1 The whispers claimed a curse clung to the Sterling men, a dark shadow that ensured any woman who dared betray them would face a grim fate—death or disfigurement. Elite society, from Manhattan to the Hamptons, heard these tales and recoiled, the most coveted debutantes shying away from any Sterling suitor. Yet, Natalie Hayes, who’d grown up beside me, defied her family, slipping into a pristine white gown to propose. “Ethan,” she’d murmured, her voice steady, “I don’t fear any curse. Because I will never betray you.” Her words resonated deep within me, stirring something fragile and profound. I married her. Five years into our marriage, her first love, Dylan Miller, returned from overseas. His reappearance ignited a relentless storm of arguments between us, each one deepening the rift. The breaking point arrived when Natalie, who had insisted on our agreement to remain child-free, was discovered to be carrying Dylan’s baby. To circumvent the curse, set to activate seven days hence, I initiated divorce proceedings. But Natalie tore the divorce papers to confetti, a sneer twisting her lips. “Ethan Sterling, you really think I’d believe your family’s silly curse? I’d like to see you lay a finger on me!” In the city’s most exclusive circles, bets were placed. Everyone was gambling on whether Natalie would face the curse’s wrath, or if I’d swallow this bitter humiliation, becoming the laughingstock of the East Coast elite. I didn't linger, didn't argue further. I simply turned and walked away. I had offered her a chance to live, out of deference to the years we’d shared. She simply hadn't cherished it. … I’d barely stepped out of the Hayes mansion when Natalie’s guards blocked my path. “Ethan Sterling, I’m pregnant! Where do you think you’re going, abandoning me like this?” she demanded, her tone self-righteous. “Dylan said he’s too rough, too preoccupied with his own affairs. He said I still needed you to take care of me.” My gaze turned to ice. “And you’re not afraid I might harm the child?” Before I could finish, the wine glass in her hand splintered against my cheek. “Ethan Sterling, how dare you threaten me? Watch yourself! Don’t forget, your father is still in a coma at the hospital, his life clinging to the expensive medication only my family provides!” My hands clenched into fists, my body trembling with suppressed rage. Blood mixed with red wine streamed down my face. She’d forgotten, hadn’t she? Forgotten that my father had taken a blade meant for her, scarring his brain and leaving him trapped in silence. Just then, Dylan Miller strode over, a towel in hand, his voice dripping with condescension. “Mr. Sterling, you two have been married for years and no children. Are you even capable of having kids? Maybe the problem lies with you. But don’t worry, I’m a generous man. I don’t mind if my and Natalie’s child carries your name.” He offered me the towel. I was about to refuse, but then he suddenly collapsed backward, his hands gushing blood from the wine glass shards. Natalie rushed forward, slapping me across the face. “Ethan Sterling, you dare to bully Dylan in front of me? Drop to your knees and beg his forgiveness, or I’ll unplug your father’s life support!” I wiped the blood from my lips, a chilling smile spreading across my face. “I’ll kneel, Natalie. But I wonder if Mr. Miller can bear the consequences that would follow…” Dylan, seeing the glint of malice in my eyes, felt an inexplicable unease. He quickly urged Natalie, “Natalie, let’s just drop it. Everyone’s watching.” Natalie helped him up, her eyes brimming with concern, then led him towards a private room with a doctor. As she passed me, she stopped. “Guards! Lock Ethan Sterling in the isolated guest suite! Don’t let him out without my permission!” I stared at her retreating back. “Natalie Hayes, you’ll regret this.” She let out a cold laugh. “Still trying to scare me with that cursed nonsense? Ethan Sterling, spare me the theatrics!” Watching her silhouette, resolute and unyielding, I sighed internally. If only she had agreed to the divorce, perhaps the curse would have never claimed its due. 2 Three days later, Natalie finally released me from the isolated guest suite. My throat was raw, my body a hollow ache. I couldn’t even summon the strength to meet her gaze. She walked in, delivering a sharp kick to my stomach. “Ethan Sterling, I never thought you’d be so malicious!” “What have I done?” I rasped, my voice barely a whisper. She didn’t answer. Instead, she ordered the guards to drag me to the back garden. The rough cobblestones scraped my skin raw, painting my legs in shades of purple and blue. Seeing my agony, a flicker of disgust crossed her face. “You knew Dylan was allergic to flowers, yet you deliberately filled the garden with roses. Were you trying to kill him?” My lips parted, but no words came. She’d forgotten, hadn't she? Forgotten that the one who truly loved roses was herself, and that this sprawling sea of blossoms was a surprise I’d cultivated for her over a year and a half ago. I gave a self-deprecating laugh. “I’ll clean it up now.” I struggled to my feet, limping into the flowerbed, tearing out the roses with my bare hands. Thorns tore at my palms, blood bloomed against my skin, trailing crimson down my wrists. Natalie’s eyelids fluttered at the sight, but she coolly averted her gaze. “Don’t bother with the dramatics. It only makes me loathe you more.” With that, she clenched her fists and departed. When I pulled out the last rose, my body gave out. I collapsed onto the ground. The next morning, I woke to find my hands and face bandaged. I got up to look for Natalie, and as I neared her study, I heard her furious voice from within. “Why are they tearing up signed contracts? I’ve sunk every liquid asset we have into those deals! Why am I suddenly plagued by such bad luck? Go deal with those cancelled projects first. I need to figure something out…” The curse, I realized, was beginning its dance. I pushed the door open and walked in. Natalie put down her phone and looked up at me. “Ethan Sterling, what do you want? Now that you’re awake, go whip up some soup for me in the kitchen.” “And remember to add plenty of salt. Dylan wants a bowl too, he prefers his food extra savory. Go on, get to the kitchen.” I, who had barely lifted a finger in the kitchen my entire life, had learned to cook and make soup for her, all because she once murmured about wanting the warmth of a homemade meal. Now, my hands were still stinging and scabbed from the roses; I couldn’t even touch water. I scoffed. “I can make it. Just don’t complain if it tastes like poison.” “Are you itching for another stint in that room?” Natalie’s face darkened. I sat down in the chair opposite her, crossing my legs. “Natalie Hayes, I advise you to sign the divorce papers while there’s still something left to salvage.” “You’re already carrying another man’s child. Let’s part ways amicably.” Natalie stared at me, her eyes hardening with a bitter venom. “You think I’m behind these… setbacks? That you had someone tamper with my projects as revenge?” Her accusation made me laugh, a short, sharp sound. “Miss Hayes, you had me locked away for three days! How could I possibly orchestrate such a grand scheme?” “You’d better not have!” she scoffed. “Don’t even think about divorce. You won’t get to just walk away now.” “If you hadn’t lied to me, Ethan, I never would have mistaken you for Dylan. I wouldn’t have wasted five years of my life with you, and he wouldn’t have been hurt so badly.” I frowned, trying to make sense of her words. “What lie did I tell you?” She sneered. “Still playing innocent? I know everything. Ten years ago, you dragged me from the cliff…” Dylan burst in, cutting her off. “Natalie, darling, we need to head to the hospital for our prenatal appointment. The car’s already waiting.” 3 I tried to press her for answers, to continue the conversation. But Natalie simply shrugged me off, a dismissive gesture, and allowed Dylan to pull her away. I stood there for a moment, stunned, then hailed a car to the hospital, needing to see my father. In his hospital room, I gripped my father's inert hand. “Dad, you told me before that Mom’s betrayal, her affair, led to that car crash on their holiday, plunging you into such deep despair and sickness.” “That’s why you always warned me against marriage, against trusting anyone with your heart.” “I know I made a mistake, Dad. But don’t worry, I won’t let someone else’s mistakes define my own future. I’ll be here, waiting for the day you wake up.” Visiting hours ended, and a nurse politely escorted me out of the room. As I reached the hospital’s bustling main lobby, I came face-to-face with Natalie. “What are you doing here? Stalking me?” Natalie’s face contorted with disgust. I ignored her, turning to leave. But she wasn't letting go, stepping forward to grab my arm. “Ethan Sterling, I’m talking to you! Are you deaf?” I recoiled, shaking her off with a snarl. “Natalie, go see a shrink! You’re clearly unhinged, snapping at anyone who crosses your path.” “Why would I be here to stalk you? Have you forgotten my father is also a patient here? I visit him every single day.” It was the first time I’d ever truly raised my voice, ever let loose with such venom. For a moment, she was stunned, her carefully constructed composure cracking. “Why are you suddenly yelling at me like this…” Just then, Dylan appeared, inserting himself between us. He brandished an ultrasound printout like a trophy, waving it in front of Natalie. “Natalie, darling, the doctor says our little one is perfectly healthy! Those eyes, that mouth, they’re just like yours! So beautiful.” Natalie’s face softened into a sickly sweet smile. “Our child is, of course, beautiful.” Dylan chuckled, ruffling her hair. “Natalie, why don't we let Ethan name our little one? It'll give him a sense of… contribution.” The old me would have lunged at him, fist flying. But now, I simply turned and walked away, my face devoid of emotion. Dylan, however, called out to me. “Ethan Sterling, tomorrow is mine and Natalie's wedding day. How about you be our Master of Ceremonies?” My footsteps faltered. I turned, staring at Natalie, a sneer on my face. “You and your… plaything are getting married? And you want me, your husband, to officiate? You two really know how to put on a show, don’t you?” “Ethan, must you always be so crude?” Natalie’s face darkened, though a flicker of guilt, quickly masked, danced in her eyes. “You’ve had me, Ethan. I’m merely granting Dylan his wish, a small ceremony. Why are you so possessive?” I was about to refuse, but she cut me off. “You must be there tomorrow. Don’t forget, your father still needs the imported medication only my family provides.” My fist tightened, the half-healed wounds on my palm bleeding anew. Natalie and Dylan’s wedding, held the next day, dwarfed our five-year-old ceremony. Guests whispered as I made my entrance. “Ethan Sterling truly is a live-in son-in-law, isn’t he? Attending his own wife’s wedding to another man.” “Maybe Ethan really is… incapable. Why else would he willingly wear a cuckold’s crown?” “I think that Sterling curse is just a fabrication, a trick to keep their women in line.” I took a slow sip of my wine, every whispered word a phantom breeze. I’d loved the wrong woman. Simple as that. I’d endured the whispers, the snide remarks, living under her family's roof because she claimed it felt like home. I even underwent a procedure, sterilizing myself because she whispered of a child-free life. The truth of the curse? Three days would tell. A wave of cheers erupted as Natalie, radiant in white, walked down the grand crystal staircase, her arm linked with Dylan’s. Step by step, they descended to the swelling music. Then, Natalie’s face suddenly contorted. Her body twisted, and she tumbled, losing control, spiraling down the remaining steps. She lay sprawled on the ground, clutching her stomach, a raw, piercing wail tearing from her throat. A collective gasp tore through the crowd. “Did she… lose the baby?” 4 Someone brave enough to get close knelt, checking the hem of her gown. Then, with a terrified shriek, he collapsed back onto the floor. “Blood. So much blood…” They scrambled, rushing Natalie to the hospital. The wedding was over, a chaotic, bloody spectacle. But the curse? It was just clearing its throat. I spared a glance at Dylan, still frozen on the stairs, his face a mask of shock. In that split second, Dylan could have caught her. But he’d chosen himself, not just letting go, but shoving her away when her hand instinctively reached for him. “Ethan Sterling, was this your doing?” Dylan’s accusing voice cut through the stunned silence behind me. I ignored him, simply turning and walking away. After Natalie was discharged, she ordered me to the hospital. “You think by taking my child, you’ll make me believe your Sterling curse? I’m telling you, you can’t trick me!” I gave her a cold, hard stare. “What in God's name are you babbling about?” Beside her, Dylan, his face a shade of sickly green, trembled with rage. “Ethan Sterling, I had people investigate! You drugged Natalie's water, making her legs give out! She fell, she lost the baby, she almost lost her life!” “It was my fault,” he added, his eyes brimming with tears. “I panicked. I didn't grab her. Natalie, I'm so sorry…” Natalie shook her head, clutching his hand. “Dylan, I don’t blame you. Everything happened so fast.” Then, her gaze snapped to me. “Ethan Sterling, you killed my child. You owe a life for a life.” “But don't worry. I won't take yours.” “Cut off Ethan’s father’s imported medication. It’s time he learned a lesson.” My breath hitched. I lunged forward, desperate to stop her. “No! Natalie, you can’t! You want to hurt someone, hurt me! Not him!” “My father was injured saving you! If you stop his meds, he might never wake up!” Her eyes, cold and sharp, cut through me. “Spare me the theatrics. You ruined my wedding with Dylan! You killed my baby!” I pulled out the freshly printed divorce papers from my bag. “I told you it’s the curse! If you sign these, none of this will happen again!” She laughed, a harsh, brittle sound, and ripped the papers to confetti again. “Ethan Sterling, you think I’m a fool? Still peddling that curse nonsense?” “Divorce? Out of the question!” Then, she had me dragged back to the Hayes mansion, thrown once more into that suffocating room. I pleaded with the guard outside the door. “Please, open the door! Let me out! I need to see Natalie!” “Open up! I have to save my father! How much? How much to open the door?” The guard's voice was flat, devoid of emotion. “Mr. Sterling, please don't make this harder on us.” For three days, I screamed until my voice was a raw, useless rasp. I hammered on the door until my hands were pulp, stained crimson with my own blood. Just as despair began to consume me whole, Natalie finally opened the door. “It’s Grandfather’s eightieth birthday. You’re coming with me. Don’t you dare try any of your tricks again.” “Get him cleaned up,” she ordered the guards. “We leave in thirty minutes.” The moment I got my phone back, I powered it on. A barrage of missed calls from the hospital. My hand trembled as I dialed back. “Mr. Sterling, why did it take you so long to answer? Your father… he passed away last night.” I was a phantom, numb and hollow, as I was led to Natalie. She slid into the car I'd bought for her, Dylan already nestled beside her. She rolled down the window, looking out at me. “This car’s full. You’ll take the other one.” With a nod, she ordered the driver to leave. I stared at the death certificate the hospital had sent to my phone. Hatred, cold and bitter, surged through me, eclipsing everything else. At that exact moment, an out-of-control semi-truck veered directly towards the sedan Natalie was in.
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