The Tower Reversed: Back to 18 (Venus) novel Chapter 49

**TITLE: One Step Changes Everything**
**By Ruby Parker**
**Chapter 49: The Public Image Is Not the Man**

The very mention of the situation made Neoma’s skin prickle with irritation. “I followed every single instruction you gave me! I provided it with food and drinks daily, showered it with toys of every kind! And now, just because I’m pregnant, it has not only stopped assisting me, but it’s actively sabotaging my work. I’ve been making mistakes left and right on set these days. I can’t handle this anymore, Ms. Oracle! Just get rid of it. I don’t care what it costs; I’ll pay whatever it takes,” she exclaimed, her voice rising in frustration.

Venus remained silent, a serene smile gracing her lips as she stepped into the dimly lit room.

The atmosphere was thick with an oily residue, the air heavy with an unspoken tension.

In the center of the room stood a solitary offering table. At its heart was a smooth, polished wooden poppet, its surface gleaming with a layer of corpse oil that left no doubt as to what had been used to maintain it. Surrounding the poppet were an array of food items, predominantly milk-based snacks and drinks, their freshness long gone. Beneath the doll, a candle dish lay neglected, three candles sitting silently—long extinguished, their wax cold and untouched. It was painfully evident that no candle had been lit in days, a clear sign of neglect.

The edges of the table were cluttered with an assortment of toys, dozens of them, all seemingly picked out for a little boy.

Neoma hesitated, her footsteps faltering as she followed Venus into the room. “I, um, haven’t really stepped in here since everything started to unravel at work,” she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Venus picked up one of the candles, rolling it between her fingers, a frown creasing her brow. “Yeah, it’s damp,” she observed, her tone matter-of-fact.

Turning her gaze back to Neoma, she continued, “Raising a poppet is not simply about tossing a few snacks onto a table. You’re supposed to light a fresh candle every single day. The food has to be new, no leftovers allowed. And every offering must be made with genuine intent. If you skip even a single day, if the candle isn’t lit or the offerings go stale, the poppet takes it personally. What you’re witnessing now? That’s merely a warning.”

Neoma’s expression shifted to one of disbelief, caught in a whirlwind of shock and frustration. “A warning? It’s been ruining my entire career!” she exclaimed, her voice rising in pitch.

Venus regarded her with an icy calmness. “If it truly wanted to harm you, you’d already be nothing more than a pile of ash.”

Neoma’s complexion drained of color. “Is it really that dangerous?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“You clearly cared for it before. It sensed your affection and reciprocated it in its own peculiar way. If it hadn’t, you and your baby would have met a far worse fate already,” Venus replied, her tone steady and soothing. “What it desires now is your unwavering love. It will not tolerate anyone else vying for your attention.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Neoma asserted, her brow furrowing in determination. “My boyfriend and I are planning to marry, and I refuse to abandon my own child. If it comes down to making a choice between the two … I’m keeping my baby. That’s non-negotiable. As for the doll, I’m truly sorry, but it has to go. Ms. Oracle, perhaps you could find someone else to take it? Someone who can provide it with the love I can no longer give?”

Venus raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. “You think this is a puppy? Something you can simply hand off when you tire of it?”

Neoma flushed, her hands waving defensively. “No, no, that’s not what I meant at all. I just … I need to make the right choice right now.”

If she hadn’t found herself pregnant, she would have cherished the doll without a second thought.

But now?

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