Chapter 2 Resistance?

Jolene's lips parted slightly as she stared at Benjamin in shock. "That's impossible. It can't be."

She knew Sienna had faked the video that ruined her, but there was no way Sienna could produce a real test report.

"Benjamin, please."

This was the hundredth time she'd lowered herself to beg. "Just believe me this once. Don't trust Sienna. She faked the video, and the test results too."

A sharp slap cracked through the air.

Jolene froze. Seconds later, she realized he'd hit her again—harder this time. Half her face burned, and her right ear went dead.

"You think Sienna would lie to me?"

Benjamin narrowed his eyes and pulled out of her.

He straightened his clothes. The rage around him settled into something colder. His face went blank, empty. That version of him was worse than any fury.

The way he adjusted his tie made her blood run cold.

Jolene trembled and tried to back away, but he wouldn't let her escape.

"Bring it."

The bartender handed him a collar. Benjamin fastened it around Jolene's neck.

He hauled her up and slammed her down on the floor.

Jolene curled around her swollen belly, one hand cradling it, the other braced against the ground—a pathetic, kneeling shape.

The collar tightened. Suffocation washed over her. Her vision darkened. All she could hear was her own frantic heartbeat.

Was he going to kill her?

After an eternity, Benjamin loosened his grip. Jolene gasped and crawled forward, but the collar yanked taut again.

"Keep crawling?" His voice dripped with mockery. "Let everyone see what you are. A woman with no shame."

A hard kick to her inner thigh forced her to move. The weight of her belly dragged at her body, sending aches through her ribs.

As she crawled, the sole of his shoe ground between her legs. Pain nearly made her black out.

Jolene's mouth hung open, but no sound came out.

The crowd pulled out their phones, voices full of mockery and filth.

Only then did she understand: this was worse than death. Living hurt more.

She wanted to end it—her and the baby together.

She closed her eyes and curled up, arms around her belly.

"You think you can just give up?"

Benjamin yanked the collar again, dragging her back to her knees.

Her neck was about to snap. He let her almost suffocate, then loosened just enough for air to rush back in.

"Benjamin..."

A raw scream tore from her throat. Bloodshot eyes, she lunged for a nearby wine rack.

Bottles crashed to the floor. Glass shattered inches from her face. One more lunge and it would all be over.

But he grabbed her hair and wrenched her back.

"You want to die? I won't let you."

Despair crushed her. Even death wasn't hers to choose.

Benjamin forced her head down. Her knees and shins pressed into broken glass and cold liquor. Blood seeped out.

"Do you understand that you were wrong?" His voice came from above, barely restrained. "Bow your head and admit it. I haven't given you permission to die."

Then a cramp hit—ten times worse than before.

Her lower abdomen tightened rhythmically. Warm liquid ran down her legs.

She touched it and froze. Eight months pregnant. Her water had broken early.

If not for the abuse, the baby would never have come this soon. Without a hospital, the fetus would die.

Maternal instinct cut through the despair. She couldn't give up.

"Benjamin!" She turned her head with the last of her strength. "My water broke. I was wrong. Please take me to a hospital. Just let the baby be born safely, and I'll take any punishment."

He only smiled. Mocking.

"Give birth safely? You don't deserve that."

"Aren't you good at acting? Then do it here. In this bar."

Jolene stared at him.

The doctor had warned her: abnormal position. Natural delivery would be nearly impossible. Staying here would kill them both.

"Benjamin, please..."

She had nothing left.

Another contraction. She cried out, the instinct to push taking over. She rolled onto her back and spread her legs.

Glass shards cut into her spine. Blood kept seeping.

In the crowd, people turned away. Most of the men left.

Her cervix dilated slowly. The amniotic fluid was almost gone. She had no strength left, but the baby wouldn't come.

"Save us..."

More blood gushed out. The thick, coppery smell filled the air. For a flash, she saw shock in Benjamin's eyes as blood poured from her body.

The crowd backed away. Someone shouted, "She's hemorrhaging!"

Were they both going to die here?

As her vision faded, two people in medical uniforms rushed over and knelt beside her.

"Mr. White, the fetus is in an abnormal position. We need to do a C-section now, or the baby will die."

"Do it." Benjamin's face was dark, his body rigid with cold fury. "Right here."

"Mr. White?" The doctor's eyes went wide. "There's no anesthesia. No monitors—"

"Then do it without anesthesia."

"She won't survive the pain. She'll die."

Benjamin's fist slammed into the doctor's face.

"Do the surgery, or I'll do the same to you."

The doctor didn't argue again. Jolene, barely conscious on the bloody floor, whispered, "Benjamin... don't hurt him..."

Her voice was barely audible, but Benjamin heard.

Fresh rage ignited. He grabbed her neck and lifted her up. Blood streamed down her legs.

"You're still defending him? You'd seduce anyone, wouldn't you? You shameless whore."

He carried her to the center of the stage. "You love showing off so much? Stay here. Let everyone get a good look."

Rope bound her wrists. They hoisted her into the air. Blood dripped from her body, pooling on the floor below.

Pain from everywhere at once—her back, her belly, her neck, between her legs. Her mind drifted. Why was she still alive?

Then another cramp seized her belly. She found a sudden, impossible strength.

The fetus slid out of her and fell into the pool of blood on the floor.