Chapter 4: Poison, Pride, and Plot Armor

The only upside? Marcus’s attitude toward me changed. He started caring about everything, not just the baby.

I finally got to experience what it was like to be someone's muse.

I later learned he treated me well because he thought I’d risked my life to save him. Go figure.

Fine, if that's the misunderstanding, I'll roll with it.

This time, the baby was fine, but Marcus was a nervous wreck. He oversaw everything himself—even feeding me and refusing to let anyone else help.

He came back from work every day and stayed by my side.

Seeing such a big man curled up on the couch, clearly uncomfortable, I suggested he use the guest room. He looked ridiculous.

He ignored me the first time, so I repeated myself.

Unexpectedly, he got angry, stormed out, and left me standing there, confused.

Villains are so touchy—gone in a flash.

A few days later, I heard he’d brought another woman home. Figures.

But I couldn’t be bothered. My morning sickness was brutal. I couldn’t keep anything down.

Giving birth is no joke.

Marcus still checked on me daily, but we barely spoke. Stuck in a stalemate.

One day, seeing me sick, he ordered the staff to make plain chicken soup.

He fed me himself, blowing on every spoonful. Awkward.

My mouth tasted bitter, and I was about to refuse. Then I noticed the dark stubble on his pale face.

Remembering how he’d cared for me after I was shot—never changing clothes—and how in the original he cherished Autumn Sinclair until she betrayed him, I suddenly felt soft. I wanted to make up.

But all I could manage was, "Nights are getting colder, Marcus. Remember to keep warm."

As soon as I said it, I wanted to bite my tongue.

Marcus looked at me for a long time. I nearly buried my head in the pillow. Embarrassing.

"You too, Autumn," he replied quietly.

It was the first time he’d called me by my first name instead of just "you." That meant something.

I felt something shift between us, but couldn't say what.

Marcus still didn't stay, but when he left, his steps were lighter.

Mrs. Green, seeing our awkward silence, finally said, "Ma’am, if you want Mr. Hawthorne to stay, just say so. If you keep this up, someone else might snatch him away." Not helpful.

"Someone else?"

"That girl he brought home a few days ago!"

I suddenly remembered her. Ginny.

Marcus, while out on business, had saved a woman from an attack. She insisted on working as a maid to repay him. Yeah, right.

"I hear she's a real delicate thing, looks a bit like you. Maybe that's why Mr. Hawthorne took pity on her."

"What's her name?"

"I think it's Ginny."

Alarm bells went off in my head.

She was a plant from Sebastian. I knew it.

But in the original, she arrived later, forced in by Marcus’s meddling aunt to annoy Autumn Sinclair. Timing’s off.

This woman knew how to seduce, owed Sebastian a big favor, and was willing to poison Marcus for him. Dangerous.

If Marcus slept with her, he’d be poisoned. Something that would eat away at his insides until he died. Lovely.

In the original, Autumn Sinclair and Marcus had a huge fight, he stormed out and got drunk, Ginny took her chance, and they slept together. Disaster.

I shivered, imagining myself dying a slow, ugly death.

Forget pride—survival first.

Marcus was busy prepping a birthday gift for his grandmother, the family matriarch. Ginny followed him everywhere, looking like the perfect pair. Ugh.

After I transmigrated, I’d kept my distance from Sebastian, even took an arrow for Marcus, so by rights, I shouldn’t be a threat. Apparently not.

But somehow, Ginny still got close to Marcus.

Unless—plot armor.

The villain must die. That’s the rule.

Realizing that made me break out in a cold sweat.

If I don’t hurt the hero, the hero will still come for me. No win.

I couldn't just wait for death. I decided to act.