Chapter 3

"Carter! This is kidnapping! You won't get away with this!" I shouted.

But the guards didn't give me a chance to fight back. They grabbed my arms and dragged me down to the basement.

"I’m doing this for your own good, Stella. Once the opening bell rings next week, I’ll let you out," Carter said, adjusting his Tom Ford tie as he turned back toward the bright, glamorous ballroom.

"When you’re ready to talk, write down the password."

The heavy steel door of the basement archive room slammed shut. "CLANG!"

Total silence.

There were no windows, no cell service, only a dim motion-sensor light overhead.

The AC was blasting, making the room feel like an icebox.

I was thrown onto the cold concrete floor. The pain in my stomach suddenly intensified, crawling down to my lower abdomen.

A sharp, throbbing cramp made me gasp.

I curled up in the corner, clutching my stomach as cold sweat soaked my back.

With trembling hands, I reached into my pocket and touched the folded ultrasound report.

I had just gotten it from the hospital this afternoon.

I was six weeks pregnant.

I had planned to tell him the good news at the celebration party tonight.

What a pathetic joke.

"Baby... you chose the worst time to come," I whispered, tears finally streaming down my cheeks.

The next morning, the steel door groaned open.

Carter walked in, holding a glass of warm milk.

"Have you thought it through?"

He looked down at me, his eyes completely devoid of warmth.

I held onto the metal shelving and forced myself to stand up.

"Carter, I'm pregnant."

Carter froze for a second, then his brows knitted tightly together.

"Stella, are you seriously making up a lie like this just to keep the password?"

I crumpled the ultrasound report and threw it at his face.

"See for yourself!"

Carter caught the paper. As he read the medical stamp, his expression shifted.

But there was no joy in his eyes. Only panic and irritation.

"Get rid of it," he said coldly.

I stared at him in disbelief.

"What did you say?"

"I said, get an abortion!" Carter raised his voice, his face twisting. "Tiffany hates kids. If she finds out you’re pregnant, the Vance family will pull their funding immediately!"

"Stella, do not ruin my life right now!"

My body was shaking violently. I pointed at the open door.

"Get out! Get the hell out of here!"

Carter sneered.

"If you don't hand over the password, you can rot in this room."

He turned and walked out, locking the steel door behind him.

I collapsed onto the floor, swallowed by a wave of absolute despair.

This was the man I had loved for five years.

For money and status, he didn't hesitate for a second to kill his own child.