CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

GWEN POV

I sat on the floor for a long time. My heart was beating so fast. Finally, I crawled to the window. I moved the curtain just a tiny bit to peek outside. The porch was empty. Nolan was gone.

I stood up, but my legs felt like jelly. I walked through the house slowly. I checked the front door—locked. I checked the kitchen window—locked. Nolan had never been a violent man. My friend April never said he was dangerous. But after the way he yelled today, I didn't want to take any chances.

I went to my bedroom and saw my books and laptop scattered on the bed. I couldn't study now. I moved them to my desk with shaking hands. I felt like I had Nolan’s words stuck to my skin. They felt heavy and dirty. I took a hot shower, trying to wash the memory of him away. I put on clean leggings and a big T-shirt, then crawled under my covers.

"Please," I whispered to the dark room. "Just let me sleep. Let it all go away."

Sleep came fast because I was so tired. But it wasn't peaceful. In my dream, I was back at the front door. Nolan was there, but he looked giant and scary. He was shouting every mean thing he had ever said to me. Each word felt like a physical hit to my stomach.

"You think you’re smart, Gwen?" he sneered in the dream. "I’m going to teach you a lesson. When that baby is born, it belongs to me. I have money. I have power. I will make sure you never see that child again."

I woke up gasping for air. My face was wet with tears. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my stomach. It wasn't just a dream. The pain was real. It burned mand cramped.

"No," I choked out. "Not the baby. Please, not the baby."

I threw off the blankets and ran to the bathroom. When I looked down, I saw blood. My heart stopped.

"Dad!" I screamed. "Dad, help me!"

I wasn't sure if he was even home. But a second later, I heard heavy footsteps running down the hallway. He slid into the bathroom doorway, his hair messy from sleep.

"Gwen? What is it? What’s wrong, baby?"

I looked up at him. I felt a sadness so deep it reminded me of the day my mother died. "Dad, there’s blood," I sobbed. "I think there’s something wrong with the baby."

He turned pale, but he moved fast. "Stay right there. I’m calling an ambulance."

"No!" I grabbed his arm. "We can't afford an ambulance, Dad. Just... just drive me. It’s cheaper."

He gripped my shoulders and looked me right in the eyes. "Gwen, listen to me. I don't care about the money. I don't care about the bill. Now is not the time to worry about that. I'm calling them now."

He rushed to the phone. While I waited, I felt so alone. I put on my shoes and a coat, shivering even though it wasn't cold. When my dad came back, he looked terrified, but he tried to smile for me. He wrapped his arms around me in a big hug.

"I’m not going to let anything happen to you," he whispered into my hair. "You hear me? You and this baby are going to be just fine. I promise."

I knew he couldn't actually control what happened. He wasn't a doctor. But I held onto him anyway. I needed to believe him.

Soon, the ambulance arrived with bright flashing lights. The paramedics were very fast. They put me on a stretcher and started asking a hundred questions.

"When did the pain start?" "How much blood is there?" "Are you dizzy?"

I couldn't answer. I just cried. They loaded me into the back, and my dad climbed in next to me. The whole ride there, he didn't stop talking to the paramedics.

"Is she okay? Why is she so pale? Do something for her!" he barked. He was trying to protect me the only way he knew how.

When we got to the hospital, the doors swung open and they wheeled me down a long, white hallway. My dad had to jog to keep up.

"Gwen! I’m going to call April," he shouted.

"No, Dad! Don't call her!" I didn't want anyone else to know yet. I didn't want the drama.

"You need a woman there with you," he called back as a nurse pushed him toward the waiting room. "Since your mom isn't here... you need a friend."

It was a kind thought, but it made me feel even more scared. They rolled me into a small room with bright lights. A nurse wrapped a cuff around my arm to check my blood pressure.

"It's a little high, honey," the nurse said softly. "Try to take deep breaths for me."

Nolan. If I lost this baby, would he blame me?

Would he say it was my fault?

He was already so angry. I closed my eyes tight, praying that my dad’s promise was one he could actually keep.