Roble

y head. My eyes fluttered open. I was in a hospital bed. Dexter sat

y hand, but I pulled it back. My body felt heavy

d?" I asked,

a deep breath. "You... y

ound out last week. A tiny, precious life. Gone. The words crashed over me, suffocating me.

e, a flicker of something in her eyes-pity? triumph? "It's for the best, E

eked, my voice raw. I lunged at her

g me back, his strength o

ears streaming down my face. "She p

ed, shrinking behind Dexter. "The

ing against Dexter's grip. "Y

own, Ella. You're still recovering." He looked

ur... condition. A large sum. Enough for you to start fresh, far away from here." She looked at me with cold, calculating

silence. To erase me. "I won't sign any

. For your own good." He released me, hi

er me. "For what? For losing our baby? For being u

xter said, his voice flat. "Ap

voice was weak, but

d. "Fine." He turned

ered, the world a blur of pain and rage. My mother. I had to see my

n my abdomen was excruciating, but the thought of my mother pushed m

wall. A man stepped in front of me. His face was scarred, his

s voice a low growl. "Little Ella. The g

cascade of terrifying memories. The fear, the helplessness

u. Your rich boyfriend. Your fancy job." He grabbed my arm, his grip like iron. "He said

o pull away. The pain in my abdomen

or, gasping for air. The pain was unbearable. I curled into a ball, trying to protect myself. It felt like

ssed the attack. She stood at the end of the hallway, her

eyes narrowing. He grabbed a nearby IV stand and threw it at

nged at my stepfather, a surge of adrenaline overcoming my pain. I

I looked up. Dexter stood at the end of the hallway, watching, his face impassiv

voice broken. "Stop! Plea

me one last time, a brutal blow to my ribs. "Dexter says, you'll be a bridesmaid at his wedding. And y

hing, Ella, anything at all, your mother will pay. And you'll lo

body convulsed with silent sobs.

en turned their backs and disappeared down the hall. I lay there, broken, my mother unconscious