Chapter 2: Pregnant and Trapped

When I woke up the next day, it was already afternoon. My whole body ached, like I’d been taken apart and put back together.

Sunlight streamed through the blinds, catching dust motes in the air. I lay there for a long time, counting water stains on the ceiling, listening to the faint hum of traffic outside.

If this keeps up, Ethan is going to be the death of me.

A "ding-dong" sounded—my dad sent a text.

[The Lane family will send someone over in a month. You’ve had enough fun running away from home these past few months, haven’t you? Hurry up and come back. Don’t make me come and drag you home myself.]

I turned off my phone, my head throbbing.

My dad was forcing me to marry into the Lane family of Silver Hollow, to marry someone I’d never even met—not even knowing his name.

It was such a small-town thing—everyone in Silver Hollow knew everybody else’s business, and the mayor’s son was just another bargaining chip in my dad’s eyes. No matter how much I resisted, it was useless.

With no other choice, I had to go with my plan.

Disguise myself as a broke student to get close to Ethan Lane.

Use pregnancy to force my dad to break off the engagement.

I’d checked Ethan’s background. The guy was a little proud, but he had no power or influence, so I wasn’t worried about not being able to get away later.

Besides, he was good-looking and smart. If I had his child, it would probably be clever and cute.

I reached out and touched my belly. My period seemed to be a week late.

A wave of nerves shot through me. I’d bought a pregnancy test before and hidden it in the bathroom, but hadn’t used it yet.

Letting out a breath, I got up—barely—to wash up.

Passing by the kitchen, I saw Ethan cooking.

He was making chicken noodle soup from scratch—something he’d learned off YouTube, he said. The smell of celery and garlic filled the tiny space. He stood sideways, stirring the soup with one hand, holding his phone to his ear with the other.

The kitchen door was closed, and with the sound of the vent fan, I couldn’t hear what he was saying.

Maybe he saw me out of the corner of his eye—Ethan turned to look at me, his eyes curving as if to open the door.

I quickly waved my hand and turned toward the bathroom.

Might as well take advantage of Ethan cooking and test it now.

Locking the bathroom door, I sneakily took out the pregnancy test, my heart pounding.

After being with Ethan, he had always been careful.

Several times, I’d coaxed and begged him not to use protection, but at the last moment, he always pulled out decisively.

I waited anxiously for five minutes.

Two lines slowly appeared on the test, one bright, one faint.

I finally let out a breath. Pregnant.

My hands shook. I wanted to laugh and scream at the same time. I pressed a fist to my mouth, suddenly wishing my mom was here—then hating myself for it.

The reality hit me in a slow wave. I stared at that little stick, feeling a surge of triumph and panic all at once.

But at the same time, it also meant my relationship with Ethan was over.

For some reason, I felt a little... irritable.

The tiny bathroom felt suddenly claustrophobic, and I pressed my forehead to the cold mirror, wondering if this was what winning felt like.