Escape from His Control

I stared hard at the academic exchange notice on the computer screen, my fingers clenched so tightly they went white. After six months of preparation for the coveted opportunity, my husband, Mike Young, shockingly gave it to his junior colleague, Willow Carter. I grabbed the work ID on the table and rushed to his office. Before I could even reach for the doorknob, a warm flutter suddenly stirred in my lower abdomen. A gentle voice echoed in my mind: "Mom, don't blame Dad." "He's afraid you'll leave and never come back." I froze where I stood, a chill creeping up my arm from my fingertips. Could this... be the voice of the fetus inside me? The memory of last month's family banquet suddenly flashed through my mind. The heirloom bracelet mysteriously appeared on the intern Luna Smith's wrist. Just as I was about to ask about it, the voice spoke again: "It's all because Mom looked at another man, Dad did it on purpose to upset you." "If you just soften up, Dad would even pick the stars for you." But what I wanted was never the stars or the moon. I just wanted the simple happiness of two people in one house, meals through the seasons. I leaned against the corridor wall and took out my phone to open the appointment app. The words 'City Hospital abortion surgery' on the screen stung my eyes. As I walked out of the consultation room, my lower abdomen was suddenly kicked hard. The force was so strong I staggered and grabbed the wall, my fingertips instantly turning icy cold. A sharp voice exploded in my mind: "Am I not even qualified to be born?" "Five months ago, when your pants fell down by themselves, you weren't talking like that!" A chill ran through me; this was nothing like something an unborn child would say. Could there really be an enemy inside my womb? The chill crept up my spine, snuffing out the last bit of hesitation I had. I touched my lower abdomen, still faintly pulsing. But I would never let the dagger aimed at my future be born from here. The kicking suddenly stopped, and the voice became obedient again: "Mom, are you trying to use abortion to shock Dad?" "How could you really not want me? You just want Dad to pay more attention to you." I said nothing and turned back to the hospital department. In the break area, my workstation was completely ransacked. The stethoscope, medical records, and water bottle were all stuffed into a black plastic bag and tossed next to the trash bin. Willow Carter strode over in ten-centimeter heels, fake-sighing, "Linda, don't be too upset." "The hospital's just looking out for you. After eight years of marriage, finally pregnant—you can't be running back and forth to Capital." "Those surgeries can be done by someone else. Don't block others' way." Nurse Lee immediately agreed: "Exactly, you never let us get on the operating table, so all the credit is yours." Dr. Wilson pushed up his glasses and nodded: "One bad apple spoils the whole bunch!" I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. They can't even master basic suturing. How could I dare to entrust a patient's life to them? At that moment, Willow suddenly screamed, "Where's my diamond bracelet?" She pointed at me, eyes accusing: "You must have stolen it! You were the only one here just now!" I was about to argue back when the voice in my head rang out again: "Mom, just hang on a little longer, this was Dad's arrangement!" "He's waiting in the office for you to back down. Hurry up!" I let out a cold laugh. Mike Young actually stooped to such dirty tricks just to make me give in? Willow Carter had already rushed over and grabbed my bag, roughly rifling through it. The next moment, she held up a sparkling bracelet, smirking triumphantly: "So it really is yours!"