chapter 4

Chapter 4

The days following the pregnancy confirmation passed by in a flash, although each one left Elara more hollowed out than the last.

The news of her pregnancy spread through the Blackwood household with alarming speed, and the shift in atmosphere was something worth noting.

She was no longer ignored and treated like trash, but she was closely monitored like a wanted criminal.

The doctors came and went, sometimes without warning, and the security quietly increased around her.

Her meals were planned to perfection; her movements were recorded. Her sleep was subtly regulated, all under the careful explanation of protection.

Everyone spoke politely, yet no one asked what she really wanted, because it was already assumed that her wishes did not matter. They only cared about the human being formed in her body.

Before anything reached her, even as plain as drinking water, it had to be approved by Dominic or his immediate family members.

He attended meetings with doctors and nurses as though they were board discussions, asking precise questions about timelines and risks, while Elara sat beside him like a silent participant in decisions being made about her body.

When the doctor mentioned stress and emotional well-being, Dominic only nodded and redirected the conversation back to the baby’s development.

“The child’s health is our main priority,” he said calmly. “Everything else is secondary.”

Elara felt her fingers curl into her palm, yet she kept her expression composed, because reacting would only confirm what they already believed about her place in this family.

That night, Dominic came to the bedroom earlier than usual. His mood was not gentle, but it was focused, and that frightened her more than his indifference ever had.

When he touched her, there was no affection in it, only expectation, and when it was over, he left like he always does.

He did not care to ask how she was doing or how her body was coping with the pregnancy.

He buttoned his shirt and reached out for his jacket as he said, “You should rest. The doctors said that the first trimester is critical. We cannot afford mistakes.”

As Elara watched him leave, the door closing behind him sounded final in a way she could not explain. It was as if her heart had finally reached its limit, and it had closed up completely.

But it was the following afternoon that she overheard the conversation that stripped away her last illusion.

Elara had been resting in the adjoining sitting room when voices drifted in from the hallway. She recognized Dominic’s voice immediately, steady and controlled, paired with his grandmother’s sharp, authoritative tone.

The older woman stared at Dominic and spoke, “There will be no mistakes this time.”

“The child will be raised as a Blackwood from the moment it is born.”

“Of course,” Dominic replied. “I have already instructed the legal team to prepare the documents. Both the divorce and custody papers.”

“And what about the mother?” his grandmother asked. “She seems… emotionally fragile.”

Dominic did not hesitate as he spoke up, “She will be compensated generously. Once the child is born, she will be free to leave and carry on with her life. Being entangled with a woman is the last thing I need on my bucket list. I don’t have the luxury to indulge in so-called love.”

Elara’s breath caught painfully in her throat, and she pressed her hand against the wall to steady herself. Her body trembled, and fresh tears stung her eyes.

“I don’t care about your relationship as long as my grandchild stays,” the older woman said firmly.

“Yes,” Dominic agreed without hesitation. “That was always the plan.”

Their words settled heavily, crushing the air from her lungs. She felt rooted to the spot, unable to move.

The conversation continued, drifting toward logistics and arrangements that no longer sounded distant or abstract, but Elara was too broken to register anything being said.

Her back hugged the cold wall, and the coldness spread all through her body, finally settling in her heart.

The two were talking about her child as though it already belonged to them. And she was nothing more than a breeding machine. Something to continue the Blackwood bloodline.

Elara did not even remember how she returned to the bedroom, yet somehow, she found herself sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands trembling as she pressed them against her flat stomach.

They intended to take the baby, and they had never planned for her to stay. They wanted to generously compensate her and take her baby away.

Every moment of coldness, every dismissive word, and every calculated touch suddenly made sense, because she had never been seen as someone worth of carrying the title of Dominic's wife in their eyes.

She had been a temporary solution, carefully selected and easily discarded once her purpose was fulfilled.

That evening, Dominic spoke to her with a calm voice that made her skin crawl.

“The legal team will visit tomorrow,” he said. “There are documents you will need to review and give your signature.”

“What kind of documents?” Elara asked with a trembling voice, even though she already knew everything.

Dominic replied without batting an eyelid, “Custodial arrangements and confidentiality agreements. It is standard procedure, and it won’t have any effect on your future.”

Her heart pounded violently, yet she forced herself to meet his gaze. “Is it really necessary?”

Dominic frowned slightly, as though confused by her distress. “I thought you understood everything from the very beginning.”

Yes, she understood, but she had still hoped for a different outcome. But life had just given her a reality check.

That night, Elara did not cry, and that somehow surprised her, because for the last few days, she would only sleep once her eyes had gotten tired from crying.

She lay awake, staring at the ceiling, while her mind worked with a clarity she had not known before. Although there was still a lingering fear in her heart, beneath it grew something stronger and more dangerous.

If she stayed, she would lose her child, and her life would disappear piece by piece until nothing of her remained.

Slowly, but carefully, Elara began to plan.

She memorized schedules, observed routines, and noted every detail she had previously ignored. She smiled when expected, agreed when spoken to, and lowered her head like the obedient wife they believed her to be.

All the while, she was preparing her exit plan, and although it was dangerous, it fueled her body with adrenaline.