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:

That evening, Dominic Costa brought Ava Morgan back to the estate and personally prepared a full table of dishes favored by humans.

Throughout the meal, he kept serving her food and refilling her soup, clearly familiar with her preferences.

In front of me, there was only a single glass of blood beverage.

“Ava, this soup is light—it suits your taste perfectly.”

“And this fish—you like it. Eat more. You need the nourishment.”

Watching their intimacy, tears welled up in my eyes.

I lowered my head and ate in silence.

I couldn’t show any extreme reaction.

I couldn’t let Dominic Costa notice that something had changed.

If he sensed my intention to leave, he would never allow it.

Besides, I was carrying his children—

that was something he absolutely could not know.

“Dominic, you’re taking such good care of me,” Ava Morgan said deliberately, glancing at me.

“Won’t Miss Sterling be upset?”

Dominic Costa froze for a moment before quickly explaining.

“She won’t be angry, Ava. You’re pregnant—you need proper nutrition.”

“Vivienne is a woman too. She’ll understand.”

I lowered my head, saying nothing, my expression carefully blank.

After dinner, I walked alone through the garden.

As I reached the pavilion, I saw Ava Morgan approaching.

“Miss Sterling, taking a walk alone?” she asked, sitting across from me with a faintly provocative smile.

“Not in a good mood?”

“You’re really good at enduring things,” she continued mockingly.

“You’d rather help raise another woman’s child than leave?”

I glanced at her, said nothing, and stood up to go.

“Stop right there!”

Ava Morgan suddenly reached out to block me, anger flashing across her face.

Clearly, my silence only enraged her further.

She wanted to see rage on my face—anger, hysteria—but there was none.

She had thought the child in her womb would provoke me—but it didn’t.

“Vivienne Sterling, you’re pretending, aren’t you?” she snapped.

“Pretending you don’t care. Pretending it doesn’t matter.”

“What kind of woman would willingly raise a child her partner had with another woman?”

“Why aren’t you angry? Why don’t you argue with Dominic Costa? Why are you acting so magnanimous?”

“How fake!”

“Are you trying to make Dominic feel guilty by acting generous—so he’ll compensate you?”

“That’s compensation, not love! Clinging to a loveless bond—you’re pathetic!”

I bit down hard on my lip, refusing to let myself cry.

“Oh, right,” she added suddenly, her tone turning strange.

“The child in my womb isn’t even Dominic Costa’s.”

“But Dominic is desperate for a child,” she smirked.

“I told him a lie—and he believed it.”

“Aren’t you afraid the truth will come out during bloodline testing after the child is born?”

“Not at all,” she said, her smile darkening.

“Because…”

She suddenly stood up and shoved me hard.

“This child will never be born.”

She then deliberately collapsed onto the ground, groaning in pain.

“My stomach… it hurts so much…”

She clutched her abdomen as blood slowly stained her clothing.

I was terrified.

I hadn’t touched her—how was she bleeding?

Dominic Costa rushed over at the sound, his face draining of color when he saw the scene.

“Ava!”

He hurried to pull her into his arms, then turned and glared at me.

“Vivienne Sterling—what did you do to Ava?”

“I didn’t…” I shook my head, but Ava Morgan cut me off.

Clinging to him, she cried out,

“Dominic, I’m fine—please don’t blame Miss Sterling.”

“I know she doesn’t like me… and she doesn’t like my child…”

Hearing this, Dominic Costa grew even angrier.

He shoved me aside and lifted Ava Morgan into his arms, leaving in a rush.

“Vivienne Sterling, you’ve gone too far!”

“If anything happens to Ava, I will never forgive you!”

I collapsed onto the ground, watching their figures disappear, my heart turning ice-cold.

Dominic Costa never came back that night.

The vast villa was left with only me inside.

I lay awake in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

My mind replayed Dominic’s look of distrust over and over—

along with Ava Morgan’s triumphant smile.

Early the next morning, I began packing.

I put all my belongings into suitcases and cleared away everything in the house that had anything to do with me.

Once everything was done, I dragged my suitcase out of the villa.

At the door, I paused and looked back.

This had once been my home with Dominic Costa.

Now, it no longer belonged to me.

Before leaving, I called my lawyer.

“Elder, have all my assets within the Bat Coven been settled?”

“They have, Miss Sterling. The funds have been transferred to your account.”

“The invitations for your Vampire King succession ceremony have been delivered to all Covens.”

“Everything is prepared.”

I nodded, a sense of calm washing over me.

“Good. Thank you.”

“I’m leaving now.”

After hanging up, I saw the top headlines on the vampire media network—

all featuring Dominic Costa accompanying Ava Morgan at the obstetrics wing.

“The Vampire Lord of the Bat Coven and his human companion are expecting a child. Let us await whether the Costa bloodline will ascend…”

Yes.

I had been with Dominic Costa for years—yet never once acknowledged publicly.

No recognized status.

Perhaps that alone had explained everything long ago.

The memories of our love tore painfully against the betrayal before me.

Tears fell uncontrollably.

I placed a hand over my abdomen.

At least, I still had my children.

Taking a deep breath, I deleted all of Dominic Costa’s contact information—

and turned to board the aircraft.