Chapter 7 I Don’t Want a Child

• Amanda
• Just as I reached the front door, Damian’s hand caught my wrist, stopping me in my tracks. My heart pounded, but I forced myself to stay calm.
• “Where are you really going?” His voice was low, edged with suspicion.
• I turned to him, feigning annoyance. “I told you. My friend is in the hospital. She needs me.”
• His grip tightened slightly. “Which friend?”
• I hesitated for only a second, but Damian caught it. His sharp gaze darkened.
• “Summer,” I lied smoothly. “She had an accident, and I’m the only person she trusts to be there.”
• He studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. “You’re lying.”
• I stiffened, but before I could respond, he yanked me closer, his grip firm but not painful. His proximity sent a shiver down my spine, but I refused to let it show.
• “What would happen if you were pregnant?” he asked suddenly, his voice dangerously soft.
• A chill ran through me. My lips parted, but no words came out.
• Damian’s gaze bore into mine, searching for the truth.
• “If you were pregnant,” he continued, “I would hope you’d have an abortion immediately. I don’t want anyone other than Maya to have my child.”
• The words sliced through me like a blade, cutting deeper than anything he had ever said before.
• I felt as though the ground beneath me had cracked open, swallowing me whole.
• Every part of me ached, but I forced myself to remain still, to suppress the emotions raging inside me. I couldn’t let him see me break.
• I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced a weak smile. “How could I be pregnant?” I said lightly, keeping my voice steady. “There’s no reason to worry about something that isn’t real.”
• His eyes narrowed, as if trying to read between the lines. “The maid saw a pregnancy test in the bathroom,” he said sharply. “What was that about?”
• I felt my pulse quicken, but I kept my expression neutral.
• “I was late,” I admitted, keeping my voice calm. “I panicked and took a test, but it was negative. There’s nothing to worry about.”
• Damian studied me, his face unreadable. He didn’t speak for a long moment, and I feared he could hear the frantic beating of my heart.
• “You’d better not be lying to me, Amanda,” he warned.
• I forced a small laugh, as if the whole conversation was ridiculous. “I have no reason to lie.”
• He watched me for another agonizing second before finally stepping back.
• “Good,” he muttered. “I don’t want to discuss this again.”
• “Neither do I,” I whispered.
• I turned on my heel and walked away, my legs steady even though I felt like collapsing. The second I was out of his sight, my body trembled violently. I sank onto the edge of the bed, clutching my stomach protectively.
• I had managed to keep the truth from him this time.
• But how much longer could I keep up the lie?
• The next few days passed in a blur. I kept my distance from Damian, avoiding him at every opportunity. I buried myself in work, in mundane tasks—anything to keep my mind occupied.
• But the truth lingered like a shadow, always present, always reminding me of what was at stake.
• One evening, as I sat alone in my room, my phone buzzed with an incoming message.
• Summer: Have you thought about what we talked about? You need to get out of there.
• I stared at the message, my fingers hovering over the screen. I had thought about it—every second of every day.
• But leaving wasn’t as simple as packing a bag and walking out the door.
• Damian wasn’t the kind of man who would let me go easily.
• Me: I don’t know if I can. He’s watching me too closely.
• Summer: Then we’ll find a way to distract him. You need to do this before it’s too late.
• I exhaled shakily, my mind racing with possibilities. Summer was right. If I waited too long, Damian would find out the truth, and then I wouldn’t have a choice anymore.
• I placed a hand on my stomach, my resolve hardening. I had to do this—for my child.
• That night, I carefully packed a small bag, only taking the essentials. My hands shook as I shoved clothes inside. Every noise outside my door made my heart pound, my fear of being caught keeping me on edge.
• A knock on the door made me freeze.
• “Amanda.”
• Damian’s voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable sharpness to it.
• I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice. “What is it?”
• The door creaked open slightly, and Damian stepped inside, his dark eyes scanning the room. His gaze landed on my half-packed bag, and his jaw tightened.
• “We need to talk,” he said.
• I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. “About what?”
• Damian hesitated before stepping further inside, closing the door behind him. “I’ve been thinking,” he said slowly. “About what you said the other day.”
• My stomach twisted. “And?”
• His expression was unreadable, but there was something different in his eyes. “If you were pregnant,” he said, his voice quieter this time, “what would you do?”
• My heart pounded painfully in my chest. “Why are you asking me this?”
• “Just answer the question.”
• I swallowed hard. “I would keep the baby,” I admitted. “No matter what.”
• His jaw clenched, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he turned away, running a hand through his hair as if trying to compose himself.
• “I don’t want a child,” he finally said. “Not with you.”
• The finality in his voice left no room for interpretation.
• He didn’t just not want a child—he didn’t want my child.
• Tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “Then it’s a good thing I’m not pregnant,” I said flatly.
• Damian turned to face me, his eyes narrowing. “Are you sure?”
• I forced myself to meet his gaze without wavering. “Yes. You said we shouldn’t talk about this, so let’s not.”
• The silence stretched between us again, thick and suffocating. Finally, Damian gave a single nod.
• “Good.”
• He turned and walked toward the door, pausing just before opening it. “If I ever find out you lied to me, Amanda,” he said coldly, “you won’t like the consequences.”
• My hands clenched into fists at my sides.
• “Then you have nothing to worry about,” I replied evenly.
• Damian didn’t respond. He walked out, closing the door behind him.
• The second he was gone, I let out a shaky breath and collapsed onto the bed. My entire body trembled, but I had done it. I had convinced him—for now.
• But I knew this wasn’t over.
• And I was running out of time.