Chapter 11- You have a Lot of Explaining to Do
1501 Words
Elizabeth
“Or are you going to keep testing me?”
Daniel’s voice was low, but the threat behind it was loud and clear.
I stood there, heart racing, trying my best not to let him see how scared I was.
“You’re using my brother to control me,” I said, my voice shaking. “This has nothing to do with him not being qualified. You’re punishing me because I went out with Marcus. Just admit it.”
Daniel watched me for a moment, then let out a low, mocking laugh.
“You really think I’d fire someone just because you went on one little date?” He shook his head like I was being ridiculous. “I gave your brother a job he had no business having.
He didn’t graduate college. He had no experience. I hired him purely as a favor to your family. And what did he do? He started gambling and moving money out of my company account.”
He took a slow sip of his drink, eyes never leaving mine.
“I’ve known for weeks. I could’ve called the police. I could’ve made sure he never worked anywhere again. But I didn’t. I simply removed him. And instead of thanking me for not destroying your family, you’re here accusing me.”
I felt my throat tighten. “Even if that’s true… you still should’ve told me first. He’s my brother. I had the right to know.”
Daniel stepped closer, towering over me.
“You don’t have rights here, Elizabeth. You have privileges. Privileges I gave you. The house you live in, the money your mother gets for treatment, the lifestyle your entire family enjoys — all of that comes from me. So when I tell you to do something, you do it. It’s really that simple.”
His eyes darkened.
“Stop seeing Marcus. Stop pretending you have a choice in this marriage. Go back to how things were before. Do that, and I’ll consider helping your brother. Keep pushing me… and I promise you, you will regret it.”
He stared at me for a long second, then turned away.
“I’ll be in my study. Don’t make me wait too long for your answer.”
The moment he disappeared down the hallway, I let out a shaky breath. My legs felt weak.
I couldn’t stay in this house. Not even one more minute.
I grabbed my bag and car keys and left.
By the time I reached Miguel’s apartment, my hands were still trembling.
The second I opened the door, the strong smell of alcohol hit me like a wave. Empty bottles were scattered all over the floor and table. Miguel was slouched on the couch, eyes red, clearly drunk.
He looked up at me slowly and gave a bitter, drunken laugh.
“Oh… look who’s here. My baby sister coming to save the day.”
“Miguel, what the hell happened?” I asked, closing the door behind me. “Daniel fired you. Mom called me crying. Why didn’t you answer any of my calls?”
He took a long swig from the bottle in his hand, then shrugged lazily.
“What was I supposed to say? ‘Hey sis, I stole money from my boss because I’m a gambling addict’? Yeah, that would’ve gone well.”
I walked closer, my chest hurting. “So it’s true? You really took money from the company?”
Miguel stared at the bottle for a long time before nodding.
“Yeah… it’s true. It started small. Just a little here and there. Then I kept losing and I got desperate. I kept telling myself I’d win it back and return the money.” He laughed bitterly. “Clearly that didn’t work.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“Why didn’t you just ask for help?” I whispered.
“Help?” He looked at me with glassy eyes. “From who? You? Daniel? Everyone already thinks I’m useless. I didn’t want to prove them right.”
I opened my mouth to reply, but suddenly the room started spinning. My head felt incredibly light. My vision blurred.
“Elizabeth…?” Miguel mumbled, trying to sit up straight.
My legs gave out beneath me.
Everything went black.
When I woke up, I was lying in a hospital bed. The lights were too bright and my head felt heavy.
Miguel was sitting beside me, looking much more sober now. The moment he saw my eyes open, he sat up straight.
“Elizabeth… thank God. You fainted in my apartment. I got so scared, I didn’t know what to do so I brought you here.”
Before I could say anything, a female doctor walked into the room with a gentle smile on her face.
“How are you feeling now?” she asked softly.
“Very dizzy,” I whispered. “And tired.”
The doctor nodded. “That’s understandable. Your blood pressure dropped quite low. You’ve been under a lot of stress lately, and it doesn’t look like you’ve been eating well. That combination caused you to faint.”
She paused for a moment, then her smile became warmer.
“But while you were unconscious, we ran some blood tests. I have some news for you.” She looked at me kindly. “You’re pregnant. Approximately ten weeks along.”
The words hit me like cold water.
I couldn’t speak. My mind went completely blank.
Miguel’s eyes widened in shock. “Pregnant? My sister is pregnant?”
At that exact moment, the door swung open.
Daniel stormed into the room, his face dark with a mixture of anger and worry.
His eyes immediately found me lying in the bed.
The doctor turned to him and spoke calmly, “Mr. Lancaster, your wife is pregnant. She’s about ten weeks along.”
The entire room went dead silent.
Daniel froze completely. For a few seconds, he didn’t move or speak. Then his gaze slowly shifted from the doctor to me. His eyes darkened, and his jaw tightened.
“Pregnant?” His voice was low and dangerous.
He took slow, heavy steps toward my bed, never taking his eyes off me.
“So this is what you’ve been hiding from me?” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “You’ve been carrying my child… and you didn’t think I had the right to know?”
I opened my mouth but no words came out.
Daniel stopped right beside my bed, looking down at me with an intensity that made my skin crawl.
“You’ve been walking around my house, going on dates with another man, letting him touch you… while my child is growing inside you?”
His voice dropped even lower.
“Elizabeth… you have a lot of explaining to do.”
Daniel’s words hung heavy in the room. His eyes were locked on me, waiting for an answer.
Miguel shifted uncomfortably in his chair, clearly sensing the tension. He cleared his throat and stood up.
“I’ll… I’ll wait outside,” he mumbled, avoiding Daniel’s gaze completely. “Give you two some privacy.”
The moment the door closed behind him, the room felt ten times smaller.
Daniel took a slow step toward the bed, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Pregnant?” His voice was low, almost a whisper. “Ten weeks… and you’ve been hiding this from me?”
I didn’t answer.
He let out a sharp breath and ran a hand over his face.
“So while I’ve been trying to figure out what’s wrong with you, you’ve been walking around my house carrying my child and saying nothing?”
“It’s not your child,” I said quietly.
Daniel went completely still. The look on his face changed instantly.
“What the f**k did you just say?”
I forced myself to meet his eyes even though my heart was racing.
“You lost any right to this baby the day you pushed me onto the floor. You treated me like I was nothing. So don’t stand there acting like this baby belongs to you.”
Daniel stared at me like I’d lost my mind. Then he let out a bitter, angry laugh.
“You’re actually serious?” He shook his head, his jaw tight. “You think it works like that? That’s my baby you’re carrying, Elizabeth. My blood. You don’t get to decide I’m not the father just because you’re angry at me.”
His voice dropped, becoming colder.
“And while we’re at it — you’ve been running around with Marcus, letting him get close to you, while my child is growing inside you? Have you lost your f*****g mind?”
Daniel leaned down, placing both hands on the sides of the hospital bed, his face just inches from mine.
“You can lie to yourself all you want,” he whispered, “but this baby is mine. And I’m never letting you take it away from me.”
- Writer
