rities and the growing reality of my pregnancy. She found fault in everything I did. The food I ate

f a sandwich. My hands were shaking from morning sickness

the living room, her

? Trying to wake the

rry, it s

g with contempt. "You can' t even hold a knife pro

rs digging into my flesh. Her

said, her face inches from mine.

of the front door opening. It

ge vanished, replaced by a look of wide-eyed fear

around to face him. Her voice was suddenly soft and trembling. "

gned terror to me. I stood there, silent, the red

m tilted, the edges of my vision going dark. I swayed on my feet, my l

ing of the house. A doctor was packing up his medi

alnutrition. The pregnancy is putting a tremendous strain on her body.

y turned to face me. His expressio

ry upset," h

ldered. "She lied, L

doorway, her eyes red-rimmed and moist. She

king adoration. "When I saw her with the knife, I thought... I thought she w

in a way that made her seem even more like a vict

her, stroking her hair. His loyalty was absolute, a distorted thin

he said to me, his voice leaving no

tle more than a cell, a place to keep the incubator safe between uses. My past life as an architect, a person

ng was pointless. It would only lead to more cru

f up into a si

e words tasting like ash in my mo

ing at her dry eyes. "It' s alright, Ava

losed the door behind him, the sound of the latch

t on the edge. He didn't speak f

finally. His voice was lower now, mo

y hand. His touch was not

your part. Keep Chloe happy. I will make sure

nted my compliance, not my well-being. He wanted to manage the

y hand awa

I said, my voice stronger than I expected

w, a flicker of ann

im directly in the eye. "I' m taking the money stipulated in

e saw me as a problem to be managed, an asset to be controlled.