Emil gave them a half-hearted scolding, just enough to placate me. "Cut it out. Aunt Tara is a good person. She'll treat you like her own kids."

The color from Caprice’s face drained. She glared at me with venomous hatred.

Furious, I retorted, "Emil, when did I ever say I'd be their stepmother?"

"Tara, I told you. As long as you get rid of the baby, we can go back to the way things were, like nothing ever happened. From now on, just keep your head down and help Caprice take care of the kids. I promise I'll treat you well."

I stared at him with a baffled look. I could not even begin to understand how he could say something so shameless with a poker face.

Was he trying to remarry me just so he could get a free babysitter for the children he had with Caprice?

I snapped. "Emil, have you lost it? Or are you too dense to understand what I just told you?"

His face darkened. "Tara, watch your language. You're about to become a mother to two impressionable children."

I actually pressed a hand to my forehead. "A mother? Give me a break."

His face darkened further. "Tara, just look at yourself! You’re behaving just like some unrefined woman off the streets. How do you expect to call yourself Mrs. Carson? You have lots to learn from Caprice."

With that, he prepared to schedule an abortion for me.

"You're insane! What right do you have to abort my child?"

That must be it. Emil must have lost his marbles. He was completely insane.

I backed away and refused to go with him.

However, he overpowered me with sheer strength. Besides, I was afraid of hurting my unborn children by overexerting myself.

He dragged me to the obstetrics clinic and demanded, "Abort her pregnancy."

"Sir, we must operate according to procedures. We cannot perform an abortion if there is no medical justification."

Despite their protests, Emil ignored them and insisted that they perform the abortion anyway.

Just as I felt I was about to drown in the pits of despair, the door was kicked open with a tremendous crash.

"Don’t you dare touch her!"