Chapter 006

AVA

I could hear the drilling of the door from where I sat, but I didn’t care. The maids and guards had tried getting me to open the door, but I refused, and I’m sure they already called Zayn; hence the breaking of the door. 

Being locked in this room like a prisoner was already messing with my head, and he would have to shove that food in my mouth if he really wanted me to eat.

There was a loud bang as the door fell to the floor, Zayn’s eyes blazed with anger as he walked into the room, his eyes throwing daggers at me “What the fuck is wrong with you, woman?” He thundered, but I didn’t even spare him a glance. “What’s this I hear about you locking the door and refusing to eat? Do you plan to starve my kid to death? “ He asked, but I kept mute as if he weren’t talking to me.

He stared at me for a while and when he saw that I want going to speak, he spoke again,” I didn't know that I was talking to a deaf person.” He hurled another insult at me and I rolled my eyes, clearly annoying him. 

“Get her food!” He ordered the maid, his voice dripping with frustration. “Since you have refused to say a word, you will be forced to eat!”

“You wouldn’t dare!” I snarled. “First, you lock me up here like a prisoner, and now you want to force me to eat? Do I look like a captive to you? I said I won’t eat and that’s final!” I thundered.

His eyes widened in shock, “And what’s makes you think you have the right to decide what you want to do, it’s an obligation that you must eat to ensure my legacy safety”

“You’re a joke, legacy, legacy, legacy….. That’s all I hear from you” I started to say, not breaking eye contact with him, “When will you ever consider this baby as a child? And mind you, I have every right to decide not to eat and if you want your child to eat, you’ll have to force the baby out of my womb” I concluded, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

The maid walked inside with a tray of food and dropped it on the table. I was curious to know how he intended to force me to eat. 

“Sit up!” He commanded, and I scoffed, folding my hands on my chest as we stared at each other.

The silence was deafening, and I knew I had to speak up, “Who treats a pregnant woman like this? Who in this world and time treats a pregnant woman like property” I shouted, not caring how loud my voice was, this man was frustrating every fiber of bone in my body. “Again, I ask, is this how your mother was treated during pregnancy?”

Zayn’s expression darkened, his eyes blazing with anger; “Don't you even speak about my mother! The last time, I’d let you but not again!” he thundered, and I stiffened, my heart racing at his tone.

“I agreed to give you my baby even though it hurts as hell” I started to say, my voice cracking as tears threatened to fall. “You treat me like your property and cage me in here all day, how do you think I cope?”.

His face softened, and he spoke up, his voice low. “What do you want? Tell me what you want, and it will be given to you.”

Now he was finally talking. 

“Freedom, I want freedom, Zayn” I replied, my tone gentle. “I want to be able to go out, I want to be able to walk around freely. I want to be able to go shopping. You can’t lock me in this room for nine good months, it’s insane!” 

His expression softened and for a moment, I thought something meaningful would come out from his mouth, but I was wrong, he was just a jerk. “You think you can come up with various excuses to escape and embezzle my money? The contract stated that…”. He was still saying before I cut him short.

“I don’t give a damn about that contract, Zayn. My ex-husband signed that, not me!” I said, already tired of this argument. “And what makes you think, I care about your money? I just want to be free, it’s the least you can do for me and if you can’t, I’d suggest you walk out of this room with that food”. I concluded with a stern look on my face.

“I thought you cared for this child?” He said, his tone low and soothing, he wasn’t going to guilt-trip me, all I wanted was to be able to move around, whenever I want, “I'm protecting you, what if something happens when you go out, and the child is affected?”

For the first time since I came here,  he was finally acknowledging that this baby was his child and not some legacy. And is this his reason for locking me in this room? He was protecting me from danger?

“I don’t know what you're trying to protect me from but keeping me in this room is doing more harm than any good” I said, “This is your child, isn’t that what you said? And so if you want him to be healthy and fit, grant me my wish”. 

He didn’t speak, as if contemplating what I said. This was shocking because I still don't understand his need to lock me up.

“And what if you escape? For all I know, you want this child too. What if you run away, this child is so important to me”.

“I won’t, I’m giving you my word and moreover you have countless bodyguards, they won’t let me escape” 

He breathed in heavily before speaking up, “Fine, you will be allowed to go wherever you want but with bodyguards”.

“That’s more like it, Mr. Arrogant” I responded, smiling sheepishly. “Now if you could please hand me my food, I’m famished which means baby is very hungry” I said, a grin forming on my face, he handed me the food and a black card.

“Eat and after that, prepare to go shopping with the bodyguards” He said, his voice commanding, “And if you try to escape this time, you will never see the light of the day until you birth my child” He spat, his voice cold and detached and without another glance, he walked out the room.

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