Chapter 2

Rachel's POV

"Thank you, doctor." I hung up and stared at the phone in my hand.

If Austin's vasectomy never worked, then this baby could be...

I bolted from the car and stumbled into the house, falling onto the sofa. I frantically pulled out my phone, needing to know exactly what a vasectomy failure meant.

The front door slammed open before I could start searching.

I jumped, nearly dropping the phone.

Austin walked in and stopped when he saw me. His eyes narrowed. "Rachel, what are you doing?"

My pulse spiked. "Nothing. I just got home."

He frowned, his gaze sharp. "Who were you on the phone with?"

"What?"

"I saw you in the car when I pulled up. You were talking to someone."

"Nobody. Just checking messages."

He stared at me. "Is that so?"

Before I could answer, footsteps echoed behind him.

"Austin, wait for me!"

The sound of Samantha's voice made my skin crawl.

She appeared in the doorway pulling a suitcase, and her smile was bright as she looked around our living room. "What a beautiful home."

I stood up slowly, my stomach dropping. "What is she doing here?"

Austin set his coat down without looking at me. "Samantha just got back from Europe. She's going to stay with us for a while."

"Stay here?" I said, shocked. "This is our house."

"She'll take the guest room." He picked up her suitcase.

Samantha touched his arm, her fingers lingering. "Austin, this suitcase is so heavy. You're so strong."

He smiled at her. "I'll put your things in the guest room. It's right next to the master bedroom, so call me if you need anything."

Right next to our bedroom. My stomach twisted.

"I'm tired," I said to no one in particular. "I'm going upstairs."

Neither of them looked at me.

I sat on the edge of the bed with my hand pressed against my stomach.

Should I keep this baby?

The father could be Austin if the procedure really failed. Or it could be Wayne Cooper. Or one of the others.

The baby moved inside me, just a flutter.

I closed my eyes. This child didn't ask to be created this way. But what kind of life could I give us?

I needed a plan.

I went into the bathroom and called a lawyer I knew. After listening to what I told him, he said I needed more evidence and that I could start taking inventory of assets. After hanging up, something suddenly occurred to me.

I was going to leave Austin. But first I needed to know whose baby I was carrying.

The next morning I waited until Austin and Samantha left.

I moved through the rooms, gathering what I needed, then went to the hospital.

The doctor explained the amniocentesis procedure and its risks. I told her I was certain I wanted to go through with it.

When she asked about paternity testing, I pulled out the three plastic bags. "I need to know which of these men is the father. Can you expedite the results?"

She looked at the bags, then at me. "With expedited processing, three to five days."

"Do it."

The procedure didn't take long. Afterward, the doctor handed me an instruction sheet. "Complete rest for forty-eight hours. No heavy lifting, no stress. Call if you have cramping, bleeding, or fever."

I took the paper and left.

I got home around two. My abdomen ached and I just wanted to lie down.

I dropped the paper on the coffee table and headed for the stairs.

"Rachel?"

I froze.

Samantha stood in the kitchen doorway.

She walked over and her eyes landed on the paper. Before I could react, she picked it up.

Her eyes went wide. "Amniocentesis? What is this?"

My heart stopped. "That's private."

"Private?" Her voice climbed higher. "Why would you need this?"

"It's none of your business." I reached for the paper but she yanked it back.

"Does Austin know you're doing this?"

"Give it back."

"Not until you explain!" Her fingers tightened on the paper.

I turned toward the stairs. "I'm not discussing this with you."

Her hand shot out and grabbed my arm hard.

"Let go!"

"Tell me what's going on!" She yanked me backward.

My hand flew to my stomach. "I said let go!"

"You don't know who the father is, do you?" Her face was inches from mine.

"That's not—"

"You slut!" The word came out as a shriek. "You're carrying some other man's baby!"

I wrenched my arm free. "This baby is Austin's."

I had to make her believe that. If they found out I knew everything, they'd stop me from leaving.

"Liar!" Her face flushed red. She raised her hand to slap me.

I caught her wrist. "Don't you dare touch me."

"Let go!"

"You don't get to hit me in my own house."

She yanked her arm away, trembling with rage. "Your house? You're nothing here! Austin doesn't love you!"

"I own this house," I said coldly. "I paid for everything. You're just a guest. An outsider."

"You bitch!"

She shoved me hard with both hands.

I was still at the base of the stairs. The force sent me stumbling backward and I grabbed for the railing but my fingers slipped.

Everything tilted.

The world spun as I fell. My head cracked against something and pain exploded through my skull.

When I stopped at the bottom, I was sprawled on my side. Every breath hurt. My vision blurred and something warm spread beneath me.

Through the haze, I saw Samantha at the top of the stairs, staring down.

Then her expression changed.

She sat down on the top step. She gripped the railing and let herself slide down several steps, landing with a cry.

"Help! Someone help us!"

She lay halfway down the stairs, clutching her arm. Tears streamed down her face.

"Austin! Help!"

A door opened.

Austin appeared at the top. He looked at me at the bottom, then at Samantha.

He rushed to her.