For five years, my relationship with Vampire Lord Dominic had endured every trial set by my grandfather—the reigning Vampire King.

He had finally been prepared to pass the Vampire King’s throne to me—

until the truth surfaced: my bond with Dominic was never real.

The Sterling family’s wealth—worth hundreds of billions—and the Vampire King’s crown could be inherited by me alone.

“Miss Sterling,” the Council archivist informed me coldly,“the Blood Registry confirms that your Blood Bond was formally dissolved one year ago.”

“Dominic Costa’s registered Bloodbound Consort is… Ava Morgan.”

“You are currently listed as unbound.”

“Which means,” the message concluded,“Lord Dominic Costa is disqualified from inheriting the Sterling family’s assets, titles, or the Vampire King’s throne.”

Ava Morgan.Dominic Costa’s human companion.

I stared at the message sent by the Sterling Council Elders, unable to steady my breathing.

So all these years—his devotion, his exclusivity, the affection he claimed was meant for me alone—

had been nothing but a carefully constructed lie.

I had planned to tell him about my pregnancy on the fifth anniversary of our Blood Bond.

After all, for five years of marriage, this child had been the future we both claimed to long for.

But now, it was clear—perhaps he had never been waiting for a child at all.

I rested my hand against my abdomen and thought quietly:

my twins do not need a father to exist.

As for a man who built our love on deception—

the only thing left for me to do is to leave.

CHAPTER-NAME:

The family elders informed me that the man who had been bound to me by a Blood Bond for five years had dissolved that bond a full year ago—

and that, according to the Vampire Blood Registry, he was now someone else’s consort.

I stood there, frozen, for a long time.

I refused to believe it.

My phone chimed softly.

It was a message from Dominic Costa.

“Darling, I just returned from another Coven. I bought you the latest silk night robe. There’s a minor matter in the Bat Coven—I’ll handle it and come home to you right after.”

Reading those words felt like a blade piercing straight through my heart.

If this had been before, I would have smiled the moment I saw the message.

Because every time Dominic Costa traveled between Covens, he always brought me gifts.

But at that moment, I was standing alone in the grand hall of the Midnight Transit Station,

having come there to surprise him.

I never expected the surprise to turn into a nightmare.

From a distance, I saw a familiar figure walk out of the arrival gate.

The man was tall, dressed in a black suit that perfectly outlined his imposing frame.

Yet he moved with deliberate care, supporting the woman beside him, his eyes filled with unmistakable tenderness.

That woman cradled her swollen belly, her face glowing with happiness.

It was Ava Morgan.

My heart twisted violently, my entire body trembling.

Dominic and I had met at the Vampire Academy.

For ten years, our bond had been deep and unshakable.

I had believed our love was beyond comparison.

But now I saw it clearly—

this so-called devotion was nothing more than poison wrapped in sugar.

Back at the academy, my grandfather had firmly opposed my relationship with Dominic.

As the sole heir of the Sterling family, I was expected to bind myself to a vampire of noble blood—to strengthen our lineage and secure the Sterling family’s unassailable dominance in the vampire world.

My grandfather used to say that every male vampire who approached me coveted my bloodline, coveted the Vampire King’s throne.

And so I gave up my position as the Sterling heir to be with Dominic.

I wanted to prove to that stubborn old man that love transcended everything.

Instead, reality slapped me across the face without mercy.

Thinking of it now, my heart felt as though it were being pierced by countless needles.

I clenched the night-blooming lilies I had prepared for him so tightly that my nails nearly cut into my palm.

I took one last, long look at him, then turned away and threw the bouquet into a trash receptacle.

When I returned home, my entire body collapsed with exhaustion, as if my soul had been drained from me.

I sank onto the sofa, one hand resting on my abdomen, silent tears streaming down my face.

Lowering my gaze, I looked at the twin blood sigils glowing within the detection crystal and could only think how cruel fate could be.

We had been bound for so long.

I had wanted to give him a child.

But vampires cannot conceive naturally.

To force conception through witchcraft meant enduring excruciating pain and an unbearably long process.

Dominic Costa had always said it didn’t matter whether we had children—that even without them, he would give me all his love.

So many bloodline conception attempts had failed before.

Each time, hope turned into despair.

Yet the regret never left my heart.

I wanted a living proof of our love.

Six months ago, while he was away between Covens, I secretly used the blood essence he had once left behind and underwent the ninety-ninth conception ritual.

Yesterday, the witch-healer told me the pregnancy had stabilized.

The children were healthy.

More than three months along.

Twins—a boy and a girl.

I had planned to tell him on our wedding anniversary.

I never imagined he had already become a father to someone else’s child.

No wonder he never cared whether I bore children.

He had already given that role to another woman.

Sudden footsteps sounded outside the door, and Dominic Costa appeared in the doorway.

I quickly wiped away my tears, hiding the detection crystal behind my back and slipping it into my pocket.

“Darling, why didn’t you reply? I thought something had happened to you—I was terrified.”

He strode toward me, his face filled with concern.

I lowered my head, avoiding the intensity of his gaze.

When we had first been together, there was a time I deliberately didn’t reply after an argument.

He had mobilized an elite search unit from the Coven to find me.

Those feelings of being cherished could now exist only in memory.

Perhaps all that care and urgency belonged to someone else now.

“I… fell asleep. I didn’t hear my phone,” I forced a faint smile.

He pulled me gently into his arms, resting his chin atop my head, his voice low and tender.

“Don’t ever do that again. You know I can’t live without you.”

I stood stiffly against him, emotions colliding painfully inside me.

Just then, his phone rang.

Dominic Costa glanced at the caller ID, his expression instantly turning serious.

“Darling, I need to take this.”

He released me and walked toward the balcony.

I watched his retreating figure, my chest aching with every step he took away from me.

A few minutes later, he hurried back inside and grabbed his coat.

“There’s an urgent matter in the Coven. I need to deal with it—I’ll be back soon.”

I said nothing, only nodded quietly.

As the door slammed shut, Dominic Costa vanished completely from my sight.

I took the detection crystal from my pocket and threw it into the trash, tears falling once more.

“My children… I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“Mother can’t give you a complete family.”

“But I will love you. I will give you everything I have.”

Three days later, after settling all my assets within the Bat Coven,

I would leave with these two children and return to the northern territory of the Sterling family—

leaving him, Ava Morgan, and their child to their happiness, undisturbed.

CHAPTER-NAME:

The next day, I went alone to the Blood Infirmary.

I wanted to confirm the condition of my babies one more time.

But at the corner of the corridor, I saw two familiar figures.

Dominic was carefully supporting Ava Morgan, his expression gentle and attentive.

That morning, he had told me there were urgent matters in the Coven—

so this was what he meant. Accompanying her for a prenatal examination.

My heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer.

The pain was so intense I could barely breathe.

I hid behind a marble pillar, watching them enter the examination chamber.

“Dominic, do you really want this child?”

The voice of Jack Brown—Dominic Costa’s close friend and the witch-healer of this Blood Infirmary—reached my ears clearly.

“Of course,” Dominic Costa replied without hesitation, his tone firm and resolute.

“This child—I must have.”

“But what about Vivienne Sterling?” Jack Brown asked again.

“What do you plan to do about her?”

Dominic Costa fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly.

“Vivienne Sterling cannot conceive.

Once Ava gives birth, we’ll take the opportunity to adopt the child.”

“Only then,” he continued,

“can this child rightfully become my heir.”

Hearing this, my entire body shook, my heart slicing open with pain.

So he had planned everything long ago.

He intended for me to raise the child he had with another woman.

I covered my mouth tightly to keep from making a sound.

Tears slid down my face in silence.

At that moment, Ava Morgan finished her examination and walked out of the obstetrics chamber.

“Dominic… have I put you in a difficult position?” she asked cautiously, her face filled with grievance.

“This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have told you about the pregnancy.”

“I originally wanted to terminate it,” she said through sobs.

“But the witch-healer said that if I’m carrying a Vampire Lord’s child, and I abort it, I may never be able to conceive again.”

Dominic Costa gently patted her shoulder, his voice soft.

“This isn’t your fault. She was bound to find out sooner or later.”

Ava Morgan lowered her head, her voice trembling.

“I know Miss Sterling won’t like me, but I’ll do my best to please her.”

“Don’t worry. After the child is born, I’ll go live in your residence as a caretaker—

I’ll take care of her and the baby.”

Hearing this, Dominic Costa lightly patted her shoulder.

“You’ve suffered enough.”

Watching them, my chest tightened until I could barely breathe.

A few minutes later, Dominic Costa went to retrieve the examination records, leaving Ava Morgan alone in the corridor.

She adjusted her clothes, a cold smile curling at the corner of her lips as she slowly walked toward me.

“Miss Sterling,” she said leisurely,

“why are you hiding behind a pillar? Long time no see.”

I pressed my lips together and remained silent.

“You were hiding here,” she continued, raising an eyebrow provocatively.

“You heard everything, didn’t you?”

I took a deep breath, unwilling to engage her further, and turned to leave.

But she stepped in front of me, smiling brightly.

“If you have any sense, you’ll leave on your own,” she said smugly.

“You should know that when a Vampire Lord conceives a child with a human, the bloodline may mutate into a higher-grade lineage. When that happens, the Costa family’s status in the vampire world will rise even further—and they will definitely support me.”

“The position of Blood Queen of the Bat Coven will belong to me,” she continued.

“As for you—a low-grade vampire who can’t even conceive—you’ll be driven out eventually. How embarrassing would that be?”

“And besides,” she added with a sneer,

“your Blood Bond with Costa was fake to begin with. If we really investigate it, you’re the other woman.”

Her words grew more vicious by the second.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms.

“Ava Morgan, you—”

I had just begun to speak when hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Dominic Costa had returned.

Ava Morgan’s expression changed instantly, replaced by a weak and innocent façade.

“Miss Sterling,” she said tearfully,

“I know you don’t like me, but the child is innocent. I’m begging you—please don’t take your anger out on the baby…”

As she spoke, she suddenly collapsed onto the floor, clutching her abdomen, her face contorted in pain.

“Ava!” Dominic Costa cried out, rushing to her side.

“Vivienne Sterling,” he demanded sharply, glaring at me with fury and disappointment,

“what did you do to Ava?”

I froze, unable to find my voice.

“Dominic… my stomach hurts so badly,” Ava Morgan sobbed on the floor.

“Our child…”

“Please don’t blame Miss Sterling,” she added weakly.

“She may have just been too angry…”

Dominic Costa gripped her hand tightly, his eyes filled with distress.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m taking you to the witch-healer right now!”

With that, he lifted Ava Morgan into his arms and left without looking back.

I wasn’t given even a chance to explain.

Watching their figures disappear down the corridor, my heart turned to ash.

Dominic Costa—

since you have chosen her once again,then I will grant you that choice.

CHAPTER-NAME:

Fortunately, Ava Morgan hadn’t been seriously injured.

After the witch-healer completed the routine examination, Dominic Costa personally escorted her back to the infirmary room.

I stood at the doorway, watching Dominic move back and forth, tending to Ava with careful devotion.

In that moment, I felt like the intruder—the third party in someone else’s relationship.

“Dominic, let Miss Sterling come in,”

Ava Morgan’s weak voice drifted out from the room.

Dominic Costa glanced at me, his gaze flickering, clearly avoiding my eyes.

I took a deep breath and walked into the room.

“Miss Sterling, please don’t blame Dominic,”

Ava Morgan said softly, leaning against the headboard, her face pale.

“I was the one who asked him to call you in. There are some things we really need to talk through.”

I pressed my lips together and said nothing.

Dominic Costa sat down beside me and took my hand.

A trace of guilt appeared on his face. His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to speak, yet hesitated.

“Vivienne, there are some things I want to make clear to you.”

He paused, then continued:

“Ava and I met during a conflict with another Coven.”

“I was injured at the time. She saved me.”

“She gave me her blood to drink.”

“And while I was unconscious, I mistook her for you… and we slept together.”

As he reached this point, he looked at me carefully, his eyes filled with regret and remorse.

His grip on my hand tightened.

“I swear, from beginning to end, you are the only one in my heart.”

“I know this situation puts you in a difficult position, but the child is innocent.”

“Don’t worry—once the child is born, I’ll register it under your name. You’ll be the child’s mother.”

“That way, you won’t have to endure the pain of forced conception anymore.”

“I hope you can understand me.”

When he finished, he looked at me intently, anticipation written clearly in his eyes.

I lowered my head, tears gathering at the corners of my eyes.

So this was his choice.

He had chosen Ava Morgan—and their child.

What hurt me wasn’t just the outcome, but his deception.

Why hadn’t he told me earlier?

Why had he secretly used my blood and witchcraft to dissolve our Blood Bond without my knowledge, all while keeping her by his side?

Seeing this, Ava Morgan’s eyes reddened as well.

“Miss Sterling, I truly didn’t mean to come between you,” she said shakily.

“But I had no choice. My health is fragile. If I terminate this pregnancy, I may never conceive again.”

“I’m begging you—please don’t make things difficult for the child, alright?”

As she spoke, she began to cry, her shoulders trembling.

Watching the two of them, my chest felt unbearably tight.

I was going to be a mother too.

I knew what a child meant to a woman.

I took a deep breath and forced a smile.

“I won’t be angry.”

I inhaled slowly, steadying my voice.

“I understand.”

Dominic Costa froze, clearly not expecting me to forgive something so absurd so easily.

After all, the woman I used to be—gentle and compliant as I was—had always been utterly intolerant of betrayal.

“Vivienne… do you really understand?” he asked.

I nodded, the corners of my lips lifting into a bitter smile.

“Dominic.”

“I understand that you need an heir. The Bat Coven needs new blood to be born, and the Costa family must have someone to inherit its legacy.”

“Ava is human. Carrying a child whose bloodline is merging with a vampire’s is extremely taxing. Bringing her home to be cared for properly will put my mind at ease as well.”

As I finished speaking, relief washed over Dominic Costa’s face.

He let out a long breath.

“Vivienne, thank you. You’re truly kind.”

He clasped my hand tightly, his eyes full of gratitude.

Beside him, Ava Morgan was momentarily stunned. She hadn’t expected me to agree so readily.

But she quickly recovered, a faintly provocative smile appearing on her face.

I looked at her, feeling nothing at all.

“Dominic, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back first,” I said calmly.

“I’ll prepare a room at home and arrange a nutrition specialist for Miss Morgan, to make sure the baby is born safely.”

Dominic Costa nodded, guilt evident in his eyes.

“Alright. Go home and rest.”

“Once things settle down, I’ll spend more time with you.”

I smiled faintly, said nothing, and turned to leave.

CHAPTER-NAME: