Chapter 4 Death Countdown

Seizing the moment when Claudius turned to get the water, Charlie threw off the quilt and scrambled off the waterbed. The sharp, cramping pain in her lower abdomen made her suck in a breath, and she bit down hard on her lower lip to keep from crying out.

She stumbled toward the marble bathroom attached to the master bedroom, her legs unsteady, each step sending a fresh wave of pain through her body. The cold floor beneath her feet only made the discomfort worse, but she didn't stop-she had to get away, to check, to confirm what she already feared.

She slammed the heavy frosted glass door shut behind her and flipped the lock, leaning against the cool Door panel as she gasped for air. Her chest heaving, her hands trembling, she closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm the panic that was threatening to consume her.

Slowly, she pulled down her silk panties. When her eyes fell on the bright red stain on the crotch, her pupils dilated in horror. This wasn't her period. This was the bleeding she'd heard about in those terrible rumors-the bleeding that meant a pregnancy was in danger.

Just then, the phone on the bathroom counter began to vibrate violently, its screen lighting up with Corina's name. Charlie's heart skipped a beat-her sister, the one person who could see through her lies, the one person who might be able to help her.

She grabbed the phone, fumbling with the screen as she answered it, forcing her voice to sound lazy and normal, as if she was just waking up. "Hey, Corina," she said, her voice wavering slightly despite her best efforts.

Corina's sharp, cold voice came through the line, no-nonsense and demanding. "Where the hell were you this weekend? You were supposed to come back to the family estate on Long Island. I called you three times, and you didn't answer."

Charlie bit her lip,Endure it the pain in her abdomen as she lied. "I'm so sorry, Corina. I was with Ami in the Hamptons, doing a spa weekend. My phone died, and I forgot to charge it. I didn't mean to worry you."

Corina's tone softened slightly, but it was still laced with warning. "Listen to me, Charlie. The wind is changing on Wall Street. The Buchanan family is secretly buying up Powell shares. Stay away from them-all of them. Don't let Claudius Buchanan manipulate you. He's dangerous, and he doesn't care about you or our family."

Tears stung Charlie's eyes as she listened to her sister's warning. She knew Corina was right. She'd known it from the moment she'd gotten involved with Claudius, but she'd been too naive, too desperate, to admit it. Now, she was trapped, and there was no easy way out.

A knock sounded on the bathroom door, followed by Claudius's deep voice, laced with concern. "Baby, are you okay? You've been in there a long time. Is the pain getting worse?"

Charlie jumped, nearly dropping the phone. She quickly whispered into the receiver, "Corina, I have to go. The signal is really bad here. I'll call you back later, okay?" Before her sister could respond, she hung up the call and tossed the phone onto the counter.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to sound calm as she called out to him. "I'm okay, Claudius! Just a minute, I'll be right out!" Her voice trembled slightly, betraying her nervousness, but she hoped he wouldn't notice.

She knelt down and pulled open the bottom drawer of the vanity, rummaging through the contents until she found what she was looking for-a Clearblue digital pregnancy test that Ami had jokingly stuffed into her bag a few weeks ago, saying "just in case." At the time, Charlie had laughed it off, never thinking she'd actually need it.

Her hands shaking so badly that she could barely hold it, she tore open the packaging and followed the instructions, urinating on the test stick before setting it down on the marble countertop to wait. Every second felt like an eternity, and the cramping in her abdomen only grew worse.

Three minutes. That's what the instructions said. Three minutes to find out her fate. But to Charlie, it felt like a lifetime. The hourglass icon on the test's screen blinked repeatedly, taunting her, reminding her of how little time she might have.

Outside the bathroom, Claudius seemed to grow impatient. She heard him twist the doorknob, and when he found it locked, his voice turned dangerous, low and menacing. "Charlie, open the door. Now."

Charlie's eyes were fixed on the test screen, her heart pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears. Finally, the hourglass disappeared, and two clear words appeared on the screen: "Pregnant 3+." Pregnant. Three weeks or more.

Desperate tears spilled down her face as the reality sank in. She was pregnant. Pregnant with the child of the man who was trying to destroy her family, the man who had trapped her, the man she hated more than anything in the world.

Combined with the bleeding, she knew she needed to get to a hospital immediately. But she couldn't let Claudius know. If he found out she was pregnant, he would never let her go. He would use the baby to control her, to tie her to him forever.

She quickly wrapped the pregnancy test in several layers of toilet paper, shoving it deep into the bottom of the trash can, where it would be hidden from sight. She grabbed a handful of toilet paper and tucked it into her panties, trying to stop the bleeding, then smoothed out the hem of her nightgown, making sure no trace of the blood was visible.

She turned on the faucet, splashing cold water on her red, tear-stained face. She took several deep breaths, forcing herself to compose herself, to put on the act of the weak, suffering girl he expected her to be. When she was sure she could pass, she unlocked the door and pulled it open.

The moment the door opened, Claudius loomed in the doorway like a mountain, his tall frame blocking out the light. In his hand, he held a cup of warm brown sugar water, steam curling up from the rim.

His sharp eyes scanned her face, noticing the redness around her eyes and the paleness of her cheeks. His brows furrowed, and he reached out to brush a strand of hair away from her face. "Have you been crying?" he asked, his voice softening slightly.

Charlie took advantage of the moment, leaning into his arms, her body trembling with a mix of real pain and feigned weakness. "It hurts so bad, Claudius," she whispered, her voice muffled against his chest. "The cramps are terrible. I can't stand it."

Claudius's eyes darkened, and he held her tighter, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. He held the cup of brown sugar water to her lips, watching as she drank it obediently, her hands still trembling.