Chapter 1

I had been kept like a pet by my possessive vampire boyfriend for fifteen years, yet we never had a child.



There's a curse on his bloodline—every firstborn turns into a savage, mindless vampire at age one, no exception. And he couldn't bear putting our child through that.



But on the night of our sixteenth anniversary, Damien Ravencrest clung to me, taking me thirteen times that night, begging me to give him an heir.



I was filled with happiness and hope as I prepared for pregnancy. Even after seven miscarriages in three months, I never once thought about giving up.



When the eighth baby finally stayed, and I reached five months into the pregnancy, I accidentally overheard a conversation between Damien and a human girl:



"“Damien, thank you for going so far as to make Carmilla miscarry seven times just to fulfill my wish to have a daughter\~"”



"“Silly girl, you'’ve made me fall so deeply for you. Of course, I’’ll do anything you ask."”



"“But I’’m so scared… I’’m already eight months pregnant. What if our baby is born first and turns into a monster?"”



Damien paused for a moment before gently patting her head.



"“Don’’t worry. The oxytocin is ready. Carmilla’’s baby will be born before yours."”



That's when it hit me—



My baby was just a sacrificial lamb for his real lover's child.



Even the gender of my baby had been dictated by her.



My hands trembled uncontrollably as I tried to stay composed. I no longer had any illusions of spending my life with him.



……



Staggering slightly, I clutched my belly and fled from the manor.



Just as I reached the gate, Damien called out behind me.



““You heard everything in the study, didn’’t you?””



His voice was calm, devoid of the slightest guilt over being discovered.



When our eyes met—mine red from anguish—he understood instantly.



““Since you know, then help her.””



““She’’s human and way too fragile. Fragile. She can’’t handle any emotional stress.””



A bitter smile curled on my lips.



She was human. And what was I?



I had given up the freedom to walk in the sunlight as a human, betrayed my entire clan, just to be with him.



Now, that devotion meant nothing compared to a light-hearted words: "“she’’s human."”



After a moment of silence, Damien reached out and gently patted my head, as if to comfort me.



I instinctively stepped back.



He only showed this kind of kindness when he wanted obedience. Every time it meant one thing: no room for refusal.



The last time I defied him, he had thrown me into a nest of low-born vampires to be tormented for three days and nights.



Their razor-sharp fangs, the sticky, putrid fluids—I still remembered it vividly.



Taking a deep breath, I looked up at him and forced the words out:



““Can’’t we wait just one more month? A five-month-old fetus…—it even if born—won’’t survive—””



Before I could finish, Damien cut me off coldly.



““Carmilla Crimsonvale, as long as the baby is born alive and breathing, that’’s all that matters. You know this.””



““Be good. After it’’s over, I’’ll give you a healthy child as compensation.””



I closed my eyes in despair.



Behind him, the human girl suddenly burst into tears.



““Damien, am I putting you in a difficult position?””



““Maybe I should just die with the baby. If it’’s going to be born a monster, then we’’d be better off dead anyway...””



She sobbed so hard her shoulders shook, tears clinging to her lashes like dew.



Damien’’s eyes flushed red.



Chapter 2

Damien rarely let his emotions show. His usual calm and restraint often made me tease him, saying he was like a stiff, soulless machine.



Even when I was nearly drained to death by low-born vampires last time, all he did was frown slightly and order the physician to treat me.



Turns out, Damien did have feelings—just not for me.



When I looked up again and met his icy gaze, I froze.



Behind me, the manor’s servants grabbed my arms and held me down.



Inside the surgical room, syringe after syringe of oxytocin was injected into my skin.



Cold sweat broke out across my body from the searing pain.



Beyond the glass window, Lilith Vexley clung to Damien’s arm with excitement.



“Damien\~ you’re so good to me. Soon, our baby will be free from the fate of becoming a monster. It’ll be a healthy little angel!”



Damien glanced at me, and for a split second, his hardened expression flickered with a hint of guilt.



But the moment he turned to Lilith’s glowing face, his brows relaxed completely.



The doctor stepped out from the operating room and hesitantly asked: “Sir, must we proceed with the C-section now? Miss Vexley’s due date is still two months away. If we wait, there’s still time for Madam to give birth after that.”



Damien casually lifted his gaze, playing with a strand of Lilith’s hair.



“But Lilith said she wanted to see how long a five-month vampire baby could survive after birth.”



“Besides, delivering Carmilla’s baby early means she’ll suffer for fewer months. Once her body recovers, we can have another healthy child.”



The doctor wanted to say more, but one glance at Damien’s impatient eyes silenced him.



As the doors of the surgical room closed, my belly was cut open.



A nurse nearby gave me a scornful look, turning to whisper with the others: “Oh look, isn’t this the woman who’s always coming in for abortions? Looks like she’s finally delivering this one, though it’ll still be a disaster.”



“That thing’s just a scapegoat for Miss Vexley’s baby. The master said no anesthesia—just take it out.”



The harsh laughter echoed in my ears, leaving me dazed.



Half a year ago, on our anniversary night, Damien—usually cold and restrained—had suddenly lost control.



He had pulled me into his arms with desperate hunger.



He gripped my waist, kissed my lips, buried his face in my neck.



He said he loved me.



He said he wanted a child with me.



That night, the wine had made his eyes look dreamlike and tender, and in that moment of weakness, I agreed.



When I had my first miscarriage, Damien had frantically summoned every doctor available.



During the surgery, he knelt by my bedside, red-eyed, whispering comfort: “Carmilla, don’t be afraid. It’s okay that we lost this one. We’ll have more children in the future.”



It was the first time I saw prideful Damien cry—for me.



I had wiped my tears and nodded with joy.



And just like he said, we had our second, third… all the way to the eighth.



But today, after seeing Lilith in his study, and hearing the nurses mocking me beside the operating table—



Only now did I understand.



Damien never wanted my child to begin with.



Chapter 3

It was hard to tell how much time had passed when a stabbing pain ripped through me, and the child was finally torn from my body.



A faint, fragile cry pierced the air, snapping me back to consciousness.



Half an hour later, ignoring the crooked stitches and the blood still seeping from my wound, I struggled to get out of bed.



If this place couldn’t tolerate my child, then I would take her away myself.



But just as I opened the door, Lilith appeared before me, smiling sweetly, a leash in her hand.



Following the leash with my eyes, my heart dropped violently.



At the other end was my newborn daughter—tied up like an animal.



Her tiny body was almost translucent, her skin ghostly pale. When she looked at me, her eyes were filled with a desperate will to live.



My eyes burned as I lunged forward, trembling hands reaching to unfasten the leash from her neck, to remove the muzzle strapped to her face.



Lilith’s smile deepened with satisfaction.



With a smug expression, she stepped aside and viciously kicked me to the ground.



“Carmilla, what’s the rush? Damien already told me—this little beast is going to turn into a bloodthirsty monster one day. I’m just helping her learn some discipline early on\~”



“Wouldn’t want her to hurt me or Damien’s baby when she grows up, right?”



Fury surged in my heart. My vision blurred with rage as I met the malice in her eyes.



“She is not a monster!!”



Lilith laughed like I had told the world’s funniest joke. She raised her foot and stomped down on my abdomen.



“A-hahaha! Stop lying to yourself. A beast is a beast!”



My daughter seemed to sense something. With the last of her strength, she reached out and grabbed Lilith’s ankle.



The next second—bang!



She was kicked hard, her tiny body flung across the floor.



Lilith’s eyes gleamed with pride. Her lips moved silently: I win.



Then she pointed at the faint blood smear on her ankle and began to cry.



“Damien, I’m scared\~! Carmilla’s child scratched me! What if I become a monster too?”



Anyone scratched by a lesser vampire could turn into one of those blood-hungry creatures.



Damien rushed in. Hearing her trembling voice, his already dark expression twisted even more.



He gently cupped Lilith’s hand and said coldly, “Take that beast to the Forbidden Zone!”



“No… No! Please!” I screamed, shoving the servants away and shielding my battered daughter with my body.



There wasn’t even a single mark on Lilith’s leg.



It was my daughter who was bruised and dying!



Why should she be sent there?



The Forbidden Zone was where the lowest vampires roamed—brutal, feral things that would tear her apart, leaving nothing behind, not even her soul.



Trembling, I knelt at Damien’s feet.



“Damien, I beg you… don’t do this. She’s your daughter too. You can’t—”



“Enough, Carmilla,” he snapped, his tone cold and sharp. “Have you forgotten your place? Acting like this over a beast—what a disgrace!”



He looked down at me as if I’d lost all reason.



He wasn’t angry because of what had happened.



He was angry because I dared defy him—for the sake of a “beast.”



But she was my child.



Tears blurred my vision. I turned and grabbed Lilith’s ankle, begging her with all I had.



Chapter 4

Damien frowned, his last bit of patience draining away.



“Carmilla, if you care about this beast so much, then watch closely.”



With that, he tossed our daughter into the Forbidden Zone with his own hands.



A scream rang out—then silence. Complete, crushing silence.



I collapsed on the floor, shrieking in agony. It felt like I was coughing up blood as I screamed her name into the void.



I reached out, but there was nothing left to hold onto.



No sound.



No life.



Lilith nodded with satisfaction. She glanced at me smugly before wrapping her arms around Damien’s neck.



“Damien… I feel awful. Is the poison starting to take effect?”



Damien’s eyes flicked to my ashen face, his expression darkened with a trace of panic.



But almost instantly, he turned back to Lilith, his arms tightening around her as he carried her away.



I sat there, motionless, staring at the blood trail left behind by my daughter.



Then a mouthful of blood spilled from my lips, and everything went black.



—



When I woke again, I was inside a dog cage.



The wound on my abdomen had been bandaged, but dried blood still clung to the surface.



Damien stepped away from Lilith and approached me as I stirred.



“Carmilla, you lost control yesterday. This is your punishment.”



He crouched in front of me and unlocked the cage.



Fresh love bites still marked his neck.



Lilith stepped between us, pouting in mock anger.



“Damien! You promised she’d live in the dog cage for three days and act like her daughter’s pet to make it up to me!”



“If you break your promise, then I’m going to invoke my exclusive right to your love—she can be my dog for a whole week instead!”



Damien’s gaze hardened. He hesitated.



And then… he pulled his hand back.



“Carmilla, I’m sorry,” he said quietly.



Hearing that rare apology, I let out a laugh.



Damien’s expression stiffened, his eyes flashing with displeasure.



“Carmilla,” he said, “I already told you. If you love children so much, I’ll give you more in the future. Do you really need to throw a tantrum over one little beast?”



I stared at him, my voice hoarse.



“It wasn’t just one... it was eight.”



His breath hitched. His chest rose and fell sharply.



He looked furious. Then—



Lilith’s water broke.



“You stay here and think about your behavior. I’ll talk to you after Lilith gives birth.”



He shouted for the doctor and rushed her into the operating room.



I watched his back fade into the distance and let out a bitter laugh.



He wouldn’t find me again—not in a week. Not ever.



—



For a whole week, the ever-composed Damien stayed by Lilith’s side during labor.



He personally cared for her and the baby.



As he looked at the wrinkled newborn in his arms, his cold features softened into a rare smile.



Oddly enough, a thought crossed his mind—



If Carmilla’s baby had lived, it definitely wouldn’t have been this ugly.



He paused.



Then he suddenly remembered—it had already been a full week.



Whatever anger or grief Carmilla had, it should have passed by now.



With that thought, he set down the baby and quickly made his way to the bedroom.



Calling her name, Damien pushed open the door.



But what he saw turned his face ghostly pale.

Born First, So Hers Won’t Turn Monster