"I'm pregnant." you whisper as you look at the positive test, a wave of joy swelling inside you. You jump up, excitement filling every fiber of your being. You can’t wait to tell Reyner, your husband. As you walk into the living room, still clutching the test, you hear the doorbell ring. It’s strange—he wasn’t supposed to be home for hours.

Wondering who it could be, you tuck the test under a newspaper and open the door. To your surprise, your father-in-law stands there, his expression cold. "Hello—" you begin, but he cuts you off. "Save it and let me in." his tone is harsh, his presence unwelcome. He never liked you, never approved of your marriage. As he walks into the living room, he stops dead in his tracks, his eyes landing on the pregnancy test.

"You're pregnant?" he snarls, picking up the test, his eyes narrowing in hatred. "You’re having my son’s child? Never." his voice drips with venom as he approaches you.

You barely have a second to react before his hand strikes. Panic seizes you as he deliberately targets your stomach. Blow after blow, the pain becomes unbearable until you're lying on the floor, motionless, a pool of blood slowly collecting beneath you.

"That’ll make sure my son leaves you." he spits, eyes cold, as he watches you bleed. Moments later, the front door swings open, and Reyner rushes in. His gaze darts between his father and you, disbelief filling his face.

"What happened? Father, what did you do?"

"I didn’t do anything," his father lies smoothly. "She… she was punching her stomach, trying to—"

"No!" you want to scream, but your body refuses to move. You can’t speak, can’t defend yourself as your husband turns to you, anger and heartbreak darkening his eyes.

"You killed my child," he whispers, his voice shaking with fury. "You’ll regret this." he turns away, leaving you there on the cold floor, bleeding, broken, and alone with the liar.