The Tower Reversed: Back to 18 (Venus) novel Chapter 47

**Chapter 47: It Wants the Baby**

In a matter of moments, Alban could sense the simmering contempt radiating from Rayne towards Venus. He decided it was time to drop the pretense and speak his mind without reservation.

“Neoma is one of our brightest talents,” Alban declared, his voice steady yet filled with urgency. “We cannot allow anything to jeopardize her safety. If you believe Venus played a part in this, we will address it according to protocol. Zea, get the police on the line.”

Zea Sowle, his diligent secretary, had just begun to press the numbers on her phone when it buzzed to life—an incoming call from the hospital. It was Neoma.

“Please, whatever you do, don’t hurt Ms. Burn! She’s here because I invited her!” Neoma’s voice came through, laced with panic.

Zea quickly switched the call to speaker mode. The moment those words echoed in the room, Rayne’s expression morphed from anger to disbelief. He snatched the phone from Zea’s hand. “She’s the one who made you pass out!” he bellowed, frustration boiling over.

A frail voice responded, filled with urgency. “No… Ms. Burn saved me. I heard you locked her in the security office. Please don’t treat her that way. I’m on my way back. Could you bring her to my dressing room and have her wait there for me?”

With Neoma herself defending Venus, both Rayne and Alban found themselves at a loss for words.

In an unexpected twist, Venus—who had earlier been escorted out by security—was now being led back into the dressing room, this time met with sincere apologies and a newfound respect from the staff.

…

Rayne lingered by the door, his demeanor icy and taut. “What did you do to Neoma?” he demanded, his voice low and accusatory. “Did you brainwash her? Or are you blackmailing her? Holding something over her head?”

He couldn’t shake the feeling that Venus was up to her old tricks, digging up dirt on people and selling it to the tabloids. This was not her first rodeo, after all.

Rayne’s mind raced with the possibilities. Surely, she must have something on Neoma, and that had to be the reason for her loyalty.

But Venus didn’t even spare him a glance. She strode past him with an air of indifference, entering the dressing room with purpose. SLAM! The door shut with a resounding finality, leaving Rayne standing in the hallway, feeling utterly humiliated.

About ten minutes later, Neoma burst into the room, her energy palpable. She froze for a brief moment upon spotting Rayne, then rushed forward, grasping his hand with a beaming smile. “Rayne, thank you so much! Your sister helped me tremendously; I can’t even begin to express my gratitude to both of you!”

Rayne stood there, momentarily paralyzed by the unexpected warmth of her words.

Neoma’s expression was genuine, filled with appreciation—not fear, not coercion, and certainly not the demeanor of someone under duress.

Before he could formulate a response, Neoma offered him a polite nod and slipped into the dressing room, leaving Rayne outside, still grappling with confusion and disbelief.

Inside, as soon as the door clicked shut, Neoma crumpled, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Ms. Oracle! I’m so sorry! I shouldn’t have doubted you just because of your age!” she sobbed, her voice thick with emotion.

Fortunately, the door was locked and soundproof, providing a moment of solace.

“Yeah… I just found out recently,” she admitted hastily, her voice barely above a whisper. “Is that why it’s targeting me?”

Venus affirmed with a nod. “Precisely. In its twisted logic, once your baby is born, your love will be divided. It’s jealous and terrified of losing your affection. It doesn’t want you dead; it wants to ensure that your child never enters this world.”

Neoma’s eyes widened in horror. “That’s monstrous! How could it be so cruel?”

She caught the glint of understanding in Venus’s gaze and quickly backtracked. “I—I mean, I understand it died during an abortion. That’s how it became a poppet, right? But how could it inflict pain on another child? Why make someone else suffer as it did?”

Venus’s voice was quiet yet resolute. “A child abandoned by its own mother harbors a deep, violent resentment. You brought it into your life. You adored it, showered it with love, and it felt that completely. But now, with another child on the way, it realizes that love will be split—perhaps even taken away entirely. So, it views the new life as a threat that must be eliminated.”

Neoma instinctively placed a hand over her abdomen, a protective gesture. “There’s no way I’m giving up my baby—not for a poppet, not for anything. My career is finally stable. I don’t need its help anymore. Ms. Oracle, tell me what it will cost. Whatever it takes, just help me get rid of it.”

Venus paused, her expression contemplative. “Getting rid of it isn’t the challenging part. The true difficulty lies in locating it first,” she replied.

Neoma scanned the room, tension radiating from her. “It’s not here, is it?”