That night.
I curled up in the last two square meters of the attic and slept.
The next morning.
But I found the attic door had been swapped out for a steel security door.
I gripped the iron bars with both hands and shook them hard.
"What is this? Let me out!"
"Madam, do you wish to use the common areas?"
The butler stepped forward, smiling.
"My stomach hurts. I want to go to the hospital."
"Of course. Down these stairs, at your walking pace, it's about five minutes to the front gate.
"The usage fee comes to two dollars fifty. How will you pay?"
"I…"
I stood there as if nailed to the floor.
"Madam, this is on Mr. Simmons's instructions. To honor the agreement, you must follow the terms exactly.
"Only once the usage fee is paid may you leave the room."
My belly cramped in waves.
I pressed my hands to it.
Tears welled in my eyes.
"I… I really don't have any money right now. It all went to paying Jordan back.
"Please, just let me out first. Once I earn some money, I swear I'll pay it back…"
The butler shook his head.
"The agreement states no debt on credit."
"But…"
"What's all this noise about?"
The click of high heels.
Prudence had a new pair of emerald drop earrings.
The latest release.
Debut price of three million.
They caught the light and glinted as she moved.
I clung to the iron bars, my hair a mess.
The glinting stung my eyes.
The butler forced a smile. "Madam isn't feeling well. She wants to go out."
At the word "Madam,"
Prudence's mouth curled into a sneer.
She glanced at my belly. "The doctor already said she's still a month out from her due date.
"You've all been with Mr. Simmons for years. Can't you see through a cheap little act like this?"
"But…"
"None of you deal with her. Except for the housework assigned to her in the common areas, if she wants out of that attic at any other time, she pays the usage fee. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Ms. Butler."
"Prudence!"
The pain in my stomach left my voice raw.
I knew.
If I didn't seize this chance.
I might really never get out.
I stretched my arm through the gap in the security door.
My hand caught her earring and yanked.
Prudence shrieked.
The shriek turned into a cry of pain.
"Let me… out…"
"Ms. Butler! Quick! Someone help Ms. Butler!"
The servants didn't dare pull hard at the two of us.
Terrified I'd rip the earring clean out of Prudence's ear.
With no other choice.
The butler opened the door.
I threw myself out, past caring.
Stumbling, lurching forward.
Slap!
A slap landed on my face out of nowhere.
I dropped to the floor.
Jordan stood over me, and behind him Prudence trembled, clutching her ear.
Just moments ago.
Everything here had reached Jordan through the intercom.
"Drag her back for me!"
"Jordan! My stomach really hurts! I have to go to the hospital!"
"What, are you telling me you're going into labor?"
Jordan narrowed his eyes.
"Jordan, I…"
Both my arms were hoisted up.
The security door closed in front of me again.
I sank to the floor, both hands gripping the iron bars.
"Jordan, it really hurts…"
"Fine."
He crouched down on one knee and held out his open palm to me.
"Usage fee, two fifty. How will you pay?"
"Jordan!"
I sobbed until I shook. "You know every cent I had went to paying you back!"
"So?"
"So…"
I choked on the words. "I don't even have two dollars fifty…"
"Then there's nothing to discuss."
"Jordan…"
My hand reached through the gap in the security door.
Jordan slid his arm around Prudence's waist.
My hand couldn't reach.
I could only stretch it out in hopeless desperation through the contractions.
"Jordan! Come back! Something's going to happen to the baby!"
"Jor…
"Jordan…"
My hand dropped.
Something warm spread beneath me.
The pain wasn't as sharp anymore.
My mind.
Slowly went dark too.
A day later.
The backlog of housework was assigned up to the attic.
The butler looked troubled. "Madam… has been in the hospital a full day."
"Isn't she still a month from her due date? Where would she get the money to check in early?"
"No… Mr. Simmons. The baby's gone."
Jordan froze.
"It was a miscarriage. Damaged heart function plus physical exhaustion."
Only then did Jordan notice.
A small dark-brown stain on the attic floor.
Seeped into the seams of the boards.
Impossible to scrub out.
His breath caught.
Slow footsteps came from the stairwell.
I was back.
"Ada."
He strode toward me.
I raised my eyes slowly.
I pulled an envelope out of the huge canvas bag.
"Ten thousand. For you."
"Ada?"
"The divorce agreement. That's for you too."
