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“But your stomach doesn’t hurt, does it?”
I blink some of the tears away, trying to look at his face, and make sense of what he’s trying to tell me. A smile tucks on his lips, and when I finally stop fighting him, he released my wrists. No, now that I’m concentrating on feeling each part of my body, I realize that he is right. My lower abdomen doesn’t hurt, and there is no soreness between my legs. If I’d had an abortion, wouldn’t I feel both?
“The baby?”
“Still inside of you,” Matt says. “I paid off the doctor. He just pretended to do the abortion. The baby is fine.” I watch his face carefully, looking for any indication that he is lying, but his eyes are genuine, his smile is kind, and his voice is gentle.
“I’m… I’m still pregnant?” I ask again, needing to confirm, even though deep inside, I already know the answer.
“Yes, you are still pregnant, and now with your dad off your back, you should be able to stay that way too.”
I tuck my arm under the blanket to put my hand on my still flat stomach, rubbing the skin there like the baby could somehow feel it. “Why? Why did you help me?”
“I told you I would. What your dad did was unforgivable, and I couldn’t watch him go through with it. He went too far, even for my standards, and I’m a pretty big asshole.”
I used to think so too. I thought Matt was a huge jerk, and maybe he still is by other standards, but after he risked going against my father to help me, I can’t feel anything but gratitude toward him.
“So, what now? He is going to find out eventually.”
“Honestly, I haven’t thought that far ahead. I don’t know how to get you out of here without your father knowing I helped you.”
“Thank you, really, thank you, I don’t know how I can ever repay you for what you did. It’s not your fault that my father is this way, and I’m not your responsibility. I’m no one’s responsibility. Not even the Bishops. I will get out of this on my own. I will fight my father. I won’t let him control me and the people around me anymore. I won’t let him continue using you, or anyone else for that matter. I’m going to be the one to put an end to his reign.”
“This is dangerous, Harlow, going against your father. He has resources, money, people.” Matt sounds almost afraid, and that strikes something inside of me. Even the most powerful of people have a weakness, and while my father has all the things he needs to destroy me, I have the determination needed to fight back.
I’m done being afraid. Done worrying about what might happen next. If I don’t, at least try to fight him, I’ll never escape. I’ll never really be free.
“I can’t stay here, Matt, I can’t stay with you, you know that. Not only because of the baby, but because of my father. I won’t be stuck under his thumb. I won’t be married off or tossed away like garbage.”
Matt scrubs a hand down his face in frustration, and a little piece of my heart feels bad for putting him in this situation.
“I won’t force you to do anything, and I’ll do what I can to help you, but I can’t make any promises,” he finally says.
“That’s all I’m asking for. That’s all I need. I’ll do the rest on my own.”
Now all I need to do is come up with a plan.
14
Neither one of my parents came back to the hospital today, and I am more than happy they didn’t. I don’t think I could stand to be in the same room with either one of them right now.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay on your own?” Matt asks for the third, and hopefully, final time.
“Yes, I promise. They need you at that meeting so go to work. I’ve held up enough of your time.” The truth is, even though I now value Matt’s company, I want him to leave. I don’t want my father to think that he helped me escape. The last thing I want is anyone else to get hurt.
“I’ll only be a few hours, then I’ll come back and pick you up. Your father has reluctantly agreed on you staying with me,” Matt says while slipping his arms into his jacket.
“Okay…” I try to force a smile when he glances my way, but I don’t think it’s very convincing.
“You know, your dad has two guards posted outside that door at all times?” Matt sighs. Of course, he’s figured it out. He’s intuitive like that. I’m glad he’s not trying to stop me.
“I know. I mean, I figured. Thanks for the heads up.”
