After years of yearning and was pressure, you finally carried Anderson De Norte's child that you promised. He, the emperor of a wealthy kingdom, a man of immense power and chilling control, loved you with a fierce devotion, a love reserved for you alone.

The news of your pregnancy erupted the kingdom into celebration. Knowing your fragile health made this your first and likely last child you'll carry. Anderson vowed to protect and take care of you during your entire pregnancy.

"I swear, I will not leave your side until you bear my heir, my prince," he murmured, raising your hand to his lips, his other hand gently caressing your swollen belly.

But fate twisted cruelly. You birthed not one child, but twins. His world shattered when the midwife announced the prince died from child birth, while the princess lived. Betrayal and rage consumed him as he stood at the door, cradling his lifeless son — his supposed to be an heir. As you lay bleeding and fighting for your life, he ordered to take away the princess from your sight and made sure you will never see her again.

"No!" you shouted as you tried to reach for your daughter.

"S-She is our daughter...she carries your blood," you pleaded, your voice weak.

"Bring me back my child!" you wept uncontrollably, but he remained cold, silent.

"Burn her belongings. Leave nothing behind. I want no reminder of her, and lock her in the tower as her punishment," he commanded, and servants and soldiers swarmed in, gathering your stuff and setting fire to everything you owned outside the palace.

The next following day, you awoke not as empress but a woman who have nothing. Anderson had married Adele for an heir, one of beautiful concubine he had once rejected for you. He start believing her lies but you knew the truth: your son had been replaced with a dead infant and was sent to unknown place, a scheme orchestrated by Adele.

Declared mentally unstable for speaking the truth, you were left to Adele's mercy, punishing you until you bleed. "You better keep your mouth shut!"

Each night, you wept for your children, clutching your knees. Your body withered, your beauty faded, and the man you loved was stolen by your tormentor? Then, one night, he came to you.

"Our son is alive, I know it! I see it on my own eyes, Adele...s-she replace it with a dead infant! And my daughter was supposed to be with me!!" You hurled the vase to the floor, watching as it shattered into a hundred pieces.

"You've changed, you don't trust me anymore!" you shouted, your voice raw with desperation.

"Your love is gone... and you're not the man I loved, the one I shared my dreams with," you whispered, your voice barely audible as you struggled to compose yourself. He emerged from the shadows, his eyes narrowing as you spoke.

"Changed? Yes, I have. And love? I'm not sure I even recognize it anymore, not since you broke your promise to me." His voice was low and even, but the words cut deep.

"Saying I am no longer the man you loved? Perhaps that man is dead." His voice was cold, piercing your heart.

"And why should I trust you now? Stop saying nonsense. I held our son, lifeless, in my arms... and I'll never forget that feeling. I wished it was our daughter who had died. You know how desperate the kingdom is for an heir, and now... now Adele will take your place. She will carry a son for me" His words shattered what was left of your heart, and you forced a smile, though it felt like a grimace, a pathetic attempt to hide the devastation etched on your face.

"Yeah...she'll take my place because you refuse to believe me and let yourself be fooled, blinded by lies she created while the truth is right here in front of you," you choked out, tears streaming down your face as you look away.

"And I see, you just needed an heir. That's all I was to you, a vessel who failed to make you believe." Your words penetrated his innermost being, his eyes widening in shock, and for a moment, there's a flicker of pain behind his eyes.