The day my water broke, Samuel Mendez's pregnant first love stormed into the house. She was seven months along.

I clenched my teeth through the contractions and stumbled to him, begging him to take me to the hospital.

But he shoved me aside, scooped up Isabelle Ortiz—her hand pressed to her belly, her skirt damp with blood—and looked at me with nothing but contempt.

"Megan, I gave you the status of Mrs. Mendez and everything you wanted. How can you make a scene over something like this?

"She's bleeding, the baby isn't full term, and she's in pain. How could you be so cruel as to wish her harm?"

Warm fluid ran down my thighs as pain blurred my vision. I clutched his pant leg, sank to my knees, and begged with a trembling voice.

"I'm in labor. I can't hold on..."

But he kicked me aside without hesitation, his eyes ice-cold.

"Her ex-husband ruined her. Her parents just died in a car crash. This child may be her only chance.

"You hang on—I'll take her to the hospital and come back for you later."

***

He left in a rush, his back disappearing down the hall.

My abdomen buckled as if every ounce of strength had been ripped away.

I collapsed onto the floor. Amniotic fluid spread into a dark, wet circle beneath me.

I weakly raised my hand and croaked to one of the maids nearby, Susan Zamora.

"Get me to a hospital..."

Susan looked helpless.

"Mrs. Mendez, Mr. Mendez specifically ordered that we wait for him. I can't—"

"You can't?" I pressed, clutching my belly as another contraction hit.

"If something happens to me or the baby, Mr. Mendez will never forgive you. Take me to the hospital—now!"

Susan finally ran for help, but was stopped at the door by Samuel's personal assistant, Dylan Clarke.

"Mr. Clarke, Mrs. Mendez is in labor. We need to get her to the hospital," she pleaded.

Dylan glanced down at the pooled fluid and then at my contorted face.

His voice was flat as he said, "Mr. Mendez said to wait until he returns. Mrs. Mendez is just overreacting—help her into bed and let her rest."

"If we wait any longer, the baby could be lost! Do you want that on your conscience?"

I shouted while pointing at him despite the pain.

Dylan forced a polite smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Mr. Mendez is with Ms. Ortiz at the hospital to try to save her baby. He insisted you wait.

"You know how Mr. Mendez is; nobody dares to cross him."

"I'm about to give birth—this baby can't wait!"

The contractions hit again, like a knife twisting in my lower belly.

I curled around the pain; cold sweat soaked through my clothes in an instant.

"What are you standing there for? Get her to the bed!" Dylan barked.

Two maids grabbed my arms and dragged me toward the bedroom, ignoring the agony tearing through my body.

Then warm fluid trickled down. I looked down—blood.

"Blood! I'm bleeding!" I grabbed one of the maids like a madwoman and screamed.

"Take me to the hospital now! If we wait any longer, the baby will be in danger!"

"We can't decide that, Mrs. Mendez. I'll call the family doctor first."

Susan pried my hand away, guilt written over their face.

"No! Don't call the family doctor. Take me to the hospital!" I cried.

"Mrs. Mendez, please don't get upset. I'll go get Mr. Clarke."

Susan fled in a panic.

The pain cut through me to the bone. The mattress, soaked with blood and amniotic fluid, clung to me.

Seconds crawled by with no help in sight.

I dragged myself to the bedside and grabbed Miriam Stafford's sleeve, crying, "Miriam, please come check on me. I can't hold on—"

She nodded, worry all over her face.

"Mrs. Mendez, hold on. I'll push them."

But she was stopped by Dylan as he stepped in.

His gaze flicked to the bloodstained blanket and hesitated for a heartbeat before hardening into indifference.

"Let Dr. Gilmore check on her first," he said.

No sooner had he spoken than Kayden Gilmore entered with his medical kit. Several maids pinned my struggling limbs down.

"Let go of me! I'm going to the hospital!" I twisted and sobbed, tears mixed with sweat.

"You can't risk the child!"

Kayden examined me expressionlessly. He handed Miriam a few white pills. "Give these to her."

"What is that?" I shook my head, frantic. "I won't take them! Are you trying to kill my baby?"

"They are used to slow labor. The contractions will ease after you take them."

"No! That'll cut off my baby's oxygen!" I cried.

Kayden remained expressionless without uttering a single word.

"Dr. Gilmore, your wife's about to give birth too, right? If she were the one lying here, would you still give her this drug? Aren't you afraid of the consequences?"

I turned to Dylan, choking between contractions.

"Dylan, if anything happens to me or the baby, it's on you. Samuel will never let you off."

Kayden and Dylan exchanged looks. They had just agreed to take me to the hospital when Dylan's phone rang. It was Samuel.

He answered, and he didn't hesitate anymore.

"Mrs. Mendez, you heard Mr. Mendez," Dylan said, voice hollow. "He insists we wait for him to return. It's not that I won't help. You know I can't defy him."

He shot Miriam a look.

Two maids forced my shoulders down and pried my mouth open; Miriam shoved the pills in.

I gagged and vomited, but the pills slid down my throat.

Silent tears streaked my face as I stared up at the ceiling and then, absurdly, laughed—bitter and wild until the tears flowed harder.

"Fine. Remember today. If my child dies, I'll come for you all in the next life. I'll drag you to hell with me!"

"Mrs. Mendez is unstable. Give her a sedative so she won't hurt herself or the baby. Miriam, keep an eye on her."

Dylan frowned. He spoke to Kayden and Miriam, then turned away.

I stopped fighting and let the thick needle slide into my arm.

In Samuel's world, his first love mattered more than his flesh and blood.

He had chosen to protect the other woman's child while letting his own teeter on death's edge.

The depth of my despair matched the depth of my regret—how I had vowed to marry him even at the cost of everything.

I had believed that if I were good enough, he would love me back.

Sometimes I thought he did. Now I knew that he didn't.

Not even carrying his child could buy an ounce of his concern.

I placed my hand on the hollow rise of my belly. The sheets were soaked through with blood and amniotic fluid.

I closed my eyes, tears wet on my cheeks.

"Samuel, if anything happens to my child, I will never forgive you!"

Maybe the pills were starting to work, because the contractions eased a little.

But the blood kept gushing out beneath me, and I lay there helpless, drained of all strength.

Through the haze, I heard Miriam calling, "Mr. Mendez!"

A flicker of hope lit up in my chest.

He had softened. He was finally going to send me to the hospital.

He still cared about me and our baby.

I clawed at what was left of my strength and shouted toward Miriam's phone.

"Samuel! Please, tell them to take me to the hospital! The baby can't survive like this!"

Miriam hit the speakerphone. But instead of his voice, a soft, smug female voice floated out—Isabelle.

"Meggy, hang in there. Sammy is with me right now. He can't be there for you."

She paused, then lazily told Miriam, "Take good care of her. Make sure she behaves—just like Sammy said."

"Isabella, let me speak to Samuel..."

Before I could finish, a hand clamped hard over my mouth, muffling my words into desperate, broken whimpers.

Miriam's tone turned syrupy as she cooed into the phone.

"Don't worry, Ms. Ortiz. She's already taken the medication to delay labor. We'll follow Mr. Mendez's instructions to the letter."

"Good." Isabelle's voice dripped with triumph. "If she's still in pain, I know a way to stop the contractions and hold the baby in until Sammy gets back."

"What way?" Miriam asked, nervous.

I held my breath, eyes locked on the phone, waiting to hear what vicious idea she would come up with next.

Her tone turned sharp and cruel.

"Hang her upside down—head down, feet up. In five minutes, the baby will pull back. Then tie a rope tight around her belly. That'll buy us time. If it still doesn't work..."

She deliberately raised her voice. "Sew her up if you have to—whatever it takes. Just make sure you stall until Sammy gets back."

I shook my head violently, muffled cries breaking from my throat.

Miriam froze, her face pale, sweat pouring down her temples.

"Ms. Ortiz, that's too much. Something could happen..."

"How could it?" Isabelle sneered.

"Where I'm from, women do it all the time to time their births. Babies are resilient."

She paused and continued, "Sammy is right here with me. It's his idea.

"He said she needs to be taught a lesson about jealousy. And he told me to protect my child at all costs. If you go soft and something happens to me, Sammy will never forgive you."

I tore myself from the maids' grip, blood streaming down my legs, screaming, "No! Samuel would never do this to me or our baby!

"You're lying, you vicious woman! Miriam, don't listen to her!"

Two maids slammed me back down. Tears blurred my vision as I stared at Miriam, pleading.

"You're a mother too. Can you really do this to my child?"

Miriam trembled violently, her hand with the phone shaking.

Isabelle pressed on, her voice like ice. "Sammy's about to divorce her. Think about what matters more."

Then, the line went dead.

After a brief, heavy silence, Miriam suddenly turned to the maids and gave an order.

"Let her go."

Relief flooded me. She had chosen her conscience. Weakly, I reached out, "Miriam, hurry, take me to the hospital. There's still time—"

But she turned her face away, refusing to meet my eyes.

"Bring the ropes," she ordered flatly.

Terror clamped my chest. "Miriam, what are you doing? You can't—"

But she acted as if she hadn't heard me, and the next second two maids forced me down against the bed, pinning me hard in place.

The rough rope dug into my wrists and ankles, carving grooves that bled right away.

Every movement felt like my flesh being ripped open.

"This is for your own good, Mrs. Mendez. Hold on a little longer," Miriam muttered.

Then she barked at the maids, "Bring in the iron rack."

"For my own good?" Tears streamed down my face.

"Don't believe Isabelle's lies! Samuel would never do this to me! He swore he would never hurt me!"

No one answered. The iron rack clanged into the room.

They yanked me by the arms, dragging me forcefully toward the frame.

A long smear of blood streaked across the floor in their wake.

The baby inside me seemed to sense the danger, suddenly kicking and thrashing wildly against my belly.

Another wave of searing contractions tore through me, leaving me gasping for breath.

Then they hoisted me upside down and hung me from the iron frame.

My head roared as if it might split, the baby slammed violently against my womb, and black spots suddenly swam across my vision.

Tears ran down my forehead into my sticky hair.

"Samuel, please come back. Look at me! Are you really this cruel?

"Samuel, I can't hold on... The baby..."

Through the haze, I thought I saw him walking toward me, smiling like before, kissing my forehead, whispering, "Meggy, I'll protect you both. Don't cry.

"Meggy, I'd give up everything, even my life for you."

I reached for him, trembling. But my hands caught nothing but air.

The rope cutting into my lower belly snapped me back to awareness with searing pain.

Moments later, the housekeepers yanked me off the iron rack and slammed me onto the floor so hard it felt like my bones might break.

The ropes tied around my abdomen dug into my flesh, making the contractions even worse.

The tighter I curled, the more the rope dug in, as if it were squeezing every organ to pieces.

Then a ripping, descending pain hit me. My hand shook as I waved at Miriam.

"Please! I'm crowning... The baby is coming!"

Susan rushed in, gasped, and screamed, "Miriam, she's crowning! Get her to the hospital now!"

Miriam's face went ashen, but she only paced, doing nothing.

I stared at her, every inch of me burning with pain.

"Please! If you wait, the baby will die!"

She lifted her hand slowly, her eyes suddenly cold.

"Bring the thread and needle. Sew her up first."

"No!" Susan dove in front of me, arms out, trying to shield me.

"You'll kill Mrs. Mendez and the baby! If you want to sew someone, sew through me first!"

"How dare you disobey Mr. Mendez's orders?" Miriam snapped.

"But there's blood—" Susan sobbed. "How can you be so heartless?"

"If we cross Mr. Mendez and Ms. Ortiz, none of us will live to see another day!" Miriam hissed.

"Tie her down. Don't let her interfere!"

Two maids rushed in, dragging Susan toward the iron rack.

They taped her mouth shut. Her eyes went bloodshot as she fought wildly, and the iron frame crashed down onto her back with a brutal thud.

She curled on the floor, convulsing, then went completely still.

I bit through the pain and screamed, raw and furious, "Let her go! You vicious monsters! I hope you all rot!"

The next instant, tape was slammed over my mouth.

Miriam took the needle and thread, peeled back my skirt, and drove the long needle into the flesh between my legs.

The pain exploded and spread through my whole body like a blade ripping me apart.

I shook my head violently, tears and sweat streaming.

The maids pinned my limbs so tight I couldn't move a finger.

"This is just stitching, Mrs. Mendez. It won't leave a scar." Miriam's face was blank as the needle in her hand continued to pierce deeper.

"We won't use anesthesia; childbirth is worse than this. Endure it, and once Mr. Mendez returns, we'll take you to the hospital."

I stared at this pack of heartless people, then shut my eyes and let go of the fight.

Just then, the door was kicked open.

"What are you doing? Stop this now!"