lemen

through what little hope I had left. He t

cheeks. No more. I wouldn't cry for hi

o steady my racing heart. My voice, w

reflection in the rearview mirror. "Take Charlotte. Take her baby. And I'

idded to a halt on the side of the road,

th a furious light. "What are you ta

ere, Ava. You're carrying my child. I won't let yo

their stern faces impassive. Derrick had locked me in my room, confiscating my phone and laptop.

er the railing. Charlotte and her mother, a woman with a face as sharp as her tongue, were directing

spotted me. A sne

for me to hear. "Still clinging to what isn

or darling, having to endure this. Derrick should have sent th

flickered up, meeting mine. A triumphant, mocking smile

w up, a primal instinct. The sharp crack of my palm

ned shock. Tears welled up, spilling dramatically down

one?!" Derrick's roar

's taunt. He had only seen my strike. She was a mast

ng her furious mother closer. Her ey

a hand on my daughter! You think you can just hook your claws into a

n stay here? She' s a cheat, a liar, and now a common braw

bing hysterically. Over his shoulder, her eyes me

s face a mask of indecision. He gently pus

he said, his voice surpris

staring at us in disbelief. Then, with a furious scream, she

ou've ruined everything!" her mother screech

. He was asking for my understanding, for my permis

amily's name, the precariousness of his positio

was damp and cramped, a stark contrast to the luxuri

ce soft. "Just until Charlotte is settled. Then I'll

ly thought that mattered. Every waking moment was spent plotting. I ev

ouldn't possibly understand, Ava," she'd sneered, her eyes g

hard certainty that chilled me to the b

ding bedtime stories to Charlotte's unborn child from the main house. Then, mu

calling my name softly

ed to be asleep,

e. "What do you want, Derrick?" I as

you hate me so much, Ava? Don't y

art. But I quickly extinguished it. He didn't deser

tear tracing a path to my ear. He

ut this confinement isn't good for either of us. I need fre

g but his touch hollow. "Yes, Ava. Anything you want. Ju

ge. The air suddenly felt heavy with an unspoken barg