Terros went to the cupboard and took a clay jar filled with black-colored caplets inside. He took three caplets and dropped them inside Graven's mouth. The tablets are meant to counter deadly poison, it's one of his best creations, it might be effective or not, only time can tell.

He doesn't know what the effect will be... but he's taking a gamble here while it's still early. He went back to the cupboard and took another bottle containing another caplet-like object, this time its color brown. He went back to bed and drop one on Graven's mouth. ​​

Done, he stayed inside the room for a few minutes and left.

Graven woke up three hours later and roamed his eyes around the unfamiliar room, he finally realized that he was still inside the bamboo house.

He glanced at the open window, it's already dark outside, he must have overslept due to drunkenness.

He got up from the bed and exited the room to find the old man. He found his old friend wearing a gloomy expression on his face. "What's wrong old man, why you look sad?" he asked.

Terros shook his head. "Nothing, are you going home now?" he asked.

"Yeah, I will go to the next town to find my wife and Rebecca," he answered.

"Good luck!" Terros said.

"I'll just pop up anytime. I'll take my leave now," Graven said.

Terros sighed deeply and nodded his head. "Come back soon!" he said.

"I will," Graven replied. He vanished from the place in the blink of an eye.

Terros continue sorting the herbs from the basket, he paused for a minute and looked heavenward with a gloomy sigh, crisis after crisis, he wonders how long his friend Graven can hold on?

He got to help him the only way he know-how.

>>

Inside Laura's room.

It's early evening. She just came out of the bathroom after cleaning herself. She was wearing one of the pretty maternity dresses that Luke had purchased for her. She like the fabric and the design, it's comfortable to wear especially during hot weather.

She was facing the dresser table and looking at her face in the mirror while brushing her hair with the comb.

The healer visited the mansion regularly to monitor her health and continue providing her nutritious tea and medicine to strengthen the baby's immune system inside her tummy. The old woman also advises her on what food to eat and what to avoid.

Adela and the healer are her only ally in her new surrounding, she was close to losing them. It's a good thing that she quickly made a deal with Luke saving the two women from severe punishment.

Her decision to surrender herself to Luke willingly saves three lives... her baby, the servant Adela, and the healer.

It doesn't matter if she is dying of guilt every time she and Luke got intimate under the sheet, she only has to remind herself that it's for the baby's sake and she was able to successfully mask her disgust and bitterness every time she and Luke have a steamy night together, her action justifies the cause.

She will explain to her husband one day why she did it, especially that she did it for their baby, he will understand her for sure. She doesn't want him to take revenge against his brother, they might end up killing each other. She just wants to be taken away from this place and be back in her husband's sweet embrace.

She released a heavy sigh feeling deeply troubled inside.

She looked at herself in the mirror.

Her face still the same, no changes on her body yet only the baby bump on her stomach is noticeable for now. She dropped the comb into the dresser table and put her hands on her stomach and began caressing her tummy. "How are you doing inside my tummy baby? Mother loves you so much! Don't worry I'll take care and protect you against danger. Just continue to grow healthy okay? Mother will take care of the rest for you. We will see father again soon!" she spoke in a shaky voice thick with emotions, teary-eyed.

She wiped the single tear that fell from her left eye.

She doesn't want to cry because Luke had informed her in the morning that he will sleep in her room tonight. And he warned her that every time they're together he doesn't like seeing her cry. She realized that avoiding the things that Luke doesn't like makes things easier for both of them.

Opening her legs willingly to welcome Luke inside her and moaning his name while he was pounding on his core in wild abandon are the things that he likes doing with her, so she does those things eagerly wanting to end their intimate moments as quickly as possible.

She doesn't like him to stay longer inside the room after their intimate session, but sometimes he would stay overnight and his face is the first thing that she will see in the morning, she had to wear a pleasant smile on her face and greet him good morning to avoid getting on his bad side.

Luke love everything about her and every time she spoke and perform pleasant things for him, his face would light up with joy.

He's acting like a child.

When she falls in love with Graven, she didn't expect things to end this way. Well... she did think of the possible bad thing to happen - but being Luke's prisoner is not one of them.

She took a deep breath.

She picked up the comb and finished brushing her long silky hair.

Done, she rose to her feet and went to the window. She looked outside and was greeted with darkness everywhere. There is no full moon and stars tonight, only pitch darkness.

She continues watching the darkness in the next fifteen minutes. In her mind, she was silently pleading and praying for her husband's presence... 'Husband, I'm already pregnant with our child, please get me out of here!' she said inwardly.

She released a ragged sigh.

She was unaware that Luke was already inside the room in his invisible form.

Luke made himself visible and walked towards the window.

Laura already senses Luke's presence after hearing footsteps behind her. She looked over her shoulder and was met with Luke's smoldering gaze.

He went to her side and embrace her from behind. He rested his head on her head. "What are you looking outside the window? There is only darkness outside," he said.

"Don't you have any plans of reconciling with your brother again?" she asked.

Luke sighed. "If I reconciled with him, would it repair the damage that is caused by you?" he asked throwing shade on her.

Laura sighed. "I never meant to cause the rift between you and your brother. It's not my intention," she said.

"You could have avoided it but you never did. I wonder who gives in to the temptation first? You or my brother?" he asked.

Laura breathed deeply, it's no use denying the truth. "We both did..." she finally said.

Luke gritted his teeth out of anger for a few seconds. Then he soothed himself. There is no use getting fired up due to what already happened in the past, he can only move on forward with Laura by his side. As for his twin brother, Graven, taking Laura away from him is the best punishment.

He's not doing anything wrong, he was just taking back what is rightfully his in the first place. "Let's go to bed, the wind is already cold, you might catch a bug and get sick, think about the baby in your tummy," he said.

He got a point. Laura disengaged from his embrace and went to bed while Luke closed the window. Done... he walked towards the bed and lay down beside her.

He wrapped his arms around her lovingly. "Just closed your eyes and sleep early, we're not going to do anything wild tonight," he murmured in her ears.

Laura felt relieved, she shut her eyes, preparing to sleep. She doesn't want to sleep in his arms, but she has no choice, fighting him physically won't end well, she will only get tired and she's afraid that Luke will lose his control and might accidentally hit her in the abdomen resulting in her miscarriage.

No, she can't allow something like that to happen, just for the sake of her baby inside her womb, she will tolerate his advances and stay calm all the time.

One hour later.

Laura finally falls asleep soundly in his arms.

Luke stared at the ceiling listening to Laura's soft snoring.

Things between him and Laura have dramatically improved after she got pregnant. She's turning into an obedient dove to him, although she was doing it to protect her baby, still, it brought happiness to his heart. It's the closest things he could get from her. Her cooperation and willingness to tolerate his presence inside her room is already a big thing for him.

He can only enjoy what she's willing to give to him, one at a time. As for her elusive love, he's willing to wait no matter how long it takes for her to love him again.

When he saw Laura standing beside the window staring at the horizon he knew that she was thinking of her husband, she's probably praying for him to come quick and rescue her because she is excited to tell him the good news that they're having a baby!

He was consumed with jealousy for a few minutes...

But then he calmed down thinking that he and Laura can also have a baby of their own one day after she gives birth to her first child. He can't possibly destroy what they have right now. Hurting Laura physically just because he was angry and jealous would only result in her shrinking away from him. He doesn't want things to end like that... he wants to gain her love and trust slowly no matter how long it will take him to earn that.

He closed his eyes and savored the sweet moments with her, another day in paradise with his beloved woman.

He falls asleep wearing a happy smile on his face.