Chapter 3

As Janet dragged me to the door, the bass of the club hammered in my chest. Alcohol filled my head, a pleasant diversion from Alex and Sam's thoughts.

"Need some air," I said, leaning against the wall for support.

"Are you okay?" Janet, also intoxicated, laughed. "That man could not look away from you."

A deep voice pierced the night before I could reply. "Do you need a ride, ladies?"

The man who had been observing me all night was there when I turned. At close range, his smile appeared endearing but also predatory.

"No, we can ta—" I began.

"Yeah!" Janet swayed a little and interrupted. "That would be wonderful. But first, drop me off.

I furrowed up. "Janet"

She muttered, "Come on, Daniela," and started to go to his car. "Do not be a buzzkill."

As he led me into the backseat and Janet followed me, the world swung to one side.

---

The morning came with a vengeance. I woke up with a head that felt like it might burst open and a sharp pain in my abdomen. Behind my eyelids, fragments of the night before flashed through my mind: the club, the stranger, the man waving goodbye as I staggered into my apartment by myself.

Wincing, I grabbed my phone. My fingers shaking, I dialed Janet.

I croaked, "Hey," as she responded.

"Good morning, sunshine." Although she sounded rough, she was better than I thought. "How are you holding up?"

A surge of pain ripped through my abdomen once more. I gasped and doubled over. Janet, there is a problem. I need to get to a clinic."

"What's happening?" Her worried voice grew sharper.

"I do not know. Can't stand up. Everything hurts."

"Hold on tight. I'll call a cab I shouldn't drive right now."

The room whirled violently as I attempted to stand again. The cold floor hurried up to greet me, and that was the last thing I remembered.

---

White ceiling. Antiseptic smell. Beeping machines.

"She is waking up," Janet said, coming from next to me. Dani? Can you hear me?"

I tried to focus by blinking. Janet's anxious face appeared, followed by a man wearing a white coat.

"Miss Reyes?" The physician leaned over me. "How are you feeling?"

"Like death," I muttered. "What happened?"

The physician's face became grave. "You had a close call. You almost lost your pregnancy.

At first, the words did not make sense. "My what?"

"You're pregnant, Miss Daniela. Roughly four weeks along.

It was as if the room were tilting on its axis. "That is impossible," I muttered.

"I promise it is not." He took a quick look at his chart. "Although the baby is stable right now, you will require at least two weeks of total bed rest. Reduced stress and no alcohol.

Instinctively, I reached for my stomach. A baby. Inside me. Alex's baby.

Before I could stop them, tears were streaming down my cheeks. Janet ran to me and threw her arms around me.

"It is okay," she muttered and said. "I have got you. You are no longer in need of them.

I choked out, "Sam would have been so happy," in between sobs. "He wanted a sibling all his life."

Janet drew back, her eyes glaring. "Stop thinking about them. What are you going to do?"

I wiped away my tears as I felt a wave of clarity come over me. "I'm keeping it," I said firmly. "But Alex can never know. I want nothing to do with him."

Squeezing my hand, Janet said, "You have got me," "We will work this out together."

"I love you, Janet. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Love you too." She smiled sadly. "Now rest. Doctor's orders."

---

Three weeks of bed rest gave me too much time to think. About the baby. About the future. Regarding my college degree and certifications, which I required to obtain employment, which is still at Alex's house.

I said to Janet one morning, "I am going over there," as I got out of the couch.

"Are you crazy?" She blocked my path. "You're supposed to be resting!"

"I feel fine. And I need those papers if I'm going to support this baby."

Janet's expression darkened. "Let me go get them for you."

"No." I shook my head. "I need to do this myself. Alex is at work during the day. I'll be in and out in ten minutes."

After another fifteen minutes of arguing, Janet reluctantly agreed to drive me but insisted on waiting in the car.

"Text me the second you're done," she warned as I stepped out. "If you're not back in fifteen minutes, I'm coming in."

The house felt eerily silent as I unlocked the door. Everything looked exactly as I'd left it, yet somehow colder. I climbed the stairs quickly, heading for the office where I kept my documents.

As I reached the top landing, muffled sounds from the master bedroom stopped me cold. A woman's laugh. Lilith. My stomach churned.

*Focus. Get what you came for and leave.*

I slipped into the office and located my diploma and certifications in the bottom drawer. Clutching them to my chest, I turned to leave.

That's when I heard the scream.

"Daddy, no! Stop!"

Sam's voice, was high with terror. I froze, uncertain.

"Get back here, you little shit!" A slurred, angry voice I barely recognized as Alex's.

Heavy footsteps pounded down the hallway. I stepped out just as Sam came tearing around the corner, his face streaked with tears. He collided with me hard, his eyes wild with panic.

"Sam!" I grabbed his shoulders. "What's happening?"

Before he could answer, Alex appeared at the end of the hall, his face contorted with rage. When he saw me, his expression shifted to something even more dangerous.

"Well, look who's back." He staggered forward. "Come to beg for another chance?"

"I just came for my papers," I said, pushing Sam behind me protectively. "I'm leaving now."

Alex lunged forward. "You're not going anywhere."

He grabbed my arm, yanking me toward him. The papers scattered as I struggled to break free.

"Let go!" I shouted.

"Daddy, stop!" Sam cried.

I broke free of Alex's grip and backed toward the stairs, gathering Sam with me. "We're leaving. Now."

Alex's face darkened. "I said you're not going anywhere." He charged forward.

It happened so fast. His hands connected with my shoulders, a hard shove. My foot slipped on the top stair. Sam screamed. Then I was falling, tumbling, sharp pain exploding through my body as I crashed down the staircase.

The last thing I saw was Alex's shocked face peering down at me before everything went black.

---

White ceiling. Antiseptic smell. Different room.

This time, the pain was deeper, more hollow. I knew before the doctor spoke.

"I'm sorry, Miss Daniela." His voice was gentle and professional. "We couldn't save your baby."

Something broke inside me. A raw, animal sound tore from my throat as I curled into myself, hands clutching my now-empty womb. Gone. My baby was gone.

"No," I moaned. "No, no, no..."

The door opened. Through my tears, I saw Alex enter with Sam hiding behind his legs. I turned away, unable to bear the sight of them.

"So," Alex's voice cut through my grief like a blade, "you got pregnant after one month of leaving, but for five years you gave me nothing." He snorted. "What a slut. I'm glad you lost the bastard."

The words hit like physical blows. My grief crystallized into something harder, colder. I turned to face him, hatred burning through my veins.

"Get out," I whispered, my voice trembling with rage. "I hate you. Both of you. I never want to see either of you again."

Sam's eyes widened, filling with tears. Alex grabbed his son's shoulder and turned to leave, his expression unreadable.

The door had barely closed behind them when it burst open again. Janet rushed in, her face pale with shock.

"Dani!" She flew to my side, gathering me in her arms. "Oh my god, what happened? I was waiting and then ambulances came and" She pulled back, eyes frantic. "Who did this to you?"

I clung to her, my body shaking with sobs. "The baby's gone, Janet. My baby's gone."

"Oh, sweetheart." Her voice broke. "I'm so sorry."

When I could finally speak again, I pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. My voice was barely audible, raw from crying.

"Janet," I whispered, "it was Alex. He pushed me down the stairs."

Her face transformed with fury. "That bastard. I'll kill him."

I gripped her hand, a cold determination settling over me. "No. He'll pay for this. I promise you. He'll suffer for what he's done."

A nurse appeared in the doorway. "Miss? The police are here. They'd like to take your statement."

Janet and I exchanged a look. Something shifted in that moment—something final and irrevocable.

"Send them in," I said, wiping away my tears. "It's time everyone knew the truth about Alex Harrison."