed a black long-sleeved gown that didn’t fit at all and roughly pulled it over my head.

I dragged my prosthetics down the stairs, one painful step at a time.

In the ballroom, Lila stood radiant in a stunning white couture gown, her arm linked with Kael’s, a sweet smile on her face.

My uncle and Darius stood nearby, watching them with pride in their eyes.

Everyone turned to look at me. Whispers rippled through the crowd.

“Is that Seraphina Cross, the famous designer? She looks like a ghost.”

“Look at the bruises on her neck and those scars. You don’t think she has some kind of disease, do you?”

At that, the guests recoiled, as if being near me might infect them.

I pushed through the agony and made my way down the rest of the stairs.

The three men in their tailored suits watched me with barely concealed impatience.

The moment I reached the bottom, Lila hurried over with a smile and took my hand.

“Sister, thank you so much for coming to my celebration.”

I didn’t want to engage with her. I tried to pull my hand back—but she yanked hard and tore open the neckline of my gown.

The tangled, layered scars covering my body were suddenly exposed to every pair of eyes in the room.

Instinctively, I pulled away and clutched the torn fabric to my chest. Lila let out an exaggerated scream and toppled backward into the champagne tower behind her.

“Lila!”

The three men rushed to her side like madmen, shielding her in their arms.

Lila sobbed, clutching Kael’s collar, her voice shaking uncontrollably.

“Kael, it hurts so much… the baby…she just can’t stand to let us have our baby, can she?”

My uncle held Lila close, murmuring soothing words.

But Kael strode toward me and closed his hand around my throat, squeezing so hard I thought my windpipe would shatter.

“Seraphina Cross. In front of all these people, you still dare to hurt Lila. It’s clear you haven’t learned a damn thing.”

“Say the word, and I’ll send you back to Nueva Sangre tomorrow. This time, you won’t come back.”

The fury in his eyes promised violence. The name Nueva Sangre sent tremors through my body. That fear was carved into my very soul.

But when the countdown flickered in front of me, showing just two hours left, I suddenly wasn’t afraid anymore.

“Do what you want.” I closed my eyes. My voice was light as a feather.

His grip tightened—then he released me and threw me to the ground.

“Since you won’t learn, you’ll kneel outside the front gate until Lila decides she’s had enough.”

The moment I hit the floor, every old wound in my body screamed. Black spots danced in my vision.

My prosthetics twisted out of place with a sickening crack.

My uncle and Darius noticed something was wrong. Kael’s gaze dropped to my legs.