“In case you haven’t noticed, that’s physically impossible for me to do at this time,” I snapped.
Octavius huffed. “Oh, fine. Just try not to drip on me,” he muttered in disgust as he reached under my arms to lift me onto the table.
I can’t say what happened next was my finest moment, but he deserved it and so much more. The moment my feet were off the ground, I pretended to have another contraction while I emptied my bladder all over his legs and feet.
He dropped me onto the table and started dancing around, squealing in horror. I barely managed to contain my laughter while I watched him hurry to remove his piss soaked socks and shoes.
I should have been paying attention to the doctor and not Octavius. Had I been, I would have seen him walking toward me with a syringe in his hand.
He jabbed the needle in my arm and said, “Annelle, I’m going to put you to sleep. You need to have a C-section.” I don’t know what he gave me, but I was rapidly succumbing to it. I didn’t even get a chance to ask how he knew I needed to have a C-section without examining me first.
When I woke, I was in a lot of pain and my mind felt cloudy. I tried to sit up, but was quickly pushed back down by a large, cold hand. “You can’t get up right now, Annelle,” Octavius said.
“Where’s my baby? Did everything go okay?” I asked.
He smiled at me. He never smiled. A sick feeling washed over me. Something was wrong. I just knew it.
When he continued to smile at me, I demanded, “Tell me where my baby is!”
“I’m sorry, Annelle. Your little girl was stillborn. The doctor tried to resuscitate her, but he said she had been gone too long,” Octavius said in an almost jovial tone.
A little girl.
I had a little girl.
Had.
Had.
HAD.
“I want to see her!”
“Unfortunately, that’s not possible. We’ve already removed the carcass from the premises.”
I slapped him across the face using every bit of strength I had. “Don’t you ever call my baby a carcass again, you sadistic son of a bitch.”
I slumped back into the bed. My physical pain was all but forgotten as I was consumed with an agony I didn’t know existed. A hurt so great, no one should ever have to feel it. My little girl didn’t make it. I did everything I could to make sure she was healthy. What went wrong? What did I do? How was I going to continue living without her? Why would I want to? I didn’t even get to hold her. I didn’t get to see her. I felt like I was suffocating as unanswered questions and powerful emotions consumed me. I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t want to breathe.
I vaguely heard Octavius saying something. Then, the doctor appeared beside my bed and put something into my IV. Moments later, I slipped into the darkness, in more ways than one.
CHAPTER TEN
Annabelle
Six weeks later
“Annelle, need I remind you again that you agreed to this? I’ve been patient, but it’s time to have the wedding ceremony so we can get you pregnant. The doctor said we could start trying to conceive a child six weeks after your delivery. It’s been six weeks today. You can participate willingly, or not, I don’t really care,” Octavius said.
Annelle. I hated that fucking name, especially hearing his smarmy ass say it. Turning to face him, I smiled cruelly. “I’ve had time to give this some thought. I never agreed to marry you. I did agree to bear you a son, but I never agreed to be your wife or have sexual intercourse with you.”
He blanched. “What exactly are you saying?”
My smile grew even wider. “I’m saying I won’t marry you and there is no way in hell I will allow you to stick your dick in me. If you want me to carry your child, you need to find a cup with a lid and a magazine you’ll enjoy.”
“Watch it. I can make your life a living hell, Annelle.”
“You already have. But fine, go ahead and go back on your word. I’ll be more than happy to tell anyone and everyone around here who will listen about how you don’t stand by what you promise.”
