HIS LETHAL QUEEN

The past memories

Darkness clouded Mary's vision. She couldn’t believe it—her grandfather was standing right in front of her. She reached out, her hands trembling, desperate to touch him, but as her fingers brushed the air, he vanished into thin air. It was a projection of her own subconscious. Turning around, her gaze fell upon a photograph of him, and a memory violently pierced through her mind:

A house engulfed in flames, and a desperate voice crying out, "No, Grandpa! You can't leave me! Please don't leave me!"

Then, a gentle, familiar voice echoing back: "I am always with you, my Mary. You will never give up. You will win."

The voices swirled in her ears. She clutched her head, her breath hitching in ragged gasps. A full-blown panic attack took hold. She wanted to scream, but no sound escaped her throat. Cold sweat drenched her forehead.

As the room began to spin, she felt a hand rest firmly on her shoulder. She spun around and collapsed into the person's embrace, sobbing uncontrollably. Outside, a heavy storm began to rage, and flashes of lightning illuminated the room through the broken window. It was David. His hands initially hovered at his sides, but seeing her distress, he moved them gently to rest on her head.

The feeling of a hand on her hair calmed her. As she regained her composure and pulled away, she met David’s cold, stoic gaze. He immediately withdrew his hands and turned his back, his voice once again booming with authority.

"What happened, Miss Mary D'Souza? You seem to have become weak very quickly. I've heard that crying lightens the heart, so I assume you are ready to back down now?"

Mary stared at David’s back. She stepped forward, her voice steely. "No, Mr. William, you are wrong. This time, crying might have lightened my heart, but it has only made my wounds deeper. I am not weak; I am making myself stronger by remembering everything. This isn't just my fight, Mr. David. It’s for my grandmother, who passed away before I was even born, and for my grandfather, who sacrificed himself for me. The question of me backing down doesn't even exist. I can never forget that day... I was so happy, and then..."

The Flashback: Five Days Ago

Mary was in William Mansion, gazing out the window at the moon, dreaming of her future—of the happiness awaiting her and her unborn child. The door opened, and Kai walked in.

"Mary, I am sorry for everything that happened," Kai said softly.

Mary turned, her eyes softening. "No, Kai, don't say that. I have forgiven you. I love you so much. And our baby... he is so lucky to have a father like you."

Kai pulled her into a hug. "Yes, there will be no more problems for you or me now."

Suddenly, Kai’s mother, Elena William, walked in. "Mary, beta, your grandfather is here. Come downstairs."

Mary rushed down, but her feet froze at the sight. Kai’s bodyguards were brutally beating her grandfather. She screamed and ran toward him, but someone struck her, and she fell to the floor. Looking up, she was horrified to see Kai and Elena standing over her. Elena grabbed Mary’s hair and yanked her up, causing her sharp pain.

"What are you doing here, Aunty? Please, let me go! Kai, say something! Stop your guards! Don't let them hurt my grandfather, please!"

Kai walked over and pulled her away from Elena. He stared at her, then slapped her hard across the face. As she fell again, he spoke coldly:

"You won't do anything, my love. You are safe. But look at your grandfather—poor man, he is being beaten to death."

Mary crawled to Elena’s feet, sobbing. "Please, Aunty, do something! What do you want?"

Elena grabbed Mary’s throat. "I want many things, like killing you. But if I kill you, the media will question me. So, you will live, but your grandfather... or this child of yours... one of them has to die today."

Mary’s heart shattered. She looked at her grandfather, who lay broken on the floor, and then instinctively placed a hand over her womb. Kai stepped forward, holding a bottle of pills.

"Choose, Mary. Save your grandfather, or save your child. Decide quickly."

Her world turned silent. Time seemed to stop. She looked at her grandfather one last time, then closed her eyes and swallowed the pills from Kai’s hand. As the medicine slid down her throat, her body reacted violently. Clutching her stomach, she whispered, "Forgive me, my child. Your mother failed. She couldn't save you."

With that, Mary lost consciousness.

The next day, Mary woke up in the hospital. She felt hollow, weak. She touched her stomach and burst into tears. A nurse entered and sneered, "You're awake? Now get out of here."

Mary was stunned. "What? Where am I? And where is my grandfather?"

The nurse scoffed, "Don't talk to me. I don't associate with girls like you. Get out. If you stay here, you’ll ruin our hospital’s reputation. Leave!"

Mary, confused and physically broken, tried to stand but collapsed. The nurse, heartless, grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the hospital, dumping her on the pavement. Mary stumbled, her heart pounding with terror. She wanted to cry, but the stares of the crowd held her back.

"Where are you, Grandpa? Please... I'm so scared."

She wandered aimlessly, every person she passed looking at her with nothing but hatred. Finally, she reached a park and saw a figure sitting on an old bench in the distance. Her heart leaped with a glimmer of hope. She ran to him.

"Where have you been, Grandpa? Look how cruel everyone is here. We will leave today, I don't want to stay here anymore."

She spoke for a few moments, but there was no response. No movement.

"What happened, Grandpa? Are you not going to talk to your Mary anymore?"

Her heart grew cold. She reached out and touched his shoulder. As she did, he slumped over to the other side of the bench. His skin was ice-cold, his eyes glassy and unseeing. Mary’s soul shattered.

________

Author’s Note:🌸

Writing this chapter was incredibly emotional. Mary’s pain, her heartbreak, and the loss she suffered are just the beginning of her journey. From here on, it’s not just about survival—it’s about the battle ahead.

Do you think Mary can truly rise from this darkness? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Thank you for all your support!