Chapter 2 You can't birth my child

An hour later...

The room was a disaster. The center table was shoved aside, side stools scattered from their usual spots, a handbag lay abandoned on the cold tiles, and sofa pillows were strewn across the floor.

The air in the sitting room was icy, yet suffocating.

Vera Wells sat on the sofa, her head bowed, tears brimming in her eyes. Her hands were clenched into fists, her veins standing out against her pale skin.

"This is deliberate! I trusted you! I thought you weren't like those selfish women!" Stan George's furious voice thundered through the room as he paced back and forth, his rage vibrating in every step.

His eyes were bloodshot, his jaw locked tight. His chest rose and fell rapidly, each breath filled with barely restrained fury.

"I don't want a child! Is that so hard to understand?!" He roared, punching the air in frustration.

His hands raked through his hair before he spun toward Vera, his movements sharp, aggressive.

"I took you to a good doctor! I made sure you were on the best birth control!" His voice was raw with frustration. "I even protected myself-every single time-just to avoid this!"

His shaking finger jabbed toward her belly, his raging eyes piercing through her.

Vera's body went rigid. He was too close. She could feel the heat of his anger pressing against her, scorching her skin. The fury in his gaze wrapped around her like a suffocating noose. Her whole body trembled violently.

What if he hit her?

She was alone. No one to help her if Stan lost control.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible, fragile.

But her words didn't reach him. His fury had deafened him.

"The test might be negative," she added, her voice trembling, desperate.

Stan let out a bone-chilling chuckle, dark and hollow.

"Who do you think you're fooling?" he growled.

His fists clenched. His eyes slammed shut as he fought for control. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, his breaths uneven, his rage an unbearable storm inside him.

After a moment, Stan's eyes snapped open, burning with unrelenting fury. "You will not have this child! Never!" he declared, his voice raw with anger. Then, with a heavy sigh, he collapsed onto the sofa, his entire body trembling with rage.

"Get in there. Take the damn test. I'll be waiting." His order cut through the silence like a blade.

Vera stared at him in disbelief. He actually wanted to wait for the test result?

"Stan, you don't have to-"

"Get up! Now!" he bellowed, his voice shaking the room as he shot up from the sofa.

Vera flinched.

"I'll watch you do it," he added, his tone final, leaving no room for argument.

Vera's breath hitched, her body going rigid. "You... you can't be serious."

"Get up!" His voice sent a violent tremor through her, her legs moving before her mind could even process it.

Heart pounding, she snatched her bag from the floor and made her way to the restroom. But when she tried to close the door behind her, his hand shot out, gripping it firmly.

"I said I'll watch you." His voice was like ice. "I won't have my child born in secrecy."

Vera's eyes widened in horror. He was going to stay inside while she peed?

"I... I need privacy," she whispered, her voice unsteady.

Stan scoffed, his red-rimmed eyes locking onto hers. "Privacy? What part of you haven't I already seen?"

Her throat went dry.

"Hurry up. I don't have all day." He stepped inside and shut the door behind him.

Under his unrelenting gaze, Vera's hands trembled as she took the test. Seconds felt like hours as they watched, waiting. Then, finally, a single line appeared.

Negative.

Tears burned in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away.

Stan's gaze flickered toward the sink, where the test sat. Without a word, he reached into his suit pocket and pulled out two more pregnancy tests, dropping them in front of her with a sharp thud.

"Use these." His voice was cold, distrustful.

Vera's heart sank. He had come prepared. He thought she would lie to him.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she repeated the test. The results didn't change. Negative.

Stan exhaled sharply, his jaw clenching. "You're lucky," he spat before storming out of the bathroom.

He didn't stop there. He marched straight to the door, yanking it open so forcefully that the sound echoed through the room.

Outside, Jason Bridge and Olivia Jones, her friends who had been eavesdropping froze in place, their faces pale with shock. They had come to visit Vera but stopped when they heard the argument.

Stan's furious gaze swept over them.

Caught in the act, both of them froze, their bodies stiff with fear. Their eyes widened in panic as they faced Stan, whose rage was almost visible in the air around him.

"H-Hi," Jason stammered, forcing a shaky smile.

Stan's eyes were cold, empty. Without a word, he turned and stormed out.

The moment he was gone, they snapped out of their shock and rushed into the living room.

Vera was on the floor, her body trembling as she sobbed uncontrollably. Her face was flushed, her eyes swollen from the tears that wouldn't stop.

"Vee," Jason whispered as he knelt beside her, pulling her into a tight hug.

"He doesn't deserve you," he spat, his voice thick with anger. "He's a complete jerk."

But the more he tried to comfort her, the harder she cried.

"If he doesn't want the baby, then fine!" Olivia snapped, her voice sharp with frustration.

Struggling with her unending tears, Vera realized they had heard everything, every cruel word Stan had thrown at her.

"This is my fault," she sobbed. "He told me from the beginning."

Stan George was her boyfriend. They had met two years ago, and from the moment their relationship began, everything had seemed perfect. He was wealthy. His lifestyle was proof of that. He was kind, attentive, and loving. But there had always been one issue.

He had been clear from the start that he didn't want children. Not now. He had even insisted she use birth control, making sure there was no chance of an accidental pregnancy. She had agreed. For two years, it had never been a problem. Until her period was late.

Worried but hopeful, she had told Stan, casually mentioning the possibility of pregnancy. She had expected concern, maybe even nervousness. But what she got instead shattered her completely.

That evening, after work, Vera had returned home only to find Stan waiting in his car, parked along the road.

He didn't say a word as he followed her inside, but the moment they stepped in, his anger exploded. His words were sharp, his tone cruel, far beyond anything she had expected.

"Even if he was upset, that reaction was just too much," Jason said, still fuming.

"Don't blame him, please," Vera whispered, quickly wiping her tears.

Jason and Olivia exchanged stunned looks. Was she really defending him?

And in that moment, they both understood. Vera, their kind and loyal friend, wasn't going to leave Stan. No matter how badly he treated her.

"You're not going to break up with him?" Olivia asked, eyes narrowing in disbelief.

Vera barely hesitated before nodding.

Olivia's frustration boiled over, and she nearly smacked Vera.

"He told me from the beginning," Vera said again, her voice steadier now, as if she was convincing herself as much as them.

Jason shook his head, unable to understand. "Even after he said he didn't want the baby? Vera, don't you see what that means?"

If Stan had made it clear that he didn't want a child, it meant he expected Vera to get rid of the pregnancy.

But instead of anger, Vera only blamed herself. "It's not his fault. It's my fault," she murmured, as if Stan had done nothing wrong.

Jason and Olivia exchanged another look, an unspoken understanding passing between them.

"Is the test positive?" Olivia finally asked.

Vera didn't answer. But the fresh tears spilling down her face said everything.

Watching her break down again, they swallowed the rest of their words.