"I'm pregnant." I blurted out. Hoping that would stop this madness.

"What? You're lying." She replied. "I'm not. I'm pregnant, and it's my ex-husband's."

She started pacing around the room. "You're going to abort that bastard."

"No. You don't tell me what to do." I snapped.

She turned to look at me. The last time she looked at me like that was when I was 16. I had broken an expensive architect by mistake.

"You bastard! I've had enough! How dare you talk to me like that!" She lunged towards me, grabbing my hair tightly.

"Stop!" I cried, but she didn't. "You're going to abort that bastard, do you hear me?!"

I managed to push her away, resulting in her falling to the floor. Cara came rushing into the room and saw her mum on the floor.

She glared at me, helping aunt up, I thought she was going to stop, but she didn't.

~

I cried, trying to clean myself. My body hurts so much. Cara had joined aunt earlier.

I can't believe this is happening, and it has to be a dream. A bad dream.

After some minutes, I managed to clean myself and entered the bed. My breathing was heavy.

Closing my eyes, I waited for sleep to come, but it didn't. I cried the whole night.

I woke up to the sun piercing through my eyes. Did I sleep?

I stood up from the bed and went into the bathroom. I took my bath and noticed the red scar on my left arm.

I was done. I got out and wore a simple gown. My stomach was grumbling.

I haven't eaten since yesterday. Oh god. And a baby is growing inside of me.

I walked out of the room and went to the door leading outside, but there were two men just beside the door.

Who are they?

I slowly walked closer to the door, attempting to come out. But they blocked the way.

"Excuse me, I have to go out," I said, but they did not reply to me. It was as if they didn't even hear me.

"You're not leaving this house, at least not until when you're going to your husband's house."

It was aunt, and she was still on this? I turned towards her. "Why won't you just leave me alone? I've told you this before, and I'm not getting married."

"I'm doing something great for you. You'd thank me for this someday."

I didn't answer her. I turned to look at the men, glaring at them. Who do they think they are?

I am a human, and I have my right to movement. "Let me pass, or I'm going to call the cops."

They didn't even flinch. They were keeping me caged, and I hated this. I couldn't stop the tears that slipped out of my eyes. I hate this feeling.

"Here, drink this," Aunt said, sitting next to me on the bed. I've been crying all day long.

I'm trapped.

"I don't want it," I said.

"You have to drink this, it's good for you, and it would stop the pain you're going through." She said.

I slowly took it from her and dropped it on the table next to me. She smiled. "I'd go bring something for you to eat." She walked out of the room.

Immediately after she left, I went to the bathroom and poured it on the floor. I don't know why, but I didn't feel like drinking it.

I went back to the room and sat down on the bed. A few minutes later, an aunt came back with a tray of food in her hand.

"Here, you should eat." She said, smiling at the empty cup behind me. What did she put in that?

I didn't drink it, so I didn't have to be scared.

I looked at the food before me, and my stomach growled.

"I heard she is pregnant."

"Yes... She will... Uh, had a husband. I gave her a drink that could abort the child..."

"I'm leaving for Italy in two weeks, and I want the wedding before then."

"Yes, of course. I'd prepare her."

"Do so-" "Isn't this illegal? Forcing someone to get married?!" I snapped at the two idiots before me.

"Tessa, do-"

"Tessa, what?! I told you I'm not getting married to anyone, and you're not going to force me to do what I don't want to!"

I noticed the Vick guy staring at me, and I felt like poking his eyes and making him blind. I glared at him.

"I guess we'd have to do this the hard way." I heard him say.

"Hard way? Like this isn't hard enough. Why won't you just leave me alone? You barely know me, and you want to get married to me? That's stupid and path-" he cuts me off with a growl.

"Shut up." He looked straight into my eyes this time. He got up from where he was sitting and walked toward me.

He looks so scary at that moment. I backed away till my back hit the wall.

He reached me and trapped me between the walls. "We're going to get married a week from now, and there's nothing you can do about it."

He was so close, and our bodies touched. I felt disgusted. I needed to push him away. But he seems strong, so strong.

Tears slipped down my eyes. I don't want this. "Please, let go of me." I pleaded, and he replied to me with a growl.

I was in my room, bawling my eyes out.

Why does this have to happen to me? What have I ever done to deserve this?

I sniffed. I took my bag behind me, looking for my phone, I turned the bag around, and everything in the bag came out.

A card caught my eye.

Here, in case you want to contact me... If you have any problems, you can always reach out to me.

I don't think I can reach out to him with a problem like this, and I don't even know him.

Yeah. You don't want to involve him in a matter like this.

I think you should reach out to him. Who knows, he might be able to help you.

Two voices argued in my head. I don't think it's proper to reach out to him with a problem like this.

Okay, watch yourself getting married... Or signed off.

I don't want that! With shaky hands, I took my phone and typed the number on it.

The phone rang, but then it was sent to voicemail. This might be a sign that I shouldn't call him.

Throwing my phone frustratingly at the other side of the bed, I lay down.

What an ill fate I have. I shouldn't have come here in the first place, and if I hadn't, I would have been living in more proper life.

Tears streamed down my eyes, with a headache coming along with them. Suddenly my phone rang.

I stretched out to take my phone and looked at the caller's id. No name. I tapped the accept button before putting it close to my ear.

"H-hello?" I asked. "You called." Came a cool manly voice. Was it the number I called earlier?

"Are you... Jake...?" I asked.

"Yes, I am. Jake Carl."

"Do you remember? That night at the hotel? I'm Tessa."

"Yes, I do. Never thought I was going to hear from you again. How have you been?" He chuckled.

"I-i'm fine." Tell the truth!

"Are you? You sound rather down."

"No... I mean, yes."

"What happened?" You can sense the worry in his tone. "I'm not okay," I suddenly cried.

"It's a long story. Can you help me?" I asked hopefully. "Where are you?"

"At m-my aunt's, she's h-holding me, hostage." I stammered. "Do you know the location?"

"Yes," I replied, and then I told him the location. "Relax, okay? You'd be alright." He assured me, and I nodded my head even though he would not see me doing it.

"I brought you juice, and you should drink it all." I heard my aunt's voice and quickly hid my phone.

"What were you doing?"

"I was uh... Searching for something, I kept... In my bag."

"Okay, dear, drink this." She said, giving it to me. I waited, expecting her to leave, but she didn't.

"I would leave when you're done with the juice." She said with a smile.

Who knows what she put in this? I gave her something to abort the pregnancy.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, and she walked out. I walked towards the door, trying to make out the voices I was hearing.

Had he told someone? Were they the people at the door? "What are you talking about?! I live here with my daughter and niece, and no one is pressuring anybody here!" I heard my aunt say.

The other person said something I still couldn't make out. "I'm sorry, but both girls can't speak to you now. They are asleep."

"You can't go into my house without my permission! I told you they are not available right now."

I was going to step out to go to them when a hand suddenly clasped my mouth, pulling me back.

I tried to scream, but it came out as muffles. Oh, why?

"Shh." The person whispered. I tried kicking, trying to make a noise, but the person entangled his legs with mine, stopping me from kicking.

Tears streamed down my eyes. I was never going to escape. "See? I told you I was trying to get sleep myself, and then you guys came. Oh my, and my blood pressure is high. Please go now. I have to rest." An aunt said dramatically.

I squirmed, trying to break free or at least hit something to make a noise.

I noticed the man bringing out something from his pocket. A handkerchief. He was going to make me sleep!

I squirmed harder until something fell, making a loud noise. He managed to put the cloth on my face, making me fall asleep.

Someone, please save me.

I stretch out my body. Where it seemed like the most comfortable place I have ever been in my life.

Where was I?

My brain suddenly recalled what had happened earlier, and I snapped my eyes open.

I heard the door opening and footsteps walking closer to me. When the person reached where I was, my eyes widened.

Jake.

He smiled at me. "You're finally awake. How are you feeling?" His smile was warming, and it could light up a dark room.

"I-i'm fine... What happened?"

"Nothing much. What matters now is that you're okay."

I tried to get up, but he stopped me. "I think you should have more rest. Stressing yourself now is not good for your health and that of the baby."

When he said that the baby was making me relax, my baby was okay. I smiled at him gratefully.

"How can I repay you?"

"By taking care of yourself." He said, and I nodded my head.

"Thank you so much."

"You don't have to be."

"Uh... About my aunt, d-did anything happen?" I asked in curiosity.

"Nothing much. I'd go bring something for you to eat." He said, walking out.

I pinched myself on my arm to know if this was a dream or not. It wasn't.

Tears flowed down my eyes. Tears of joy. I was free once again. I won't have to see aunt or that man.

Ever again...

"Tessa, I saw what happened earlier." I turned my head to look at Yvonne, she was giving me a weird look.

"What do you mean? And stop with that face, it's creeping me out."

"Don't pretend that you don't know!"

"No, seriously, I don't know what you're talking about."

"You and Jake! The way you two held each other's hands today, the way you two looked at each other..." She said dreamily.

Oh god. She was talking about what happened earlier, I had incidentally slipped and Jake caught me.

I and Jake have been friends for two years now and nothing is going on between us. "I told you, Jake and I are just friends., I said and she scoffed.

"That's what you always say, even when you know it's not true, just- fine, but that won't stop me from shipping."

I rolled my eyes mentally. "Did you hear?" She asked. "Hear what?"

"About the boss, he's going to come to our branch tomorrow, I gotta go do my beauty treatment!"

The boss, he was coming? I've never seen him personally, I have only heard of him. "Okay., I replied.

~

I woke up to someone practically jumping on me, Jesus. I shifted my eyes to see Anne.

How did she? "Mommy!" She said giggling and moving closer to me, she wrapped her hands around my neck. "Hey, baby., I said hugging her back.

"Let's go brush our teeth and have our bath?"

"Hmm." She replied.

~

"I'd be going now, please take care of her, and thank you so much., I said to Zara.

"Of course, see you later." She said and I smiled and walked out the door. I went to my car and drove off to the office.

I recently bought the car from my savings. Just a year after I gave birth to Anne, Jake had helped me secure a job.

Not just any job, a job in one of the biggest companies in the world, and the pay is really good. Though I think he has a connection with the boss.

Perhaps, they were a friends

I got to the office and walked in, oh god. I was 20mins late, I walked faster and finally got to my work department.

But it was unusually empty, where are the other people? I saw a cleaner. "Hey, do you know where they-"

"They are in the conference room, with the boss." She said and my eyes widened.

Oh, snap! I quickly took my bag and practically ran to the conference room. I got to it and opened the door.

All eyes were suddenly on me. I blushed at the attention that was suddenly on me.

I walked closer to the big table, "I'm sorry for the disturbance." I said and slowly took a seat to sit down.

"You were saying?" I heard Jake say, oh thank god! The attention was now off me.

Thank you, Jake.

"It's going to be like this..." And just like that, the meeting went on, damn. How could I not know about this, what if I'm given a query?

Soon the meeting was over and the employees started walking out. "Did you see him?!" Yvonne screeched, Jesus, my ears. Placing a hand on my ear, I asked. "Did I see who?"

"Austin Kings!" She squealed, I'm pretty sure if she does that one more time, I'm going to go deaf.

But no, I did not see him. "No., I replied and she looked at me like I just said the most abominable word ever.

"Look." She said pointing to a man in that. Jesus. I almost got a heart attack. Was he for real? So handsome, hot... Sinfully handsome... What the hell am I saying? Now I see where all the ladies here were staring at, not all though, of course, Jake also has some spotlight, have I ever mentioned Jake is so handsome and so hot? Oh, stop!

And you say you're just friends with him? Yep, just friends. I don't even think I'm ever going to start a relationship ever again.

"Just his smell alone will melt you, it's so good." I heard Yvonne say. No doubt she was going to try and get him, she's obsessed with him.

"Wish you the best."

"Oh, he's the best!" She mused. I looked at my time. "Let's go back to the office?"

"Yeah., she replied. We walked forward and then we had to pass where the boss was. Just when we were going to pass him, Yvonne fell to his feet.

She did that on purpose.

"Oh my. I'm so sorry." She said slowly standing up. She shyly tucked her hair in the back of her ear.

I expected him to like say. 'Oh, it's okay.' But he didn't, he just stepped away from her and walked towards where Jake was.

Rude much?

"Are you okay?" I asked and she just nodded her head. "Let's go., I said and we walked towards our department.

~

It's been an hour since we got here and it's been a boring day. I sighed getting up, I had to go give Jake this file. Did I mention Jake was my senior?

I got to the office and opened the door. "Hey," I said smiling at him, he returned the smile

"Hey." He replied. "I came to give you this, I've done the necessary process," I said giving it to him.

"Thank you." He said. "No problem." I turned around at walked out of the office.

I got to the elevator leading to my department and entered it, it moved for 3mins and stopped.

I came out and walked to my office. My office phone suddenly rang. "Miss Tessa, the boss requested for you to come to his office immediately."

Jesus.

.

.

.......