Page 105 of The Moral Dilemma

Sergio raised his hand, and Noelle immediately shrunk back, her hands going around her stomach.

The blow didn’t come, but Sergio’s laughter echoed in the room as he mocked her defensive stance.

“I see I was right.” He smirked.

Noelle’s eyes were misted with tears as she tried to think of a lie—anything to get his attention off of her.

But as she opened her mouth to speak, he simply strode out of the room, a perpetual smile on his face.

It was at that moment that Noelle realized she was caught—truly, truly caught.

twenty-five

Sergio didn’t cometo see her again in the following two months. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t constantly monitoring her. He had guards stationed outside of her apartment at all times and she was never allowed to leave the premises. Only Lucero was allowed to go out, but even her movements had been greatly restricted in the aftermath.

“I can’t go on like this, Lulu,” Noelle said as she paced around her bedroom. Her hands were cradling her baby bump, already noticeable through her fitted dress. She suspected she was around five or six months along, although she didn’t know for sure. She’d tried to count back to the last time she’d had her period, but she’d been so stressed during that time that she hadn’t spared it a thought.

“I need to see a doctor. I need to take prenatal vitamins. I need an ultrasound… What if something’s wrong with my baby and I have no idea?” she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Sergio wouldn’t allow a doctor to come see her. She suspected his decision was two-fold—he didn’t want anyone to know she was pregnant, but he also did not want to help her in any way.

She might be young and inexperienced, but she knew enough of the world to realize pregnancy wasn’t without its dangers. Why, even with hospital care, maternal mortality was high, as was the danger that something could happen to her baby if she didn’t take proper care of herself.

In an attempt to offset the lack of proper medical care, she’d started eating healthier, sleeping more, and doing some routine exercises to keep her body moving. Without access to the internet–since Sergio had taken that away from her, too–she had to rely on her memory of what she’d read online or seen in movies. But no matter how much she tried her best, she knew it wasn’t enough.

“I know,” Lucero answered, her lips pursed. “I was thinking of asking one of the midwives from the village to come see you. But I don’t know how we’re going to sneak her inside without Sergio knowing.”

“We won’t be able to,” Noelle sighed. “He will know.”

“Then there is only one other option. We need to leave. I don’t know how, but we need to find a way out.”

“I’ve been racking my brain for weeks now, but he has guards everywhere. I can’t even take a step out of the room without bumping into one of his goons.”

“There’s another banquet at the end of the week,” Lucero remarked.

“Even if we get out of the house. What then? We’d need a car, and even if we make it that far, the city's hours away. He’d catch up with us.”

“You’re right, but…” Lucero bit her lip. “What if we risked it?”

Noelle’s eyebrows went up in surprise.

Lucero wasn’t the type to take risks. In fact, she was very much the opposite of it. She did everything by the book, always respecting the rules.

“Risk it?”

Lucero’s gaze turned fierce as it settled on Noelle’s bump.

“We need to protect that baby, Noelle. Whatever happens, we need to make sure he doesn’t end up with Sergio.”

“You think he’s going to try to harm him too, don’t you?”

“I don’t know what he plans to do, but his silence is more than telling. He is an evil man, and I would never take a chance with him.”

Noelle smiled at her friend’s staunch defense of her unborn child. She took a seat next to Lucero, taking her hands and placing them over her stomach.

“I want you to be the baby’s godmother,” she told her in a soft voice.

“You–” Lucero blinked. “Are you sure?”

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