I wanted to rip it out of me.
Tear it from my body and leave it behind like every other part of myself they had destroyed.
But I couldn't.
I was trapped.
And now?
I was carrying proof that I would never escape.
Refusing to Accept It
They expected me to behave.
To accept the new rules.
To sit quietly, eat when they told me, sleep when they allowed me.
To be grateful for the "privilege" of carrying something that belonged to them.
But I wouldn't.
I refused.
I ignored their commands.
I pushed my food away every time Leo placed it in front of me.
I flinched away from Adrian's touch when he tried to test my patience.
And when Nico whispered, "You will learn to accept this," I turned my head away.
I would never accept it.
Leo's Patience Runs Out
The first time I refused to eat, Leo let it slide.
The second time, he didn't.
"Enough," he snapped, grabbing my wrist before I could shove the plate away again.
His icy-blue gaze burned into mine.
"You will eat."
I shook my head, jaw clenched.
Leo exhaled slowly, like he was trying to keep his temper in check.
"You think this is a choice?" he murmured.
I didn't answer.
I didn't have to.
He already knew.
Without warning, he pushed the fork against my lips.
"Open."
I pressed my lips together, refusing.
Leo's grip tightened on my wrist.
I waited for him to lose control, to force it down my throat like before.
But instead, he leaned in closer, his voice low and cold.
"You want to starve?" he murmured. "Fine. But the baby doesn't."
My stomach twisted violently.
I shoved the fork away, my breathing sharp. "It's not a baby."
Leo's expression didn't change.
His fingers brushed against my stomach lightly, deliberately.
"It will be."
Adrian's Taunts Cut Deeper
Adrian found my misery entertaining.
He would sit next to me, too close, too comfortable.
"Still fighting, sweetheart?" he mused, watching me with amusement.
I ignored him.
Adrian chuckled, shaking his head. "God, you're so predictable."
He reached out, his fingers brushing my stomach.
I jerked away instantly.
He laughed. "That's not gonna change anything."
I clenched my fists, my breathing sharp.
"Don't touch me."
Adrian smirked. "Oh? That's funny. Because a part of us is already inside you."
I slapped his hand away, glaring.
His smirk only widened. "There she is. I was wondering if you still had that fire."
I stood abruptly, my head spinning.
Adrian leaned back lazily. "Go ahead. Run. Break something. Throw a tantrum."
I turned on my heel, storming toward the door.
"You're just proving you still care."
I froze.
Adrian's voice was softer now, but sharper.
"If you really didn't want it, sweetheart…"
He tilted his head. "Why are you still here?"
I swallowed hard.
I hated him.
Because he was right.
Because I had tried to get rid of it. And failed.
Because no matter how much I fought, I was still carrying it.
And they knew it.
Nico's Final Test
Nico didn't force me.
Didn't push me.
Didn't taunt me.
He only waited.
Waited for me to break.
Late at night, when the others were gone, he sat beside me in silence.
I stared at the floor, my arms wrapped tightly around myself.
"You don't hate it," he finally murmured.
I stiffened. "I do."
Nico's emerald-green gaze burned into me.
"If you hated it," he said softly, "you would've tried harder."
I sucked in a sharp breath.
I had tried.
And they had stopped me.
But what if I had pushed more? What if I had fought harder?
Would it have been enough?
Would I be free?
Or was I always doomed to be exactly where I was?
Nico exhaled, his fingers ghosting over my wrist.
"It's too late now," he whispered.
I flinched.
Because he was right.
Because no matter how much I fought, it was already inside me.
And there was no escaping it now.
A Choice That Wasn't Mine
The next morning, they didn't ask me to eat.
They didn't force me to speak.
Instead, they had already made the decision for me.
Leo handed me a glass of water. Silent. Expecting.
Nico sat beside me. Watching. Waiting.
Adrian smirked from across the room. "Be a good girl, sweetheart. Take care of yourself."
Of it.
I stared at the glass, my hands trembling.
I could refuse.
I could throw it across the room, scream, fight, make them regret ever touching me.
But it wouldn't change anything.
It wouldn't stop this.
I had lost.
And now, I had to live with it.
Slowly, my fingers curled around the glass.
I lifted it to my lips.
And I drank.