Chapter 1

Soraya’s POV

I still couldn’t believe I was pregnant.

My eyes subconsciously drifted to the ticking clock on the wall, each second taunting me as I squeezed my eyes shut.

 This could go two ways.

A nearby door slammed, and I flinched as horrific flashbacks of the hits he had given me the last time I had surprised him flooded my mind.

Two ways.

Either he falls to his knees, remorseful, apologizing for the way he expressed his frustration these past weeks.

Or…

A shiver crawled up my spine at the thought of the alternative which likely would be my fate.

It wasn’t his fault, I found myself trying to reassure… myself?

Matt just hated being surprised and being caught off guard, he loved me a little too much and always mistook a whole lot of things as me trying to leave him…I winced as the list grew.

There was always a reason for him to lay his hands on me, always an explanation I could cling to and reassure myself that once he became Mayor, the stress others were giving him would reduce and the charming Matt I had fallen in love with years ago would walk through that door.

But now I was pregnant, and I was stuck at a crossroads… carry a child into his world… or finally be free.

As soon as he entered the room, everything I had rehearsed for this moment a hundred times in my head flew out the window.

“Have you checked yourself out lately?” he asked casually, his gaze holding mine through the mirror. “You’re looking… heavier. Especially around the waist.”

Nice… we were hitting the nail on the head after seeing each other for the first time in three days.

I carefully avoided his searching eyes as I helped hang his jacket while thinking of a better way to tell him this without triggering him.

“Aya.” His voice stopped me cold.

His eyes trailed down to my waist once again before a frown settled on his face… he had his suspicions and judging from the look on his face he was right.

With trembling resolve, I finally lifted my gaze to meet his.

“I did go to the hospital like you had asked,” I said softly. “I’m pregnant.”

The words hung in the air between us and for a terrifying second, his expression went blank.

I made the mistake of relaxing or letting my guard down.

Then he burst into laughter as quickly as it came, it died almost immediately, his face twisted, jaw tightening as his hands began to shake at his sides, struggling for control.

My stomach dropped.

“You lying whore,” he hissed.

Before I could say anything, he lunged at me… the impact of his blow sent me crashing into the coffee table and almost immediately pain exploded through my back.

I was about to sit up and calm him down when he covered the space between us, his hands closed around my arm as he dragged me to where my phone was.

Matt that had once begged on his knees that I would say yes to dating him after cashing after me for months was nowhere to be seen…

Whenever he lost control of his temper it was almost like he became a different person… a monster.

“Who is he? The bastard you had dared let touch you,” he snarled. 

I had told myself that I would be strong and not escalate things by breaking down but my tears were already spilling freely, feeding his ego.

He loved seeing me in tears… it was like he got on high knowing I feared him after everyone had talked over him… I was here to show him that he was still a man and not their puppet.

I  shook my head, “Matt, please. It’s yours. It’s ours. You know I would never cheat…”

The words flew out of my mouth as his fist came in contact with my face, the sound echoing through the room. 

My vision blurred as I staggered backwards but his right grip on my arm pulled me closer.

“You think I’m stupid? What was your plan make me pay by humiliating me and making me a FUCKING JOKE?!” he roared.

Unable to make up words I shook my head, begging was going to do me no good.

And as though he knew what I had planned to do, he suddenly grabbed her hair causing me to let out a cry as he yanked hard.

“You think a child won’t steal you from me?” His grip tightened, “You think I’ll share what’s mine? Especially after I had gone around telling people we couldn’t have a child!”

I tasted blood.

Sharing me?

Was that what he was getting angry about or the thought that I might have cheated? Or perhaps any reason to lay his hands on me? 

A sob escaped my lips.

If bringing a child was going to make him leave me alone then I would have been popping out babies from the moment he saw beating me up as a way to loosen up.

 Fear filled me as I saw the manic look in his eyes.  

“I didn’t cheat,” I whispered, my voice broken hoping he could hear the truth in them . “I swear to you. I didn’t know you had told people…”

His hand lifted again to silence me before the loud ring of his phone cut through the room stopped him.

Matt stilled, his chest heaving, his gaze snapping toward his hung jacket.

His voicemail immediately started playing, “Mattew, you stupid kid pick my fucking call, It’s URGENT” the voice of the commissioner filled the room

For a moment, I thought he might ignore it and finish what he’d started.

Instead, he released me with a shove that sent me stumbling to the bed.

He pulled out the phone, and as though he remembered something, he swore under his breath.

“The party,” he muttered to himself before slowly walking back to where I was folded praying he leaves.

“This isn’t over,” he said softly. “Not even close.”

Then as though he was trying to practice being calm, he smiled in the mirror over and over again until it looked sincere, before adjusting his suit as if nothing had happened, and strode out.

The door slammed but the silence that followed was  suffocating.

I don’t remember how long I remained folded on the bed, shaking, my hands subconsciously pressed to my stomach. 

When I finally forced herself to move, every inch of my body ached.

As I stepped out into the corridor, his picture that hung there mocked me.

Mattew wasn’t always like this.

I had caused this and brought off this monstrous part of him and I was paying for it.

If only he hadn’t misread that night then maybe I wouldn’t be going through this.

Or perhaps if I had obeyed him  and stayed home then he wouldn’t have caught me rounding up work with my ex-boss.

In all my years of knowing Matt, I was forced to cut all my male friends and he sensed that my female friends were influencing decisions he had me cut them off.

I scoffed at how foolish I was to even believe him when he had said they were in his DMs throwing themselves at him.

My passport and flight ticket that I had purchased before going to the airport called out to me but once again I was reminded that I didn’t have anyone and Matt contacts were all over.

Running away meant sentencing myself to death.

Halfway to my room, the housekeeper appeared, and a gasp escaped her lips as she saw me before her eyes trailed down the hallway to the camera my darling husband had installed a while ago.

She stopped herself from pulling me into a hug but couldn’t stop herself from asking, “should I call the doctor?”

I flinched at the word before shaking my head.

Her eyes trailed down my wounds, new and reopened before she whispered, “Mr. Matt would not want any of his visitors to see you like this.”

“No!” I croaked.

She eyes the camera once again weeping before rushing it and closing the gap between us, “Soraya! You need to see a doctor, You are pregnant!”

She knew. 

“I said no.” I yelled, my voice cracked, before leaving her warmth and despite her subtle yell calls, I didn't stop walking.

Heaven knows how much I need her hug but I didn’t want her getting in trouble because of me.

Mrs. Rose was the only one that added color to my life, she treated me like her daughter that was in a relationship she couldn’t stop her from entering.

She had given me so much alternative and everytime she saw me drive back in the house, it was like I struck her,

I couldn’t leave him.

I had tried once and I landed in a coma… she didn’t know that but that was then… It wasn’t just going to be me anymore but rather one more punching bag.

As I slipped into the safety of my room, I locked the door behind me before letting the tears stream down freely.

 “He’ll never let me go nor will he let my innocent baby live.” I told myself as reality dawned on me.

Images of what the future felt like flashed in between my eyes and still teary, I crossed the room.

I knelt beside the bed before lifting the rug and pried up the loose floorboard beneath it, revealing the small hollow I had carved out about two months ago.

Inside lay a burner phone, a fake passport and ticket to my freedom.

What was I thinking telling Matt I was pregnant?

I couldn’t bring a baby into his world… my hands trailed down my belly.

He/ she shouldn’t be forced to have a monster as a father… I could endure it but seeing my child suffer Matt's anger wasn’t what I wanted or even wished for my enemy.

My breath hitched as I turned on the burner phone.

The line rang once before someone answered.

“Took you long enough, Soraya.” the robotic voice asked calmly, “are you sure you want to do this?”

My eyes found the wardrobe where I had stacked up his guilty presents from diamond rings and necklaces to Birkin bags and dresses… I couldn’t even remember the last time I had worn any.

“Yes.” I swallowed hard. “I want out.”

There was a pause causing fear to slip in… what if this was a test form Matt?

I shook my head, he hadn’t known about my visit to the doctor the night after he had assaulted me drunk.

“Are you sure?”

Rather than answering him, my hands tightened around my belly, “I am not thinking for just myself anymore… I won’t let him hurt my child.”

“Very well,” the voice replied, almost sounding proud of my decision. “You know what to do.”

The call ended and less than an hour later, there was a soft knock at my door.

I froze as another knock followed, urgent this time.

A small, unmarked box sat on the floor when I opened the door.

No note. No name.

My hands shook as I picked it up and closed the door, praying no one had seen this exchange.

Inside were pills and for a moment, doubt surged through me.

What if this goes wrong? Or perhaps I don’t wake up?

Then I remembered Matt’s raging face and the image of his hands finding its way to my face… then the life growing inside her.

Taking the risk was so worth it if it meant I wouldn't subject my baby to this life.

At first I got scared it wasn’t working until I felt the world around me tilt.

I made it as far as the main hallway before my legs gave out.