Gifford turned his head toward the corner of the room, where a dog, chained by an iron link, lay quietly watching us. He was the pet Dakota had bought just last month.
My heart leapt to my throat, and every hair on my body stood on end.
“Lock her up with General,” Gifford ordered coldly, his tone leaving no room for discussion.
General—that was the dog’s name.
“No!” The word tore from my throat in a hysterical scream. I stumbled backward, nearly falling as I scrambled away in a panic. “Gifford, please! I’m afraid of dogs, and you know that! I’m allergic to their fur, have you forgotten?”
Suddenly, a sharp pain clenched in my lower abdomen. I pressed a trembling hand to my belly, where a tiny life was taking root.
“I can’t be agitated… I really can’t…” My voice cracked as I begged, “Please don’t do this…”
I didn’t dare tell him I was pregnant, but the terror in my voice was real.
“Afraid of dogs? Allergic?” Dakota sneered, unfastening the dog’s chain with a lazy flick of her wrist. “You’re such a good actress, Austria. General’s been here all along, hasn’t he? Funny how I never saw you show any sign of fear or allergy before.”
I trembled uncontrollably, forcing the words out in a whisper. “That’s because he’s always been chained far away from me.”
She laughed softly and nudged the dog with the tip of her shoe. “Allergies pass if you endure them. Fear can be overcome, too. You’ve just been spoiled. Time to reflect on that, don’t you think?”
The dog wagged his tail and began to inch closer, a low growl rumbling in his throat.
I felt the blood drain from my face, and my body went rigid with cold dread. I turned to Gifford, my eyes wide with pleading. “Gifford, my stomach hurts… Please… just this once, let me go…”
“Reflect on your actions, and fix that temper of yours,” he interrupted sharply. “Dakota’s right—you’ve been coddled too long. Spend the night here, calm down, and maybe then, you’ll realize what you did wrong. This is for your own good.”
Just like that, the door slammed shut with a deafening bang. The click of the lock that followed hit me like a hammer to the chest.
Gradually, like a predator, the dog crept closer and closer.
My skin began to itch, the allergic reaction already setting in, while waves of pain twisted in my belly.
I could only curl up against the wall, frantically waving my arms to keep the dog away.
But more than the fear of the animal, what terrified me most… was that this fragile yet precious life inside me might be forced away… by its own father’s cruelty.
Cradling my belly, I whispered desperately to the child within me, “Baby… your father treats me like this only because he doesn’t know you exist.”
“Please…” I begged, “don’t leave me because of him.”
The night dragged on endlessly, thick with fear and silence.
I didn’t dare fall asleep. I was terrified that the next time I opened my eyes, I would no longer feel the faint but stubborn pulse of life stirring beneath my hand.
