My Twins Have Different Mothers

Chapter 3

"The scan's still running, Dr. Warren."

I lay there as Peter studied the monitor, then shifted his gaze to me, his eyes sharp enough to make my chest tighten.

"Joanne, emotional ups and downs are normal during pregnancy, but don't let your imagination run away with you. Stress isn't good for the baby."

It didn't sound like reassurance. It sounded like a warning, and I understood exactly what he meant.

The moment I stepped out of the exam room, Derek and Vanessa were already waiting, moving toward me at the same time.

"Well? What did he say?"

I looked at them, my face completely blank, giving them nothing.

"Mom, don't give up! I still have strength!"

My son's voice echoed in my head, weak but stubborn, and my hand slowly curled into a fist.

The drive home was suffocating, the silence pressing in from all sides, until Derek suddenly broke it by tossing a bank card straight at my face. It hit my cheek and dropped into my lap.

"There's two hundred thousand in there. Password's your birthday," he said, his tone flat but cold. "Joanne, I'm warning you, keep your head down and carry this baby to term. Don't try anything again."

I turned to look at him, and for a second, I almost didn't recognize the man sitting beside me. The warmth he used to wear so easily was completely gone.

Vanessa let out a soft laugh, turning around in her seat to look at me, her eyes full of mockery. "Exactly. Don't act like you don't know your place. Getting to carry a baby for Derek and me is more than you deserve. And you're still thinking about pulling something?"

Something inside me finally snapped.

"Derek, Vanessa, you two are unbelievable," I said, my voice steady even as anger surged through me. "This is going to come back to you. It always does."

The slap came out of nowhere, sharp and loud, and pain burned across my face.

Before I could react, Derek's hand closed around my throat, his grip tightening as he leaned closer, his eyes filled with something dark and violent.

"Come back to me?" he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Joanne, get this straight. Your body is nothing more than a vessel for our child. You and that bastard inside you, the only reason you matter is because you're feeding my son."

His fingers tightened, cutting off my breath.

"Try anything again, and I'll make sure you and that thing inside you disappear without a trace."

"Yeah, disappear! Dad only wants me!"

"Mom, I don't want to disappear... please save me..."

From that moment on, I was completely locked inside that apartment.

My phone, my laptop, my keys, anything that could connect me to the outside world was taken without discussion. Derek even changed the lock to a keypad I didn't have the code for, sealing me in like I was something dangerous.

What made it worse was Vanessa moving in under the excuse of "taking care" of me, as if any part of this was meant to help.

She made sure I saw everything.

"Joanne, look," she said one afternoon, holding up a brand-new designer bag with a bright smile. "Derek just got it for me. Isn't it cute?"

Another day, she leaned against the counter, watching me with a smirk. "Joanne, you know what Derek told me last night? He said I'm way more interesting than you. Said he's been tired of that lifeless look on your face for a long time."

Every meal she brought me was deliberate, carefully chosen in a way that looked thoughtful on the surface but made my stomach churn the moment I took a bite.

Inside me, my baby reacted immediately.

"Mom, this soup tastes awful... I don't want it..."

"Shut up, you useless thing. This is all you deserve. Once I drain you dry, my mom will finally be free."

That second voice had been faint at first, but now it was louder, sharper, growing more brazen with each passing day.

I stared at the dark, bitter-looking broth in front of me, then grabbed the bowl and threw it straight onto the floor, the liquid splashing across the hardwood.

"I'm not drinking that."

Vanessa's voice shot up instantly. "Joanne, have you completely lost it? I paid a fortune to get that prenatal formula! Do you have any idea how hard it was to find? That's for my son!"

She rushed at me, grabbing my hair and yanking hard, trying to force my head down.

I fought back with everything I had, reaching for the fruit plate on the table and swinging it at her.

The plate shattered on impact, pieces scattering everywhere as fruit rolled across the floor.

The noise brought Derek running. The second he saw the mess, his expression darkened, and without asking a single question, he stepped forward and kicked me hard in the leg.

Pain shot through my shin as I lost my balance and collapsed to the ground.

"You've really lost it, haven't you?" he snapped, grabbing my collar and hauling me back up.

His grip was tight, his voice cold and unforgiving.

"You're drinking that today, Joanne, or I'll leave you here without food until you do."