Chapter 36 Don’t You Know You’re Pregnant
The moment Renee heard she was about to be sold like some piece of property, a cold shiver ran down her spine. Who could possibly despise her this much?
Days crawled by, but the man never returned, leaving Renee stranded in an abyss of darkness. She groped around, but all she met were cold, unyielding walls-it was as if she had been locked inside an iron coffin. Desperation had her feeling for a light switch, but when she flipped it, nothing happened. No light. No escape. Just an unbearable silence pressing in from all sides. She didn’t dare close her eyes. There was nothing to eat. Hunger gnawed at her, exhaustion weighed her down, her stomach twisted and a dull ache throbbed in her lower abdomen.
Time lost meaning. The silence was so complete, so suffocating, that even her own breath sounded unnaturally loud, as though the room itself was swallowing every noise.
The crushing silence and endless darkness gnawed at her resolve, unraveling her bit by bit. It was a terror unlike any other-a suffocating void that swallowed her whole.
Renee had no idea how many days had passed by the time her body reached its limit. Just as the last of her strength ebbed away, the door creaked open.
After so long in absolute silence, the sudden noise was almost painful, and the flood of light stabbed at her eyes. She curled in on herself, arms weakly shielding her head, too drained to care who had finally come for her.
And then… a warm coat was draped gently over her shoulders, and strong arms pulled
her into an embrace-broad, steady, safe.
A deep voice murmured, “It’s all right. You’re safe now.”
Something about that voice struck a chord-familiar, yet distant. But before Renee could place it, her world faded to black.
When she stirred, she felt something warm brushing against her face-gentle, careful. Reflexively, she tried to bat the hand away, but her strength was all but gone. Her fingers barely made contact before she rasped out, “Don’t… don’t touch me.” Her voice
was hoarse, barely more than a whisper. Days without water had left her throat raw.
The man let out a low, amused chuckle, the sound rich and unhurried.
Hearing that voice, Renee jolted fully awake, her eyes snapping open.
The room was dim, lit only by a bedside lamp casting a soft, golden glow-clearly meant to make things easier on her.
A tall, broad-shouldered man sat by her bed, a towel in his hand, watching her with
quiet intensity.
Renee blinked, her breath hitching. Those sharp, eagle-like eyes… she’d seen them
before.
“Little one, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me already?” The man’s voice was deep and
familiar.
Renee’s muddled thoughts slowly rearranged themselves. Hesitantly, she whispered,
“Mr. Chadwick?”
Ryder nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “You called me before your flight, said you were coming over. Then-nothing. Radio silence. I figured maybe you’d changed your mind. But when I saw the headlines about William’s upcoming wedding, I knew something was off. So, I had someone look into it.”
Renee stilled. She hadn’t died, then.
That stray thought flickered and faded as Ryder’s words sank in. William… was remarrying?
So soon? How eager! After all these years, he and Sylvia could finally be together.
Renee could picture it now-William showering Sylvia with affection, protecting her like he always did, just like when they were kids. No doubt, he’d treat her like a queen,
never letting harm come her way.
“You should rest,” Ryder said, his voice gentler now.
Renee followed his gaze and noticed the IV drip attached to her arm.
Catching her gaze, Ryder offered a reassuring smile. “Relax, it’s just nutrients. Completely safe-won’t harm the baby.”
Renee’s mind felt sluggish, as if she were always a step behind, struggling to keep up. A few seconds passed before she finally managed to ask, “What baby?”
Ryder froze, his expression shifting as realization dawned. Studying her face carefully,
he asked, “Don’t you know you’re pregnant?”
