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The impact threw me down,blood began flowing out from between my legs too.
The abortion pill I'd taken was working.
I looked at Nathan,rushing toward me,panicked.
I gave a weak smile,tears falling."Nathan,our child's gone."
For the first time,the always-indifferent Nathan lost composure.
He lifted me,yelling,"Doctor!Get a doctor!"
Claire chased after him,shouting,"Nathan,I didn't miss!Sarah moved!She did it on purpose!"
I rested my head in Nathan's arms,sneering inwardly.
I did do it on purpose.
Luke was a great shooting coach.
By the end,I could hit bullseye everytime.
I could even judge most precisely a bullet's range and distance.
Hearing Claire,Nathan's face darkened."If anything happens to Sarah,I won't forgive you."
Now,Nathan was sitting beside me,eyes bloodshot.
Seeing me awake,he held my hand to his face."Sarah,why didn't you tell me?"
I turned away,eyes red,choking."What could I do?"
"Giving birth to an illegitimate child?How would your men see him?And Claire—you'll marry her.How would she treat my child?"
I closed my eyes,tears spilling out."I love you,but I have dignity."
"I'm human,Nathan!I have a heart,you know?"
"When allowed Claire to shoot at me,while you just stood by and watched,do you know how much it hurt?"
Nathan's eyes held self-mockery."That's why you didn't tell me?How do you know I don't care for you?"
I touched my bandaged face."Even if you care,it's because I look like Claire."
"I'm just a substitute!I wish Claire's shot had ruined my face completely!"
Nathan pulled me close,stroking my hair."Not a substitute."
"Sarah,you're not a substitute."
"You're important to me."
I buried my face in his shoulder.
I had to bite my lip hard to keep myself from vomiting.
After so such a long time struggling to keep up my act,I'd nearly forgotten who I was when I was with Luke.
My vision blurred.
Luke,I miss you.
...
Nathan wanted Claire to apologize.
They had a huge fight.
"You allowed this,Nathan!Now you blame me?"
"Just a fake losing a kid—what's the big deal?Apologize?Why?"
Nathan's voice was weary."Claire,you're indeed special to me."
"But that doesn't mean you can do whatever you want."
Claire cried."You said I could do anything!Now you say I can't?"
"You forgot Luke?He disarmed all our bombs.Without me,could you have caught him?"
Last night,while Nathan stayed by my side,thinking I was asleep,I'd planted a bug on his collar.
The word “Luke” tugged at my heart and stole away my breaths.
Claire sobbed."When you started this group,you were stabbed,too scared for hospitals—who nursed you three whole days and nights without shutting eyes and saved you from the hands of death?"
"For Sarah,you'll forget all that?"
Her past with Nathan softened him.
He sighed,hugging her."I haven't forgotten,Claire.I haven't."
"You'll always be the most important person to me,okay?"
I laughed coldly.
A dead unborn child wasn't enough for me to replace Claire in Nathan's heart.
But it was fine.I never expected one blow to win.
Nathan was wavering.
I'd dismantle his defenses step by step.
A person whose heart was already dead is unstoppable.
