First, it started with tiredness in the morning, constant headaches, and then it graduated to the feeling of nausea, but now I’m a week late. My period is never late. I look from Sarah to the pregnancy test kit in her hands.

“You’ve been staring at this kit for about fifteen minutes; you’ll have to take the test, you know.”

I let out a sigh, took the test from and went into the bathroom. I came out with shaky hands, waiting for the results to show. I closed my eyes, praying silently, but for what? I really don’t know, but I’m sure as hell very nervous. I opened my eyes to look at the results, and it showed positive. For a moment, I was stunned, short words, a myriad of feelings coming at all at once.

“What does it say? Mrs. Lorah? Are you okay?”

I couldn’t respond to any of her questions until she tapped, and I snapped out of the haze.

“Positive, it shows positive, I’m pregnant, Sarah,” I said in a half whisper.

“Wow, congratulations, ma’am,” Sarah said with a smile that didn’t meet her eyes. She looked worried.

A life growing inside of me, maybe this was the miracle I had been waiting for to save my marriage, the reason to keep going.

I look at Sarah and hold her hands. “This is a good thing, children are blessings from the lord, now Austin and I share something”. I smiled.

Sarah pulled me in for a hug, and I understood her silence better; she had seen me go through a lot in the hands of Austin, and now, with a baby on the way, she was concerned it would only get worse, but this could change Austin.

Sarah pulled away and said, “I have to get back to the kitchen, but know that I’m happy for you, and please don’t hesitate to call me for anything.” She gave my hand a small squeeze, then she turned and left the room.

I caught my reflection in the mirror, and I looked different-brighter, and less of a ghost.

I need to tell Stephan.

I made my way through the long halls, the house eerily quiet as usual except for signs of the servants moving about doing their chores.

The room smelled like amber and oud when I entered. I had taken two diffusers with me the last time I visited him, to make it a bit more homely for him. Stephan was by the window, standing without the help of his cane. The morning light caught the features of his face; he had gained more weight.

“Lorah,” he said, “you’re here.”

“Yes, I woke up early today”.

He swept his gaze over my face, “Are you okay?, You usually don’t come around this time of the day.”

“I’m fine.” I moved closer to the bed and sat on it. “I have something to tell you”.

He raised an eyebrow and gestured for me to continue.

“I’m pregnant.”

Those words hung in the air, between us, for a minute; he said nothing.

When he finally spoke, he said, “Oh, I see.”

“That is all you have to say?” I asked.

“What would you have me say?” he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms across his chest.

“You could say congratulations for starters and be happy for me”.

“Do you think this changes things?” he said, pointing at my belly.

“It might,” I insisted. “It might change him”.

He turned towards the window, staring at the rose garden. “You think the presence of a child changes a man like Austin, who thrives on cruelty?”.

“What makes you think he won’t be cruel to the child as well?”

His words hurt deeper than I thought they would. I wrapped my hands around myself, protectively. “I need something to hold on to, otherwise there’s nothing left to keep me going.”

He stared at me for a while as if contemplating what to say to me, and his voice softened. “I know you’ve been through so much, and it seems this pregnancy is the only good thing that has happened to you so far since you married Austin.”

“Then why do you sound like you’re not happy? Do you pity me?”

“No, I don’t pity you,” he said quietly.

“I came here because I thought you’d be happy for me.”

He stepped away from the window and stepped closer. “I’m just… worried about”

“Worried?”

“He’ll see the child like another one of his assets, he’ll raise the child to be like him, and I don’t want you to see that happen.”

“The weight of the truth sank in my stomach. “Do you think he’ll really do that to our child?”.

Stephan’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t think my brother has any problems with using anyone for his own selfish purposes.”

The tension in the room thickened, the silence between us stretched.

I wanted to tell him that he’s wrong, but deep in my heart, a part of me that still hurts from the numerous betrayals, ached, and knew he was right.

Regardless, I couldn’t let him rob me of the only hope I had.

“This child is mine and I’ll protect it.”

Stephan let out a sigh, walked to a shelf in the room, and pulled a book out. “If you’re going to do this, you’ll need ammunition.”

“Ammunition?”

“Yes, this book contains what you need to protect yourself and the child when the need arises”.

I opened the notebook, and the pages were filled with records of names, offshore accounts, and traces of money laundering. This is evidence of Austin’s deceit. I look up at Stephan, unsure.

“Why are you doing this? Why are you helping me? I’m married to someone you loath, whom you’re planning to bring down, how do I know I’m also not a pawn in your game?”.

He moved closer to me, held my hands, and caressed them softly. It felt electric, and cold shivers ran down my spine. He said gently

“Take that book with you, Lorah, read everything, and decide if you want to trust me. My brother has kept me locked in here for months on life support, and I know it's for a reason, which I intend to also find out. The feud between my brother and me has nothing to do with you; you are a kind, sweet person. I think it’s pretty obvious that you have a good heart. I would never hurt the little one”.

Not trusting myself to speak, I simply nodded, gripping the notebook tightly, I turned to leave, maybe Stephan was right, or maybe not. But one thing is clear. I’ll do anything to protect my child.

I pushed open my bedroom door, and I froze.

Austin.