His voice… it wasn’t the same voice he used with me. Not even close.
Mrs. Hayes let out a cold snort. “Come with me.”
I pressed my lips together and followed her without a word. As soon as the study door closed, her face changed. All that fake calm from dinner disappeared.
“Kneel.”
I didn’t argue. I just went down slowly, my knees hitting the cold marble. It stung, but I was already used to that kind of pain.
“Do you know where you went wrong?” she asked, looking down at me like I was something dirty.
I lowered my eyes and stayed quiet.
A loud bang hit the table. “You stupid girl!” she snapped, her voice sharp and cold. “Hudson said he’s not in a hurry to have a child and you just sat there? You didn’t even try to change his mind?”
My fingers curled slightly. Was I supposed to beg him? Force him? Didn’t he already make it clear… I meant nothing?
She opened a drawer and took out a small bottle, then slammed it in front of me. “Drink this. It’s a fertility tonic. Starting today, you take it every day and you sleep with him until you get pregnant. I don’t care what it takes.”
I stared at the bottle. In the past, I would’ve taken it without a word. But now… “I won’t take it,” I said quietly.