Equivale: Finding His Heart - Book two

"Hurry up, babe. If we’re late, the hospital’s going to be packed."

Aiden Carter’s urging pulled me sharply back to reality.

My hand instinctively pressed against the slight swell of my belly, and that’s when I knew. I had been reborn.

I was reborn on the very day we were supposed to pick up my prenatal test results.

In my last life…

From the moment I got pregnant, Aiden had been meticulous about caring for me. Every day, he bought something new for the baby, and he’d already picked out over a hundred possible names.

Even though the hospital where I had my prenatal checkups was his own workplace, he always took leave just to accompany me. He never hid his excitement or love for this child.

Four months in, we went for the routine check as usual.

When the attending doctor, Dr. Marianne Cole, assured us that the baby was perfectly healthy, with no signs of Down syndrome, Aiden, who was an OB-GYN himself, glanced over the report.

That’s when his smile froze on his face, twisting into horror. Without a word, he grabbed my hand and tried to schedule an abortion.

I stood there stunned, tearing my hand free. "Aiden, the baby’s fine. Why do you want to get rid of it?"

However, he didn’t answer. His fingers flew over his phone, already booking the procedure.

I reached to snatch it away.

His breathing grew ragged, and his eyes were bloodshot as he roared, "Clara, there is no way we are having this child!"

His outburst rattled me so badly my heart nearly tore out of my chest, and my legs threatened to buckle beneath me.

While he was distracted setting up the surgery, I quickly messaged my parents, who happened to both be OB-GYNs as well.

They came swiftly.

When Aiden saw them, he didn’t look nervous at all. In fact, a faint smile tugged at his lips.

I shrank into my mother’s arms. Dad swung a fist and smashed it into Aiden’s face. "The baby’s perfectly fine. Why the hell are you pushing for an abortion?"

Aiden stayed silent, shoving the test results into Dad’s hands.

The moment Dad’s eyes scanned the report, his rage curdled into shock. His eyes widened. His hands shook. Then, he lifted his fist, aiming for my stomach.

Thank God Mom stepped in.

His punch landed squarely against her instead. She shouted furiously, "Have you lost your mind? Clara’s carrying your grandchild!"

Dad sneered, thrusting the report at her.

After a single glance, my mother, who had just shielded me, went pale as if she’d seen a ghost. She shoved me away from her chest, shaking her head violently. "No… no, this won’t work."

That’s when I realized something was wrong with the results.

"Mom, what’s happening? What’s wrong with my baby?" I demanded.

However, she didn’t answer, trapped in her own terror. "This won’t do!" She clutched Dad’s arm. "It’s too obvious here at the hospital. I have another solution."

Her voice dropped. "Find a few men. Lock Clara in with them."

I froze, going numb all over.

Why had they both changed the instant they saw the report? What could possibly be so terrifying? And why wouldn’t anyone tell me?

They started to drag me away.

I spun to run, but Dad caught me easily, yanking me back. I sobbed, begging them to let me go, or at least, give me the truth.

Nonetheless, they forced me into the car, gagged me, and shoved me inside.

Then, they locked me in a basement cell with five men. Terror nearly crushed me. I pounded on the door, screaming to be let out.

Only silence answered me.

The men dragged me down to the ground. Whenever I resisted, they struck me. Soon, the child inside me spilled out in a pool of blood, eventually drying on the floor.

A week later, my parents and Aiden came to collect me.

Mom smiled sweetly. "Clara, let’s go home."

I laughed bitterly, not understanding how she could pretend nothing had happened. My voice cracked into madness. "Why? Why would you do this to me?!"

Her face turned cold.

Dad’s hand whipped across my face. "Ungrateful and shameless!"

I stood there, dazed.

Then, Mom’s eyes hardened, venom dripping from her words. "Clara’s lost her mind. Send her to Ravenwood Asylum."

From the moment they locked me inside, Aiden made sure someone came every day to torture me. The man I once loved more than anything wanted me dead.

Three months later, I finally broke. I died without ever knowing why that prenatal report had condemned both me and my baby.

The terror of that past life surged back. My hand brushed against the faint heat of my belly.

I drew in a long breath. This time, I would find out the truth.

No matter what.