Chapter 5 #2
The agony dragged on for hours. I gripped the pink gem ring on my chest, its cold touch giving me strength.
Olei, Olei. I chanted it in my head. Silas said I'd have visitation. I could watch Olei grow. I wouldn't lose him.
"One more push—I see the head!" The midwife yelled, excited.
Another wave hit, my spine feeling like it'd snap. I thought I was dying, soul tearing free.
I bit my lip bloody, tasting iron, and gave it everything.
A loud cry broke out.
Something slipped free. Tears poured down—that was my baby, mine and Silas's.
"He's healthy," the midwife said, wrapping him in a soft blanket.
"Let me see him—give me Olei..." I reached out weakly, craving that warm little body.
As she started to hand him over, the door burst open. Men in black suits stormed in—Pakhan's bodyguards. One snatched the crying baby from her.
"No!" My heart seized. I screamed, raw and desperate. "Please, don't take him yet! I haven't seen him—I haven't held him!"
Ignoring the pain below, I tried to scramble off the bed.
"Hold her down," the one with Olei ordered, cold.
Two beefy guards pinned my shoulders, nailing me to the bed.
"Silas said I have visitation," I begged them. "Please, let me see my baby."
They didn't budge. The guy with Olei didn't even glance my way.
The door opened again. I stopped crying, hoping. Silas? Finally?
But it was stone-faced Pakhan and smirking Vanessa. She eyed the guard with Olei and held out her arms. He handed him over respectfully.
The baby cried in her hold. It crushed my chest like a truck, stealing my breath.
Vanessa glanced down at the infant, frowning in annoyance like his cries bugged her.
"Good job, Anthea. Your job's done. He looks healthy—Silas will be pleased," she said, looking at me.
"Where's Silas? I need to see him." My voice scraped like swallowing glass. "He promised—I'm Olei's mother forever. I have visitation."
Vanessa laughed sharply, like it was hilarious. She turned to Pakhan. "Mr. Thorne, I can't believe a surrogate tool could be this naive."
Pakhan stared at me, expressionless, like I was an ant he could squash.
"Olei?" Vanessa's eyes dripped malice. "That's what you named him? Too bad—he won't get that name."
Each word stabbed my heart's soft spot, shredding my hopes.
"Visitation," she sneered, lip curling. "You think Silas said that because he cares? Why do you think he told you that crap right before you popped?"
Dread stabbed sharper than the pain. I didn't want to hear it—I knew it'd be poison.
"He told me it was all to keep you calm, so you'd deliver a healthy kid," Vanessa dropped the bomb. "You're just a picked womb. I'm infertile, so Mr. Thorne and Silas figured this out—get a fertile bitch to birth an heir, then seal our families' marriage."
"It's not like that. He cares about me! I'm not just a container!" I gripped the ring tight, yelling. Its hardness gave me guts to fight back.
"Today's your big day—know why he's not here?" Her mockery turned to fake pity. "He only wants the kid. Doesn't want to see your face again. Your value hit zero the second that baby came out."
"No..." Tears blurred it all. I shook my head, but my walls crumbled.
Yeah, where was Silas? If he gave a damn, why wasn't he here when I was dying in pain? Why let them steal Olei? I hadn't even seen his face—just heard his cries weaken, like he was tired. Without me to soothe him, was he scared?
Vanessa delivered the final blow. "Oh, and in a month, Silas and I are getting engaged. So forget any spot here. Your job's over. Don't try clinging to him or the kid."
She turned for the door, Olei in her arms. Pinned by guards, I could only watch her take my baby.
"It's over," Pakhan said, stepping close, his old voice heavy with authority.
He pulled a check from his pocket and tossed it at me like trash. The number was huge—enough for any normal family to live easy forever. But it just chilled me to the bone.
"Take this money, grab your parents, and get out of America. Never come back, or you know what the Bratva does. Leave or die," he said, ice cold.
My tears ran dry. Where was Silas? Was this his call? Was he really this cruel?
"Please, let me stay in the city. I swear I won't show up in Silas's life or Olei's—I just want to glimpse him from afar," I begged.
"No bargaining," he said, eyes flashing bloodthirsty. "Unless you want you and your parents wiped off the map right now."
That killed my last spark. His aura reeked of countless kills, making me shake.
I knew he'd do it.
"Fine," I squeezed out after a long pause.
Pakhan snorted, pleased with my smarts, and nodded to the guards. "See her on the plane."
I looked down at the ring. Not long ago, it was my strength, proof of Silas's softness. Now it mocked my stupidity. All lies—softness, promises, visitation. Silas got my kid and my heart, then crushed it underfoot.
I hated him. I hated everyone here.
I yanked the ring off and hurled it to the floor. As it left me, my heart shattered for good.
I closed my eyes, letting darkness swallow me.
I'm sorry, Olei. My baby.