Chapter 4

Eloise Pov

I didn't go to the Vale estate.

Instead I stayed in bed and watched the ceiling fan spin until my eyes went blurry. My phone kept buzzing with more texts from Julian but I ignored them all.

Around noon my stomach cramped.

Not the normal pregnancy discomfort I'd gotten used to. Something sharper and wrong.

I shifted positions and the cramp eased. Probably nothing, just stress.

The baby had been moving less since yesterday. I tried not to think about it.

My phone rang. Julian again.

I let it go to voicemail.

Another cramp hit and this time I gasped. My hand flew to my stomach and I felt it tighten under my palm like a fist clenching.

"No." I whispered to the empty room. "Not yet. It's too early."

Eight months wasn't full term. The baby needed more time.

The cramp passed and I breathed slowly through my nose.

Maybe I should call someone. Yes Cara, the doctor, anyone.

But my body felt too heavy to move. Too tired to care.

I closed my eyes and tried to rest.

The next cramp woke me up and I realized I'd been asleep for two hours. This one was worse. So much worse.

Pain radiated from my lower back around to my stomach and I couldn't breathe through it. I clutched the sheets and bit my lip to keep from screaming.

When it passed I was covered in sweat.

I needed help.

I reached for my phone on the nightstand but another wave of pain hit. I knocked it to the floor instead. It skidded under the bed out of reach.

"No." I tried to lean over to grab it but my body wouldn't bend that way. The pain was too much. I screamed out of frustration.

The bedroom door flew open.

Bree stood in the doorway with her arms crossed.

"What's all the noise about?"

"Something's wrong." I could barely get the words out. "The baby."

"You're fine. You're just being dramatic."

"I'm not." Another cramp twisted through me and I doubled over. "Please. I need to go to the hospital."

Bree walked closer but didn't touch me. She just looked down at me like I was a bug she was considering stepping on.

"You're not going anywhere."

"What?"

"You heard me." She picked up the pill bottle from my nightstand and shook it. "You missed your dose this morning. That's why you're having issues."

"I'm in labor."

"You're having contractions. It's normal. Take your pills and calm down."

"It's too early. The baby isn't ready."

"Then maybe you should have taken better care of yourself." Bree opened the bottle and held out two pills. "Take them."

I shook my head.

"I said take them." Her voice went cold.

"No." The word came out stronger than I expected. "I need a doctor."

Bree's face twisted into something ugly.

"You ungrateful little bitch. After everything this family has done for you." She threw the pills at me. "Your baby is probably going to die anyway. You're too weak to carry it to term."

The words hit me harder than any physical blow could.

"If you lose that baby it's because you have weak genes. Nothing to do with me." She turned toward the door. "I have a lunch appointment. Rest and you'll be fine."

"Bree, wait." I tried to get up but my legs wouldn't hold me. "Please don't leave me."

She walked out and closed the door behind her.

I heard her heels click down the hallway. The front door opened and closed. I heard her car start in the driveway.

She'd left me. How could someone be this evil?

Another contraction hit and I felt something wet between my legs. I was already losing too much blood. I had to get help.

I rolled off the bed and landed on my hands and knees. Pain shot through my abdomen but I forced myself to crawl toward the door.

Every movement felt like knives in my stomach. My arms shook. I could barely see through the tears.

But I kept moving.

I reached the door and pulled myself up using the handle. The hallway stretched in front of me impossibly long.

I took one step. Then another. My hand pressed against the wall for support.

The stairs looked like a mountain. I grabbed the railing and started down. One step at a time, feeling pain with every movement.

Halfway down another contraction hit and my legs gave out.

I fell.

The world spun as I tumbled down the remaining stairs. My shoulder hit the wall. My hip crashed against the steps. Everything was pain and noise and fear.

I landed at the bottom in a heap. For a second I couldn't breathe or move. I just lay there gasping for air.

Then I felt the baby's heartbeat getting weaker inside me.

No. No no no.

I dragged myself toward the front door. I left a trail of blood behind me on the expensive white carpet.

The door was so close. It was just a few more feet.

I reached up and turned the handle. Cool air hit my face.

The driveway was empty. The street beyond was quiet. Bree's car was gone.

I pulled myself out onto the porch, down the steps.

The sun was too bright. Everything hurt.

I could see the street from here. A couple of cars were passing by. If I could just get to the road someone would see me.

I crawled. Inch by inch. My arms were shaking so hard I could barely hold myself up.

It was almost there. Just a little further.

I reached the edge of the driveway and looked up at the street.

A car was coming.

I tried to wave but my arm wouldn't lift high enough. "Help." My voice came out as a whisper. "Please help."

The car got closer.

I tried to stand or get into the road where they'd see me. I made it to my feet but my legs buckled immediately.

I fell forward into the street.

Tires squealed.

Pain exploded through my whole body.

Then everything went black.