Chapter 5

George forced me to attend his massive company anniversary gala.

I wore a heavy, expensive red dress. The diamond engagement ring was cold and heavy on my finger. Danica stood right next to George. She wore a beautiful white gown. She smiled for the cameras and laughed with the rich investors. She looked like the real wife.

I kept my head down and stayed quiet. I played the part of the obedient, weak woman one last time.

"George," I whispered. I touched my stomach and made my face look pale. "I feel sick. The pregnancy medicine is making my stomach hurt. I need to use the restroom."

"Go," George snapped. "Do not ruin my big night. Stay in the restroom until I am done."

He raised his hand. Two large security guards walked over.

"Watch her," George ordered the guards. "Stand at the door. Do not let her leave."

I walked away quickly. The guards followed right behind me. I went inside the private restroom and locked the heavy wooden door.

I unzipped the heavy red dress and let it fall to the cold floor. I pulled the diamond engagement ring off my finger and dropped it on top of the dress.

Then, I opened my small purse. I took out the fake positive pregnancy test. I placed it right next to the ring.

I wanted George to see it. I wanted him to know his entire plan was a joke.

I reached under the sink. Anna hid a small black bag there this morning. I opened it and pulled out black leggings and a soft, warm sweater. I put them on.

I walked to the small window at the back of the restroom and climbed out into the dark, empty alley behind the hotel.

A sleek, bulletproof black car was waiting in the shadows. The back door opened, so I climbed inside.

The car finally drove away fast.

"Mr. Blackwood wants you to watch this," the bodyguard said.

I took the tablet. It showed a live video feed from the gala ballroom. On the screen, I watched George walk onto the large stage. The crowd clapped loudly. He held up his hands and started to speak.

Suddenly, the giant screens behind him turned black.

Then, a loud voice played over the massive speakers. I recognized the rough voice immediately. It was the man who kidnapped me.

"George Harrington hired us," the voice echoed through the ballroom. "He paid us to lock the pregnant woman, his fiancee, in the warehouse."

The crowd gasped in shock. Then, a hidden video played on the giant screens. It was a video of George and Danica sitting in their living room.

"She is just a vessel," Danica said on the giant video screen. "I will take the baby. She is completely useless."

"Yes," George said on the screen. "She owes us. We will take the child and throw her away."

In the ballroom, the rich investors looked horrified. They stood up from their tables. They started shouting.

It was not done yet. The giant screen flashed red. A new audio recording started to play.

But I didn’t bother listening to the rest. I turned off the tablet.

All I want right now is to see my son.

The car finally stopped in front of the grand doors. Matt was standing there. He stepped closer and gently took my hand. He pressed a soft, respectful kiss to my knuckles.

From inside the grand mansion, a soft, sweet sound floated through the open doors. It was a baby cooing.

Hot tears of pure joy filled my eyes.

"Welcome home. Our son is waiting for you."

We walked inside the grand house and went straight to the beautiful nursery.

My tiny son was awake. I picked him up carefully and held him tightly against my chest.

Matt stood next to me. He took off his dark suit jacket. As he rolled up his white sleeves, I saw something terrible on his arm. It was a long, ugly scar. It looked like an old, deep burn.

I reached out and touched his arm gently. "What happened to you?"

"Three years ago," Matt whispered, "a drunk driver crashed into my car on a dark road. Danica hit my car. She was with George's sister. She left her to burn in the car. But I crawled out of my vehicle. I pulled George's sister out of the fire before the police arrived."

"You pulled her out? They said she was dead."

"She was in a secret coma for three years. I hid her in my private hospital to keep her safe from Danica."

Matt walked to the heavy wooden door and opened it slowly.

A nurse wheeled a chair into the bright light. A pale, quiet woman sat in the chair.

"She woke up yesterday," Matt whispered. He stood close behind me and put his hand on my waist. "And she finally told me why Danica crashed the car on purpose to kill her… and about your identity, too."