Chapter 1

It was my second year married to Matthew Quinn when he locked me, nine months pregnant, in the basement and left me at the mercy of a homeless man.

He sneered, "You tricked my mother into making me marry you. Because of you, I lost all those years I could've been with Sharon. Now that my mom is finally resting in peace, it's your turn to pay.

"Let's see how you like the homeless man I picked out for you."

Sharon Carter leaned against Matthew and asked his friends, "You're not still betting on whether she'll lose the baby, are you?"

He stroked her pregnant belly and immediately placed his bet, saying that people like my unborn baby and me were built to stick it out through anything.

The others burst out laughing, shouting out outrageous bets.

The baby was kicking hard inside me. I crawled over to Matthew, clinging desperately to his leg.

I begged, "Please, just let me go. I don't want anything. I'll leave right now. You'll never see me or the baby again."

But he just kicked me away, pulling Sharon behind him protectively.

"Don't even try," he snapped. "My mom's gone, and your little games won't work on anyone now. You drugged me and got yourself pregnant just to con my mom into giving you a bigger cut of the inheritance, didn't you?

"We've kept you under our roof all these years, and this is how you repay us? You brought this on yourself."

He added, "But I'll give you one last shot. If you and the baby make it through the night so I win my bet, I'll let you out. You can come out and listen as my mom's will is read."

I tried desperately to explain, "I swear, I didn't do it. I was set up that night too."

But Matthew didn't listen. He just tossed a bag of cash to the homeless man and left with the others, without looking back.

He didn't hear a word of what I said next.

I said, "I've already found my real parents, and I promised to go back to Lumora with them. I only stayed this long to be with Mom in her final days, to thank her for everything she's done for me. I already booked my flight for tonight.

"Matthew, that marriage certificate between us? I forged it myself."

*****

My belly kept tightening, the pain coming in relentless waves.

I knew for sure Matthew's kick had injured my baby. I was going into labor way too early.

But the homeless man, covered in filth and stinking to high heaven, started moving toward me.

My hands and feet were tied up, so I couldn't even crawl away. Matthew had taken my phone. There was no way to reach anyone outside.

All I could do was try to cut a deal with him.

I pleaded, "Don't come any closer. I can give you money. Whatever Matthew gave you, I'll double it. Name your price. Just let me go."

But my words didn't stop him. The homeless man kept moving closer.

Finally, he leaned in, his breath reeking of alcohol and filth, hot against my ear.

He whispered, "You really think you got money, looking like that? If you wanna live, don't even think about fighting back."

He grumbled, "Don't blame me. There's surveillance everywhere. They're watching us. If I don't do this, I won't get paid."

Instinctively, I twisted my head and bit down hard on his ear.

The rank, bloody taste made me want to throw up, but I refused to let go, biting down as hard as I could.

He screamed in pain, hunched over, and swung his fist wildly at me.

He yelled, "You crazy bitch! You got a death wish or something?"

I curled up, trying to shield my baby, but he just kept hammering me with his fists.

Then my stomach seized up with pain, and I went limp.

The homeless man pulled his ear out of my mouth and went at me even more viciously, kicking and punching.

I couldn't hold back a scream as the pain in my belly kept coming in waves.

Suddenly, I felt a hot gush inside me. My water broke, spreading across the floor.

Gritting my teeth, I wrapped my arms around the homeless man's leg just as he was about to bring it down on me, desperate to stop the next kick.

I begged, "Please... Please, stop. The baby's coming.

"Matthew, I'm begging you. Let me go to the hospital."

The homeless man yanked his leg free, spat at me, and looked up at the camera.

He shouted, "Sir, what do you want me to do now?"

There was a crackle of static from the monitor.

Then Sharon's voice came through, dripping with disgust.

She said, "Ew. Looks like Cynthia wet herself. Gross."

She whined, "Is that what childbirth looks like? Matthew, I don't want to have a baby anymore. I'm so scared. I can't even imagine going through something like that."

Pain overwhelmed me. Sweat and tears mixed together, blurring my vision.

The baby, who had been kicking just moments ago, suddenly went still.

Even through the haze of pain, I could hear Matthew talking to Sharon in that gentle, doting way.

"Don't worry," he told her. "I would never let you end up like her.

"I've already booked the best OB-GYNs, state-of-the-art medical equipment, a nutritionist, a nanny, and a postpartum nurse. Everything's set. You'll be just as perfect after having the baby as you are now."

Sharon cooed, "You're so good to me."

Then she gasped sharply.

She said, "She's bleeding. That's so scary! Let's go and check on her."

My consciousness was slipping away, but the agonizing pain in my belly forced my eyes wide open.

For nine months, this little one had been a part of me. I listened to its heartbeat every day, talked to it, and even felt its tiny fists and feet pushing inside me.

In my heart, this baby was already so real to me, even if it hadn't been born yet.

Now I could feel it struggling to stay alive inside me.

I was desperate to save my baby.

I kept taking deep breaths, gritting my teeth, trying to stifle my screams.

Sharon shrieked in terror, diving into Matthew's arms. "Her... Her eyes are bulging out. That's creepy!"

Matthew gently patted her back, his voice icy as he barked out an order.

He said coldly, "Blindfold her and gag her. I don't want to see her face or hear another sound."