Her Miscarriages, Their Dark Secret

my failure, while my husband, Axel, played the part of the grieving spouse

n our gilded cage, claiming it was for my safety and the baby's, due to the stre

e, a smile I hadn't seen in months, was directed at them. Adeline's feigned sadness about my "miscarriages" revealed a horrifying tr

d the baby, confirming their complicity. My entire life, my marriage, my grief-it was all a monstrou

ts, my husband, my future, and now, my children. The realization hit me like a physical blow: my fo

people who were supposed to protect me, conspire against me s

nd scheduled an abortion. Then, I called my old dance academy, applyi

pte

our. The number felt like a weight in my gu

rief each time. He held me, whispered comforting wo

was pregnant again, and Axel'

rning, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I've arr

were due to stress, to the public pressures of being marri

d only met a few years ago. He and his wife, Barbar

e security team. The staff was replaced. My wor

he'd say, stroking my hair. "W

ed his every word was a shield prote

ttered on a Tu

back garden, a part of the estate I was forbidden from visiting. I re

ing-class neighborhood, oblivious to my heritage. She had supposedly been sent away to a remote wellness retreat months

rge, sculpted hedge. The sight bef

wasn't at a retreat. She was here, in

as holdin

tremor I couldn't control. I pressed

perfect little boy. She looked up at Axel, her e

't seen in months. He reached out and

ppen?" Adeline whispered, her voice laced wit

. Miscarriages. Pl

had a child, my position, our son's position, would be threatened. Dennis an

carriages. His words echoed in

ut I'm here?" Adeline pr

ou hidden this whole time. I told everyo

hiding in the shadows. I just want to be with you and our so

ith pity. "Don't be silly, A

y, his eyes filled with a pri

e'll find a way to make her infertile for good. Then, this little guy," he said, tapping the baby's nos

e words hit me li

My four lost babies weren't accidents. They were sa

ming silently down my face. My whole life, my marriage, m

Axel, every comforting t

isappearance

orse, I saw my parents, Senator Clarke and Ba

didn't know. Maybe they woul

died as soon

Adeline, my dear, are you alright? You look so pale."

brace, her voice a pathetic whimper. "Mom, I'm

ng her hair. "You've done nothing wrong. W

ng. "Dad... I don't want to cause a rift between you

l performance. Th

uld command a room with a single glance, looke

mly. He then looked at the baby in her arms, his expression me

It was true. They

confident. "She's a good girl. She'll understand

mily. The words w

e of familial bliss. They laughed, they cooed, they planned

d the main house, leaving me hidden in the shad

ilent scream trapped in my throat. My hands wen

pregnancy. The elaborate gifts, the prayers for a healthy baby a

s all

signed to keep me docile, to keep me producing a child they n

y. But I was just a vessel. A placeholder. Adeline, the cuckoo in my nest, had

injury had ended my career as a dancer, the only thing that had ever been truly mine. I had thought it was an

die. The only thing that saved me was discovering

n I mis

carried

ag

first loss. He said it was Adeline. He had been so convincing in his rage, so right

e. It was

coddled me, showered me with affection, made me feel cherished, all while she was hidden away, carry

t was so immense it felt physical, a crushing weight

s nothing left but a hollow, aching void. I looked up

epad on the garden table. I picked it up. It was a list in Axel's handwriting. "Pediatr

her. Just no

of my heart cr

tter to the house. One of Axel's aides,

on a sensitive assignment

even before I opened it, that i