I lay on my back with my hand on my belly, my mind racing. There was no more denying it. I’d suspected it for some time, but now I knew for certain.

I couldn’t remember when I’d last had my period. I’d never been the most regular, so it was very easy for me not to notice when it was late. But then there was the morning sickness.

After my bath I went to the drug store and got a pregnancy test. In fact, I bought five of them.

One after the other, I took the tests, and one after the other, they told me what I already knew. I was pregnant! I was having a baby!

And not just that, but it was Kane’s baby. Now, more than ever, I needed him to come back. I needed him to come back for me. I was going to be the mother of his child after all.

I let out a long sigh and looked up at the ceiling. The screen door on my back porch was blowing in the wind again and I thought I should get up and go close it properly. I didn’t want it to get damaged.

It banged again in the wind and I got up.

I was in nothing but my nightdress and a cool, refreshing breeze was flowing through the house. It felt good against my skin. Even without Kane, I was in a good place. I lived in a nice town. I had good friends and a great apartment. I had a job I enjoyed, and plans to start an interior decorating business.

Even without Kane, I’d be okay. The baby would be okay.

It was just … I didn’t want to be without Kane.

When would he come back?

I rounded the corner into the hall and instantly, nothing was right. There was someone there, right in front of me, and I let out a shrill scream

“What the hell?” I cried.

It was dark and I couldn’t tell who was standing there, a few feet away from me. Was it Paul? Was it Jason?

Was it an intruder?

“You little whore,” a familiar voice said to me in the darkness.

It was Matt! How was he there? We’d signed our divorce papers. He’d taken back his vehicle and his money. He should have been out of my life.

“What are you doing here?” I gasped.

The lights came on and I saw him there in front of me. I backed away, shielding my stomach instinctively.

“Matt, you can’t be here. I’ll call the police.”

“You won’t call anyone bitch. You’re going to pay for what you’ve done. I’m going to teach you some manners.”

I backed away from him, all the way into my bedroom, and stood in front of the bed.

“I’m glad to see you’re in your slutty night dress. Now, all you have to do is get down on your knees and show me what a sorry girl you are.”

“What? I’m not sorry. Get the hell out of here or you’ll be sorry.”

“I hardly think you’re the one to be handing out threats,” he said with a sneer, opening the fly of his pants.

I looked at him more closely and saw that he was beat up. There was dry blood on his face and his clothes were covered in dirt and stains. He wasn’t himself.

“What are you doing? Stop opening your pants.”

“Why should I? You’re going to take what I give you, and then you’re going to come home with me like a good wife.”

“I’m not your wife anymore, Matt.”

“Yes you are, and you always will be.”

“You lost me the moment you cheated on me, Matt. You never had me. A marriage is based on faithfulness and love. You never understood that, and that’s why you’re alone.”

“Alone? I’ll show you alone. When I get you back home, I’m going to lock you in the basement and make sure you can never leave me again.”

He came closer, opening his belt and taking his erect cock out of his pants. My stomach turned when I saw it. It was a sight I’d expected never to have to see again. Not only did I hate Matt’s guts, in my heart I knew I already belonged to another man. I belonged to Kane. Even if he didn’t know it, I was his and I was carrying his child. Matt had no right to lay a finger on me, never mind what he thought he was going to do to me.

He pulled his shirt off over his head and I backed further away from him on the bed.

“You better get over here and start sucking, bitch. If you don’t swallow every drop, I’m going to kill you.”

His words terrified me. From the crazy look on his face I could tell he was unhinged and could be capable of anything. With a baby inside me, I knew I had to protect my body at all costs. I looked at him and then looked around the room for any chance at escape. He was between me and the door, and the window was behind him. There was no way out other than through him, and I was definitely not strong enough to get past.

Plus, I couldn’t risk the chance he’d hit me in the stomach.

“Please, Matt,” I said, trying to calm the situation.

“Don’t beg, bitch. Either you start sucking my cock right now or I’ll strangle you where you lie.”

I looked up into his face. I didn’t know what to do. I had no choice.