Chapter 003

Ava’s POV

 

“How long are you going to cry?” Zayn finally asked, and I froze, my sobs halted mid-breath. 

 

I had spent the entire day crying, from the divorce to this latest betrayal. Zayn's words struck a chord within me. 

 

I took a deep breath, wiping away my tears. I looked up at Zayn, my eyes locking onto him. “You may have signed a contract with my now ex-husband,” I began, my voice steady, “and honestly, it has no business with me. I suggest you get a refund from him, this is my body, and it’s only I that gets to decide, you don’t know how much I have always wanted this child, and I will not let you take him away from me.

 

But Zayn interrupted me, “Yes, that's why you would have access to them, and the best part is after everything you would be paid for everything”

 

“Being a paid live-in nanny doesn't sound bad?” He added, and I felt like I'd been slapped. A live-in nanny? 

 

“You are a joke mister, do you think money matters to me, I didn’t take a dime in your trashy money so you had better take it from him before he squanders it all”.

 

I added without waiting for whatever smug thing he wanted to say, “you signed a contract with my ex , he is no longer my husband and whatever he signed in that contract doesn’t stand!”

 

“You keep making things difficult, you may no longer be with your husband, but he signed this contract when you were still together! You really don’t want us to bring lawyers into this situation”

 

I asked instead, my heart heavy with emotion, “Why are you doing this? Being a mother has always been my dream, it not my fault the hospital made a mistake and moreover you can try the IVF with another woman”.

 

His amused look turned into a frown, “I can’t! What the fuck is even wrong with you! You may not care about the contract, but I’m still offering you an opportunity to have access to my child. This is my heir and first child, no way I am going to let go with him”

 

“That’s it? You only need this child to become your heir, you won’t even have time to care for this child, and no one would be able to take care of this child more than I can!” I argued.

 

He smirked and walked menacingly towards me, “how would you care for this child? You have no money, no house and no work, so what makes you think you are fit to take care of my child? If for anything that child will suffer in your hands, is that what you want? I can give this child everything he needs, so quit arguing and do what is right for the child”.

 

I moved to say something again when he added, “Enough of this, Help her into the car!” And with that, he walked away, I knew he was right; hence I didn’t even struggle. I was tired of running and begging, seeing as I was already surrounded… The only way out was from inside his house.

 

“Wait, you are right!” I finally voiced out as I was led in front of his limousine, ignoring the question that popped up in my head, ‘who brings a limo to the hospital’.

 

Zayn looked at me like he didn’t have a single patience left, “I’d like to go home and get a few things of mine, I left the house in a rush and don’t have anything in me”.

 

“No! You don’t need anything from that trashy place, if that’s all, then let’s go!”.

 

“What do you mean by no? I’m not your captive and should have access to where I want to go!” I protested. Who does this man think he is?

 

He signaled his guards to block me, their imposing figures forming a barrier like I was going to run again. Zayn's expression turned stern, his frown deepening as he spoke. “That contract your ex-husband signed clearly stated that you are not to leave my house or receive any visitors until you give birth.”

 

Ruining and betraying me wasn’t enough, but he had to sign away my freedom from me.

 

“This is wrong, you’re just like Ethan. All men are the same, selfish and heartless”.

 

“I don’t give a damn about what you think about me, Ms. Ava. The only thing I care about is that child”

 

I remained silent, and with a sense of resignation, I entered the limousine, the ride to his mansion a slow and dreadful one.

 

As we moved through the streets, I couldn't shake off the feeling of being trapped. 

 

I was stuck, and it ached that I was now carrying my child for this man.

 

When we finally arrived at his mansion, I couldn't help but gasp at the sight in front of me.

 

This wasn't a house, at least not what I was used to. It was a mansion.

I gaped as we walked through the entrance, seeing the wide spaces. The entire place screamed of luxury, although I shouldn't be surprised considering who owned it.

I shook my heart frantically. I couldn't be blinded by wealth. No matter how luxurious this place looked, it was nothing more than a golden cage.

 Zayn turned and walked towards the entrance, leaving me to follow. As he reached the door, a red haired woman flung herself into his arms, her voice squealing with excitement. “Baby!” she cooed.

 

As her eyes met mine, she let out another scream, “oh my Gosh, is she the one!” And without warning she ran towards me and pulled me into a hug.

 

“Thank you so, so much” she yelled in my ear causing me to cringe, “This means a lot to us, thank you for carrying our baby”.

 

Our baby? Did she know I was forced to do this, or perhaps he was pretending? I held back the urge to flinch as she straightened, fluffing her hair.

 

“Don’t worry, you will be well taken care of and compensated” She kept ranting as we headed inside the room. 

 

“I’ll leave the maids to show you your room” She said and moved as though she wanted to leave but paused to whisper “Remember your place while you’re here” her voice was low and threatening. Her arms tightening around me to the point of pain.

“You are just a vessel for our baby and don’t you dare get ahead of yourself here, Zayn is mine, and I don’t want you or your rusty poverty-stricken body near him! Once you are done carrying our child, you will be thrown out of our lives.”

 

Wow. Was this the family my baby was going to grow up in?

I clenched my teeth to keep myself from reacting. So her happy personality was just an act. I didn't care for her or her threats.

I had no intention of doing anything like that in the first place. In fact, all I wanted to do was leave. 

She let me go, and the smile was back on her face as if nothing happened and then turned back to Zayn, “She is so pretty but too thin, would she be able to carry the kid?”.

 

“The maids will take you to your room, feel free to ask for anything you want” Zayn said and with that, he wanted out his red-haired girlfriend.

 

“Ma’am, please follow me” An elderly woman who I presumed to be the maid said, and I followed her. 

 

This mansion was massive, and although I knew my child wouldn’t lack, I can’t help but wonder if he would be loved. I looked around, scanning the whole environment, my mind racing with thoughts of escape. I had to make a move tonight, a move to freedom.

 

We soon arrived in front of a room and I entered, it was welcoming and large. A baby crib was even set up. This was all I wanted for myself. I heaved a sigh as I jumbled on the bed. It’s safe to say today was the worst day of my life, from divorce to finding out my baby father was a wicked man to being forced to be his surrogate.

 

I closed my eyes drifting off to sleep, I had to rest for the escape plan.

...............

A few hours passed, and I had just woken up. Now was the time to move. I stepped out, keeping myself calm and composed in the face of the guards.

“I need some air,” I told the guards, looking around for resistance, “is there a garden around here?”

“Yes Ma'am,” They replied, relief filled me as they took several stamps back, letting me pass by.

They led me to the gardens, following me from a distance before stopping. I forced myself to act composed, looking at the flowers as if I cared. Did they actually believe me? Or were they so sure that the garden was secure?

I didn't know and I didn't care. This was my chance to escape.

Happiness and excitement made my insides shake as I walked around at a casual pace forcing myself to stay calm. As soon as I made sure that I was alone, I made a run for it.

My arms and legs shook from running and excitement as I looked around searching for a way out. I stopped as soon as I found a fence covered by vines. 

This was it. My way out.

I leapt onto the wall, holding on to the vines to climb out. The wall was tricky but I persisted. I couldn't give up!

I was halfway through when the vine I grabbed next collapsed. My heart fell instantly.

Oh! no.

Soon I was falling. Fear filled me. I was already away from the ground. Was I going to survive the fall?

I shut my eyes tightly, bracing myself. Yet as I collided, it wasn't with the hard ground but into something warm and hard.

Something wrapped around me. They were arms. Someone had caught me.

As I opened my eyes, my breath hitched as I met icy grey ones. It was Zayn.

A different kind of terror filled me as the realization hit. He saved me, but he also found me while I was escaping.

“What the hell are you doing?” His harsh cold words froze me.

I tried to counter, but there were no excuses I could give. He had caught me red-handed.

The urge to cower in face of his fury was unbearable. As he put me down, he dragged me out to the entrance where the guards were waiting.

“I ordered you to watch over her, yet you gave her the chance to escape,” he barked out, making me flinch.  

I was pushed forward only to be supported by the two bodyguards.

“It may seem as though I have been too lenient with you, Ms Ava Brown, for attempting to harm my baby, you will be under house arrest for a week”. 

“No, you can’t do that to me! I’m not your prisoner”.

“Watch me!” He replied before walking out. I tried running again, but the bodyguards held me, dragging me back to the mansion.