The pain in my belly twisted like a knife. Cold sweat beaded across my forehead. Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at the box of pastries.
"Chester, this is your child too. How could you bear to..."
Chester's eyes reddened. He apologized again and again.
"I'm sorry, Stella. She knows you exist. By the timing, your child is further along than hers. She won't allow you to give birth to the firstborn..."
So he laced my favorite pastries with the drug, and I ate them without a second thought.
"Chester, my stomach hurts so much. I just ate them, there's still time. Please, go find a physician."
He didn't move. My voice cracked raw with panic. "I won't marry you, is that what you want? I just want my child. I'll take her and leave, go far away. I won't be in your way, I swear."
No matter how I screamed and begged, Chester didn't flinch.
He held out his arm. "Bite down on this. It won't hurt as much."
I shoved his arm away. "Go find a physician. I'm begging you, Chester."
"Stella, don't be ridiculous. No royal physician is going to treat someone of your standing."