Tiana's hands trembled as she pressed against her stomach, the reality of the situation slowly beginning to settle in. Her thoughts were jumbled, her mind desperately trying to piece together how this could be happening.
"I'm pregnant," she repeated, the words feeling foreign on her tongue. "But... but how? I donât remember... any of this." Her voice faltered, her eyes searching Ashantiiâs face for some sort of explanation, some kind of clarity.
Ashantii sat beside her, a soft smile on her lips that only seemed to deepen the confusion. She reached out and gently placed a hand on Tianaâs knee, her touch warm and comfortingâif not a little too familiar.
"I always knew this was the right time, Tiana," Ashantii said, her voice soft but tinged with something darker, something obsessive. "Iâve always wanted a family with you, baby. I always knew you would be the perfect mother for our children."
Tianaâs brow furrowed as her heart raced, the unease growing in her chest. "Our children? But... I didnâtâ"
Ashantii cut her off gently, her smile widening as she leaned in closer, her tone turning almost wistful. "Weâve been married, darling. It only makes sense that we would have a family together. A family thatâs ours. And now, itâs finally happening. Youâre going to be the mother of my children."
Tiana recoiled slightly, a wave of nausea crashing over her, but it wasnât from the pregnancy. It was from the cold realization that something had gone terribly wrong. Ashantii had done this to her without asking, without even telling her. She had manipulated the entire situation, and now, Tiana had no control.
Tears welled up in Tianaâs eyes as she struggled to understand what had happened. "You did this without telling me, Ashantii!" she cried out, her voice breaking. "You got me pregnant without my permission. You lied to me... You never told me about the IVF!"
Ashantiiâs expression shifted, her smile now a little too wide, her eyes filled with a possessive gleam. "But darling, this is what weâve always wanted. Iâve always wanted you to carry my child. Weâre already married, so it makes sense. This is fate my love."
Tianaâs chest tightened, the weight of what Ashantii had done hitting her all at once. She felt trapped, suffocated by the love and care that Ashantii had showered her with for so longânow tainted by the truth. She sobbed, her body wracked with the pain of it all. "This isnât fair, Ashantii! I didnât want this. Iâm not ready for a baby! I didnât ask for this!"
Ashantiiâs eyes softened, but the air around her had become heavier, darker. She leaned over and gently cupped Tianaâs face, wiping away her tears. "Shh, my love. You will be ready. You donât need to worry. Everything will be perfect. Youâll see."
Tiana pulled away, her panic rising. "No, Ashantii. Iâm not ready. I canât do this. I donât even know how to be a mother."
Ashantiiâs face darkened as she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a low, almost menacing tone. "Youâll be ready, Tiana. Whether you like it or not. And I wonât let you get rid of this baby."
Tianaâs eyes widened, her breath hitching in her throat. "What? What are you talking about?"
Ashantiiâs gaze was intense now, her grip on Tianaâs arms tightening. "I know you, Tiana. I know youâre not going to get rid of it. You wonât. Not after everything. You canât. You wouldnât go against your beliefs. Youâve always told me how important family is. How much you want a future together. This baby is our future."
Tianaâs body went rigid as her heart sank. Ashantii was right. Deep down, Tiana knew she could never bring herself to abort the child. Her moral compass, her beliefs, her faithâit was all rooted in something that made the idea of terminating the pregnancy feel impossible.
But knowing that Ashantii had calculated every detail of thisâhad trapped her with a baby she never asked forâleft Tiana feeling powerless. She stared at Ashantii, her emotions a whirlwind of confusion, fear, and helplessness.
"Please, Ashantii," Tiana whispered, her voice barely audible. "I need time. I need to think."
Ashantiiâs expression softened again, her eyes full of adoration as she leaned down and kissed Tianaâs forehead. "Thereâs no need to think, my love. Everythingâs already decided. Youâre going to be an amazing mother. I know it. Iâll be right here with you, every step of the way."
Tiana closed her eyes, fighting the rising wave of panic, the feeling of being trapped in a life she didnât choose. Ashantiiâs words were so sweet, so convincing, and yet they had been woven into a web that now kept her tied in place.
Ashantii kissed her again, more fervently this time, her hands trailing down Tianaâs sides as if to reassure her that everything was going to be fine. But in that moment, Tiana knew she wasnât in control anymore.
And she was terrified.