I stand in front of the mirror and look at my flat belly. Disbelief settles in that a human is growing inside of me. It's so surreal. I make myself turn away from my reflection, knowing I need to get ready for work. It's been a week since I got back from Hawaii, and I haven't seen or spoken to Jacob. I've made sure to avoid him at all costs. Security at my office has been instructed to never allow him inside the building. And I blocked his number, too. I don't want to have any contact with him. I am done. For real this time.Walking out of my room, I take the stairs down to the dining area for breakfast. I kiss Dad on the cheeks and take a seat on his right side. I haven't told him I'm pregnant yet, but I plan to tonight. He's going to be so disappointed in me. It's bad enough that I got knocked up but what makes it worse is who the father is. Dad hates Jacob with a passion. He was scared I would kill myself because of how heartbroken I was after Jacob cheated. Dad saw how madly in lo
The sound of people arguing wakes me. Confused, I look around to find where the voices are coming from and where I am. A heart monitor beeps to the left of me. Am I in the hospital? I pull the curtains surrounding the bed I'm in open to see who else is there and why they're arguing.The scene I'm greeted with only confuses me more. "Dad?" I say, shocked to see him here."Sarah, you're finally up," Dad says, relief in his voice as he rushes over to me."How are you feeling?" Jacob asks, coming to stand on the other side of the bed. I open my mouth to reply, but Dad cuts me off."You're still here?" Dad barks, glaring at Jacob. Yikes. If looks could kill, then Jacob would definitely be dead right now."I know you don't want me here," Jacob bites out, "but it's my baby she's carrying."My eyes widen. Oh my God, Dad knows? How did he find out? This is bad. He's going to kill Jacob."A baby that you put in her without her permission," Dad snaps."Just because we aren't together doesn't mea
Jacob and I flew out of Texas as soon as we could. Dad was not happy to hear about the trip, but he also understood why I was going. He admitted he will have to learn to see Jacob's face often since he is the father of my baby. Any urgent work matters I had been meaning to do this week I handed over to Rebecca, and then postponed what I could till next week. And now, we're here.I take a deep breath and step out of the car, standing next to Jacob. We just arrived at his family's estate in Louisiana. My mouth hangs open when I see the mansion in front of me. The sheer size of it takes my breath away. I come from a wealthy family, but the house in front of me is nothing compared to mine or any other I have seen. Jacob takes my hand and walks us up to the massive french doors. Jacob presses the bell, and I look around as we wait. I was not looking out the window as we drove in, so I didn't take in the beauty of their front yard. The flowers are all trimmed to perfection, and the fountain
Jacob clears his throat. "I think you should take a seat.""Okay, fine." I walk into the room and sit on a couch close to the bed. My patience is running thin, but it's probably for the best if we don't have this conversation in the hallway."Where do I start?" Jacob swallows and rubs a palm across his face."I don't know, maybe from the beginning?" I suggest, sarcastically."Yes, you're right; from the beginning would be best. But first, will you promise me something?" Jacob bends down to my level and tries to take my hand, but I yank it away. He sighs and turns to face Nana. She nods, encouraging him to continue.He looks back at me, but I speak before he has a chance. "I don't think you can ask me to promise you anything after everything you have done to me and what you just said a few seconds ago.""I know, you're right. But promise me you won't leave until you've listened to everything I have to say."I consider his request. "Fine, I can give you that; I'll wait for you to finish
The following morning, I wake up to a knock at my door. I climb out of bed to answer. Pulling it open, I find Jacob dressed in a fine Tom Ford suit that hugs his body well. I wonder what he's so dressed up for."Good morning, Jacob," I say, yawning. I move out of the way to let him in."Morning, mon amour," he pecks my cheeks and smiles. "How are you and the baby doing today?""We're fine.""That's good to hear," he says, gently rubbing my flat baby bump and gazing at it with love. Jacob is going to be an amazing father. He continues, "I came to inform you that I'll be gone the whole day. My grandfather has asked me to handle some business for him.""I'm surprised he would after the way he acted yesterday.""Me too; When he called this morning, I was expecting him to inform me that I'd been disowned." Jacob smiles. "I want us to have breakfast together, if that's okay with you, before I leave.""Sure, let me shower and brush my teeth. I'll meet you in the hotel restaurant after freshe
The van comes to a halt after a few minutes on the road. One of the men comes over to the back and opens the door. He lifts and carries me into an abandoned building, placing me on the ground once we get inside and enter a room. They don't bother untying me and just leave me on the floor. One sits on a couch that's been placed against the wall while the other walks over to a cooler and pulls out two beers.He walks back to the other one and hands him a bottle. I watch them take a few sips before the one sitting removes something from his pocket, placing it on the small table in front of him. I can't see exactly what it is from here, but I watch him roll some paper and sniff the substance off the table. It's white, so I'm guessing it's cocaine. The other one joins him, both alternating between drinking and snorting for the next few minutes.I ignore them and look around, trying to find something to help free myself. Fear builds in me as I'm unable to find anything. I turn back to face
JACOBI step out of the conference room where the shareholder's meeting just ended and collect my phone from my secretary. I frown at her when she tries to avoid my gaze as she walks away. I had told her to notify me if I got any calls from Sarah, but glancing through my notifications I can see she didn't. My mother must have asked her not to tell me. My secretary is one of the many minions my mother has placed at my side, so it doesn't surprise me that she would listen to her instructions over mine.I quickly dial Sarah's number. She called quite a few times. I hope everything is okay with the baby. I smile as the phone begins to ring. I'm so happy Sarah decided to consider being with me after finding out the truth. I never imagined things going the way they went last night. It was foolish to not tell her the truth sooner. Maybe if I had, she would have already forgiven me by now.The smile on my face disappears as the call goes to voicemail. I begin to panic, wondering why her phone
Once I arrive at the abandoned building, I rush inside. My heart racing harder with every step. I'm praying it's not too late. I can't imagine my life without Sarah. The guilt of causing her death would ruin me. I pray I won't have to face such an existence. I kick open the first door I come across. The man in the room jumps up from the couch as the door falls off its hinges."What the fuck!" He shouts, the joint he'd been smoking tumbling to the ground. The whole place reeks of weed, I could smell it even before I walked in.I don't care to give him a second glance, instead scanning the whole room for Sarah. I don't have to search long. The blood trail coming from the room's right side is enough to tell me where she is.The man who'd been sitting on the couch walks toward me. "Who the fuck are you?" he growls, but I don't answer and push him out of the way.Dropping to the floor, I take Sarah's head in my lap once I get to her. All the anger I felt as I drove here vanishes as I hold