Chapter 16: You devil!

“Are you pregnant?” Helena asked when Anna finished puking. Anna walked over to the sink, her movements unsteady as she turned on the tap, the cool water cascading down. She brought her hands to her face, rinsing away the remnants of her earlier ordeal, feeling the refreshing stream wash over her skin. Just as she stepped back, feeling slightly better, Helena gripped her wrist with a firm hold, her eyes fierce and demanding as she raised her voice. “I asked you a question! Are you pregnant?!”

"Helena, you're hurting me,” Anna said as she tried to pull her arm from Helena.

“You fucking slut, I will kill you and your baby! Only I can have Adrian's children; he's mine!” With a swift shove, Helena pushed Anna, the force catching her off guard. Her heart raced wildly in her chest, pounding like a drum as she lost her balance. She extended her arms out in a desperate attempt to brace herself, her palms crashing against the cool, hard floor instead.

“Helena, you are crazy!” Anna yelled, standing up and delivering a hard slap across Helena's face. “I will kill you if you hurt my baby!” Helena lunged forward, her frustration evident as she aimed to shove Anna aside. But Anna, quick on her feet, nimbly sidestepped the aggressive move. At that very moment, the door swung open, and Adrian entered, his presence commanding as he swiftly caught Helena in a firm embrace. His gaze immediately darted to Anna, standing frozen in front of them.

“Is this how you're helping her by bullying her?” Adrian's voice was laced with fury, each word dripping with accusation.

“No, Adrian, I didn’t push her; she..." Anna attempted to defend herself, but Adrian’s anger cut through her words like a knife.

“Shut up and get out of here!” he snapped, his growl echoing in the tense air.

“Adrian, you have to believe..." Anna tried once more, desperation creeping into her voice, but he interrupted her again, his impatience palpable.

“Get out before I lose it!” His tone left no room for argument. Tears welled in Anna’s eyes, shimmering like fragile glass as she looked at Adrian, who was now holding Helena protectively, a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside her.

With a heavy heart and without uttering a word, Anna turned and walked away. She retreated into their bedroom and locked the door behind her. As she collapsed onto the bed, silent sobs overtook her, each tear spilling onto the sheets and staining them with her heartache.

Inside Helena's bedroom, the moment her door shut, she pulled away from Adrian and slapped him twice, tears falling down her face.

“I hate you! I hate you! I wish I never met you!” she said, hitting Adrian on the chest. “You lied to me; you told me you wouldn't touch her, but you got her pregnant!” Adrian held Helena's hands and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her, and said,

“I'm sorry, Cherry; I shouldn't have kept it from you. It was a mistake; I was drugged; please forgive me.” At Adrian's words, Helena pushed him away and said,

“I would rather die. Now you choose, the baby or me,” Helena said, her eyes bloodshot. “I told you before, I would rather die than share you with another woman! So choose! The baby or me!”

“Helena, my love, how do I choose between you and a baby that haven't been born yet?”

“An abortion, or I kill myself!”

“You wouldn't dare, and I can't kill the baby,” Adrian said as he reached for her hand, but she turned away from him.

Helena saw the fruit knife on the table as she approached; she took it and cut her wrist. She took the knife in her other hand and cut her other wrist. If there was one undeniable truth she knew about Adrian, it was that he couldn’t stand to witness her pain. Beneath his tough exterior, he was just a tender-hearted soul trying to maintain a facade of strength.

Adrian ran a frustrated hand through his hair, a gesture that revealed his growing anxiety, and started to approach Helena from behind. However, a knot formed in his stomach when the sharp metallic scent of blood filled the air, jolting him with unease. In a swift, almost instinctive move, he turned Helena around, his heart racing as he caught sight of the injury. Panic surged through him; he quickly carried her in his arms and gently laid her on the bed.

With urgency, he hurried into the bathroom and searched through the cabinets until he found the first aid kit, his mind racing with thoughts of how to soothe her wounds as he prepared to tend to her needs.

After several tense minutes, he managed to staunch the flow of blood, his hands trembling as he worked. Gently, he lifted her fragile form and carried her out of the room, his heart pounding with urgency. He carefully settled her into the passenger seat of his car, securing her with the seatbelt as if it were a lifeline. The engine roared to life, and he sped toward the hospital. She had lost a significant amount of blood; her paleness was alarming, and he could see her eyelids growing heavier as she drifted dangerously close to unconsciousness. Fuck, it's his fault. He can't lose her.

~~~ The next morning ~~~

Anna stirred awake, the warm rays of sunlight peeking through the curtains. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and took a moment to adjust to her surroundings. As she glanced across the room, her gaze fell upon Adrian, who sat rigidly on the plush sofa, his expression as unreadable as stone.

“Get ready, we are going somewhere,” Adrian stated, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. A flicker of curiosity sparked within Anna.

“Where are we going?” she inquired, her interest piqued.

“I said get ready!!” Adrian snapped, his voice rising in frustration as he abruptly stood and strode out of the bedroom, leaving Anna engulfed in a swirl of confusion and unanswered questions. She got up and made her way to the bathroom to get ready.

~~~

Thirty minutes later, Anna arrived at the living room. She saw Adrian standing next to the wall, making a phone call, but he paused and turned to her and said,.

“Go eat; I don't have all day." Anna, feeling disappointed, turned and walked into the dining room. Felicia came and served her with an assortment of dishes, and she dug in without wasting time.

~

After Anna finished eating, she approached Adrian, and they both walked to his car. He opened the door for her and fastened the seatbelt with a tenderness that left Anna confused, since he has been giving her a cold shoulder since morning. Adrian circled the car, taking his seat, and auto-locked the car and said,

“We are going to the hospital.” Anna turned to Adrian, a smile forming on her lips as she thought Adrian had calmed down and was finally answering her question.

“Okay, so what are we going to do there? Is someone sick?” Anna asked, curious.

“You're getting an abortion.”

“What?!” Anna exclaimed, her hands instinctively moving to shield her stomach, “Adrian, no, please! I'm not getting an abortion," Anna said, unfastening her seatbelt and opening the door, but it was locked. Tears fell down her face as she said, “Please, just let me go. I swear I won't ever show my face. Please, don't kill my baby.” At Anna's words, Adrian sealed her lips, kissing her hungrily. He pulled away to let her catch her breath; he fastened her seatbelt and his and started to drive without a word; he didn't trust the next words that would come out of his mouth.

“Adrian, you devil! Let me go; it's a life growing inside me! Please, I promised I won't ever show up in front of you, you bastard!!" Anna yelled her emotions everywhere. She can't lose her baby, her dad. Yes, she should call her dad. She pulled out her phone to call her dad, but Adrian took the phone from her, opened the window, and tossed it out.