My hands trêmbled as I stared at the pregnancy test on the counter. Two pink lines. Positive. The room felt like it was closing in around me, the walls pressing down on my chest. This couldn’t be happening.
Just one week ago, I had made the biggest mistake of my life. Richard, my boyfriend of two years, had been away on a business trip, and his father, Henry, had invited me over for dinner. At first, it seemed innocent, a kind gesture from a man who’s always willing to freely donate his kindness, resources, and time. But by the end of the evening, that kindness had turned into something darker.
I replayed the events in my head like a nightmare on repeat. The way he had poured me glass after glass of wine, the subtle compliments that turned suggestive, and then the moment when his hand unwillingly departed mine too long. I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened.
“It’s just us, Debbie, and no one will ever know.”
I can recall, he had whispered, his voice low and commanding.
I didn’t know how it happened. It felt like a haze, like I had been drâgged into a world I didn’t belong to, one I couldn’t escàpe from. And now, a week later, I was holding the evidence of that night in my hands.
The pregnancy test didn’t just confirm my wôrst fear, it cha!ined me to Henry Montgomery forever.
It wasn’t only the fêar of Richard finding out about it; it was also the realization that this was my first pregnancy and the beautiful first fruit of my womb that I was deciding to ènd. Furthermore, as a born Catholic, my doctrine emphasizes how firmly God prohibits abortion.
So, what could I do?
I paced the apartment, my thoughts racing. I couldn’t tell Richard. He adored his father, saw him as a role model. If he knew what Henry had done, it would destroy him and us.
There was only one solution: I had to get rîd of the baby before Richard returned. I had no choice.
I dialed the clinic’s hotline, my heart pôunding as the phone rang.
“Good morning, this is Harmony Women’s Health. How can I help you?”
The voice of a lady came through.
“I… I need to make an appointment,” I stàmmered. “For a termination.”
The receptionist’s voice was kind, but the weight of the conversation crùshed me. As I hung up, têars streamed down my face. This wasn’t how my life was supposed to be.
That evening, as I sat on the couch, thinking of what in the world to do, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Henry.
“We need to talk. Don’t do anything you’ll regrét. I’m on my way.”
My blôôd turned cold. I hadn’t told him about the pregnancy. How did he know?
Minutes later, a knòck echoed through my apartment. I opened the door to find Henry standing there, his expression as composed as ever.
“Debbie,” he said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. “We have a problem.”
“You mean i have a problem,” I snãpped, my voice trem-bling. “You did this to me, Henry. You manîpulated me, and now my lìfe is falling apart!”
He raised a hand, silencing me. “Calm down. Let’s not be dramatic.”
“Dramatic? I’m pregnànt, Henry! Your son is coming back in two days, and I—”
“You’re keeping it. You maybe wondering how i knew about this your abôr-tion plan right? I’m a statesman, therefore there is nothing going on in this country that we statesmen don’t know about Debbie.” he intèrrupted, his tone firm.
I frôze. “What?”
“You heard me. That child is a Montgomery. You’re not getting rîd of it.”
My stomach stirred with a mix of fèar and fury. “You don’t get to decide that. It’s my body, my lîfe!”
Henry stepped closer, his eyes dark and pierc-i-ng. “You think this is just about you? This is bigger than your little relationship with Richard. That child is mine, and I wôn’t let you erase it.”
I backed away, my breath hitching. “You can’t fôrce me to do this. Besides, Richard is your son! How can you do that to your own son? I mean.. how can we, Mr. Montgomery?”
I shook my héad in disbelief.
Henry’s smile was cold and calculating. “Oh, Debbie, you’d be surprised at what I can do. But let’s not make this uglier than it has to be. If you cooperate, I’ll make sure you’re taken care of. Finàncially. Discréetly. No one will ever have to know.”
“And what if I don’t?” I whispered, barely able to get the words out.
His expression hardened. “Then you’ll find out what happens when someone cròsses me.”
After he left, I sat in the darkness of my apartment, paralyzed by fèar. I couldn’t keep the baby. I couldn’t face Richard. But defyîng Henry felt like signing my own deat-h sentence.
I had to make a choice.
To be continued………
Entangled Decission (Episode One )
Written by: ©️ Yùñg Tygä
