Chapter 2 - Three Forced Abortions: My Husband Watched Them Kill Our Babies

Ruby's POV

"Tell me why you want to KILL our baby!"

I hurled the stack of medical reports at Joseph's chest.

He was supposed to take me for the abortion this morning. Instead, he stood there, face dark as thunder, staring at the scattered papers on the floor.

Last night, after everyone went to bed, I'd snuck out to three different hospitals for thorough testing. Every single report said the same thing: My baby was healthy.

Joseph picked up one of the reports, his knuckles white. "Where did you get these?"

"Does it MATTER?" I was shaking all over. "LOOK at them! My baby is HEALTHY! There's nothing wrong with him!"

"What do these random hospitals know?" He crumpled the report into a ball. "We went to top specialists—"

"THREE hospitals! THREE!" I screamed. "How long are you going to keep LYING to me?!"

Joseph froze, his face turning ashen.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. Maybe it was a misunderstanding. Maybe Joseph thought I'd cheated on him. I couldn't believe he'd actually want to kill his own child.

"Joseph, look at me." I held up the DNA test results. "99.9% match. This is YOUR baby. I never betrayed you. Not ONCE."

He stared at that report for a long time.

Long enough that I thought he'd apologize, say this was all a terrible mistake.

Then he looked up and said, word by word:

"The pregnancy is being terminated."

"What?" I must have heard wrong. "What...what are you saying?"

"I said," he continued, "the pregnancy is being terminated."

"Are you INSANE?!" I stepped back, feeling like the whole world had gone mad. "You KNOW he's yours, that he's healthy—why would you—"

"That's enough." Margaret and Robert appeared at the top of the stairs. "Ruby, stop this nonsense."

"Mom! Dad!" I rushed toward them, shoving the reports into Margaret's hands. "Look! The baby's FINE! We don't have to—"

Margaret glanced at the reports, then turned toward the fireplace.

"NO!" I tried to stop her, but Robert's hand clamped around my arm like a vise.

I watched helplessly as those reports were fed into the flames, one by one.

"You're ALL CRAZY!" I screamed, breaking down. "This is the grandson you've been waiting THREE YEARS for! You've been pushing me to get pregnant more than anyone—why NOW—"

"This ends today." Margaret's voice was ice-cold.

"I won't let him die!" I struggled desperately. "NEVER!"

Robert released me and pulled a stack of bills from the desk drawer, throwing them at my feet.

"Your mother's chemo—a hundred thousand a month." His voice was cold. "If you don't terminate this pregnancy, we stop paying."

My mom was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer last year. The treatment costs were astronomical. The Millers had been covering everything.

"You're...you're using my mother's LIFE to blackmail me?"

"Ruby, think about what matters more," Margaret said.

"I can make the money myself!" I clutched my belly, voice shaking. "I can—"

"A hundred grand a month, Ruby." Robert cut me off. "How much do you make in a year?"

"You're ALL SICK..."

"The car's waiting outside." Joseph checked his watch. "We're leaving now."

Two bodyguards entered from the hallway and grabbed my arms.

"NO! Let me GO!" I fought them, but they were too strong.

They dragged me out the door and shoved me into the car.

The black sedan's leather seats felt cold against my skin. The two bodyguards sandwiched me between them. Joseph sat in the passenger seat.

I stared out the window at the blurring streetscape. I had to escape. Had to protect my baby.

Red light. The car slowed.

Now.

I bit down HARD on the right guard's hand. As he yelped, I threw all my weight against the door and tumbled out.

"RUBY!" Joseph's roar echoed behind me. "Stop RIGHT NOW!"

I hit the asphalt, pain shooting through my knee. Horns blared. Someone screamed. But I didn't care—I scrambled up and ran.

I ducked into an alley, crouched behind a dumpster, fumbling for my phone with trembling hands.

Only one person left. Only he could help me.

"David..." The call connected and I could barely speak. "Save me...they want to kill my baby..."

"WHAT?! Those BASTARDS!" David's voice exploded with fury. "Ruby, where are you? I'm coming RIGHT NOW!"

"Fifth Street...hurry..."

"Twenty minutes! Don't move!"

I huddled against the wall, arms wrapped around my belly. Every second felt like an eternity.

David would come. My brother would protect me.

Twenty minutes later, I saw that familiar Honda pull up at the mouth of the alley.

"David!"

My brother climbed out of the driver's seat. I nearly cried with relief, running toward him—

Then Joseph stepped out from behind the car.