Chapter 10

Anastasia's POV

Three months!

I've been in this hellhole for three months, and every day feels like a year.

My pregnancy is showing now— a small but unmistakable bump that draws unwanted attention from other inmates. Some are kind, offering advice or extra food from their trays. Others look at me with pity or contempt, whispering about the pregnant girl who killed someone.

I'm innocent. But no one cares about that here.

The morning sickness has finally subsided, replaced by constant exhaustion and back pain. The thin prison mattress does nothing to help, and I wake up every morning feeling like I've been beaten.

Jade has become my closest ally here. At night, when the fear and despair threaten to swallow me whole, she talks to me through the darkness, sharing stories about her life before prison, her dreams of getting out and starting over.

"You're going to make it through this," she tells me one night as I lie curled on my side, my hand resting on my growing belly. "You and that baby. I can feel it."

"I wish I had your optimism," I whisper back.

"It's not optimism. It's survival. You have to believe you'll get out, or you'll go crazy in here."

Rosa, on the other hand, keeps her distance. She's due in two months and spends most of her time sleeping or staring at the wall. I wonder what her story is, but I've learned not to ask. Everyone here has demons they're running from.

****

Dr. Eleanor visits every two weeks like clockwork. She's become more than just my doctor, she's become a lifeline. Each visit, she checks my vitals, listens to the baby's heartbeat, and makes sure I'm getting adequate nutrition despite the terrible prison food.

"Your blood pressure is elevated," she says during her visit in my fourth month. Her brow furrows with concern. "Have you been under unusual stress?"

I almost laugh at the absurdity of the question. "I'm in prison, Dr. Eleanor. Unusual stress is my daily routine."

She doesn't smile. "I'm serious, Anastasia. Stress can affect the baby's development. I need you to try to stay as calm as possible."

"How am I supposed to do that? My trial keeps getting delayed. My lawyer barely has any evidence. And every day I wake up wondering if this nightmare will ever end." My voice breaks and tears stream down my face. "I'm terrified that I'm going to give birth in here and they'll take my baby away from me."

Dr. Eleanor reaches through the small opening in the glass partition, her hand briefly touching mine. "I won't let that happen. I promise you, Anastasia. When the time comes, I'll be there."

Her words offer little comfort, but they're all I have.

****

Felicity's visits are both a blessing and a curse. I live for them, counting down the days until I can see her face, hear her voice. But every visit also brings news from the outside world, news that makes my blood boil and my heart break.

"Liam and Marian got married last week," she tells me during my fifth month. She looks apologetic, as if she's the one who's hurt me. "It was a huge society wedding. All the major newspapers covered it."

I clench my fists, my nails digging into my palms. "Of course they did. They got everything they wanted. My company, my reputation, my freedom. Why not celebrate?"

"There's more." Felicity hesitates, and I can see the anger simmering in her eyes. "Liam just secured a massive international deal using the AI technology you developed. The one from your secret company. He's being hailed as a genius innovator."

The rage that courses through me is so intense I feel like I might explode. My technology. My work. My blood, sweat, and tears, and he's taking all the credit while I rot in a cell.

"He's using my work to build an empire while I'm in here accused of murder," I say through gritted teeth. "How is that fair?"

"It's not fair. None of this is fair." Felicity's voice is thick with emotion. "But Ana, we're not giving up. Mr. Robert is still investigating. We're going to find something that proves you're innocent."

But as the months drag on, that hope feels more and more like a fantasy.