At six months pregnant, my husband kidnapped me for prenatal education
Chapter 1
I was six months pregnant, waddling out of my OB-GYN appointment, when a group of guys in ski masks jumped out of a van.
They grabbed me, no questions asked.
Blindfolded, mouth taped shut, I was tied to a cold metal pole, my pregnant belly shaking with fear.
Just when I thought I was a goner, my husband, Chad, swooped in.
He was zip-lining down from the roof, a rose clenched between his teeth.
He took down the masked men in seconds.
Then he tucked the rose into my shirt, grinning and rubbing my belly.
“Son, this is your first prenatal lesson – how to rescue a damsel in distress!”
Chad’s “best friend,” Sarah, giggled.
“Pretty awesome plan, right? Look, she’s totally smitten with you!”
I took a deep breath and slapped her as hard as I could.
Chad, ever the chivalrous knight, defended his damsel, shoving me to the ground before whisking Sarah away.
The fall triggered a miscarriage, and after leaving the hospital, I divorced Chad and married a millionaire.
Chad lost it.
…
“Babe, can’t make it to your birthday dinner tonight. My buddies are in town. Surprise later, love you!” Chad’s voice message crackled through my phone.
He’d promised to celebrate with me after work, but plans changed, apparently.
Walking home, a group of guys in ski masks ambushed me, taping my mouth and blindfolding me before shoving me into a van.
Terror seized me. I tried to scream, but the tape held tight.
“Mmm…mmm.”
I hadn’t made any enemies, and we weren’t rich. Why kidnap a pregnant woman?
A gruff voice, thick with a Southern drawl, muttered, “She’s pretty far along. What’s the boss want? A C-section?”
I shook my head, clutching my belly. “No…no.”
Another voice, chillingly calm, spoke.
“A fresh baby, straight from the source, is stronger for the ritual. The boss wants the kid dried out, like a mummy. Bury the woman anywhere. Job done.”
The words echoed in my mind like a ghost, nearly making me pass out.
My baby, sensing my fear, kicked frantically.
My teeth chattered uncontrollably.
After what felt like an eternity, they dragged me out of the van and tied me to a cold pole.
Something cold and scaly slithered across my face.
Something with many legs crawled over my hand.
I shuddered, tears streaming down my face.
Just when I thought it was over, the blindfold was ripped off.
Chad appeared out of nowhere, swiftly incapacitating the masked men.
A rose was still clenched between his teeth.
“Happy birthday, babe! Pretty badass, huh?”
He placed the rose in my shirt and patted my belly.
“What do you think, kid? Isn’t your dad awesome?”
“Ha! I told you every woman wants to be rescued! Look at her, she’s totally head over heels!” Sarah gloated to the others, taking credit for the “plan.”
Chad beamed at her, full of admiration.
My blood ran cold as I stared at the fake snakes, centipedes, and rats scattered around.
My heart pounded.
Taking a deep breath, I fought back the panic, raised my trembling hand, and slapped Sarah with all my might.
Sarah was stunned, her eyes flashing with malice.
Then, quick as a flash, she morphed into a picture of wounded innocence.
A Broadway actress couldn’t have changed expressions faster.
“It’s all my fault! Don’t blame Chad, please!”
Chapter 2
Chad stormed towards me and shoved me to the ground.
“Megan, don’t be ridiculous! Sarah put all this effort into your birthday, and you slap her?”
The shove sent a sharp pain through my already aching abdomen.
I landed hard, clutching my stomach.
Chad started to reach for me, but Sarah grabbed his arm.
“Chad, my face is burning! Look, is it swollen?”
Tears streamed down her face, each one the size of a dime.
Chad’s face hardened.
“You had enough energy to slap someone, but you’re too ‘hurt’ to stand? And Sarah even got you a jade bracelet!”
“You’re just being dramatic!”
He turned to his friends.
“Great work, guys! Drinks are on me tonight.”
Then, he wrapped an arm around Sarah, cooing softly.
“Don’t mind Megan, she’s being difficult. Didn’t you want that gold necklace? I’ll get it for you.”
We’d eloped, so no rings, let alone a gold necklace.
I’d seen a gold necklace on sale a while back, but Chad said we needed to save for the baby, promising diamonds later.
Sarah leaned weakly against him.
“Chad, I’m dizzy.”
Right in front of me, he swept her into his arms and started to walk away.
My blood boiled.
Anger, humiliation, disbelief – it all crashed over me.
My stomach cramped, and I was drenched in sweat. I grabbed Chad’s pant leg, desperate.
“Take me to the hospital, please!”
Chad hesitated, almost putting Sarah down.
Sarah whimpered.
“I’m really dizzy, Megan. There’s nothing going on between me and Chad. It’s not like that.”
Chad glared at me.
“Megan, you’ve gotten so insecure since you got pregnant. Sarah is just a friend. Believe it or not.”
He yanked his leg free and carried Sarah away.
She looked back, a triumphant smirk on her face.
I couldn’t believe it. The man I loved, holding another woman, ignoring me while I carried his child.
My stomach spasmed. I gritted my teeth, dragging myself towards the road.
“Chad, if you don’t take me to the hospital, I’m divorcing you!”
Chad didn’t even stop.
“You’re huge. Who’d want you after a divorce?”
“And you’re carrying my kid. No one wants to be a stepdad these days.”
One of his friends, a guy with bleached blonde hair, looked at me with pity.
“Chad, come on, let’s take her home.”
Chad scoffed.
“She’s faking it. You can’t spoil women. They just take advantage.”
The others followed him, leaving me there.
The pain was unbearable. I couldn’t speak, just watched them go.
The baby kicked weakly. I felt a wetness between my legs but was afraid to look. I crawled towards the road.
“Hold on, baby.”
After what felt like forever, I reached the edge of the road. It was dark. My phone was gone.
My pants were sticky. Blood. The baby’s kicks were fading.
Tears streamed down my face. I was alone.
Just as my vision began to blur, a light appeared in the darkness.
Had Chad come back?
I croaked, “Help…help.”
Chapter 3
It was an elderly woman, collecting cans.
She shone her flashlight on my face, her voice full of concern.
“Honey, what are you doing out here in your condition? What’s your husband’s number? I’ll call him.”
I mumbled Chad’s number. It rang and rang.
The woman muttered anxiously, trying again. Just when I’d given up hope, he answered.
“Young man, your wife is collapsed on the side of the road, bleeding. You need to come get her.”
A cold snort came through the phone.
“How much is she paying you to put on this show? I’ll double it!”
“Megan, you should be a director. You’re so dramatic. Every time I’m with Sarah, you pull this crap. Don’t you feel guilty?”
“I’ve told you a million times, we’re just friends. We grew up together! Why are you so jealous?”
“And if you keep this up, no allowance next month. You eat my food, live in my house, and all you do is nag. Why can’t you be more understanding, like Sarah?”
The woman stamped her foot.
“Young man, this is serious! She needs help. She’s fading fast.”
I gasped for air.
“Call 911! Please, help me and my baby! I’ll repay you.”
Party noises erupted from the phone.
“Kiss her! Kiss her!”
Chad’s voice became hurried.
“Gotta go. Washing up for bed. Busy. Not coming home.”
He hung up.
The woman sighed, looking at me with pity.
Through the haze, I heard sirens.
“Pregnant woman, hemorrhaging! Hurry!”
Hold on, baby. We’re safe.
The tension drained away.
So tired…
I drifted into a dream.
A white light, a small voice calling, “Mommy…mommy…”
I reached for it, but it was gone.
Then, I saw my parents, the ones I missed so much.
Mom, boarding a plane for my cousin’s wedding, waving goodbye.
“Your cousin is two years younger than you and already married. Get a move on with that boyfriend of yours.”
Dad chuckled.
“Alright, alright. Megan will get married this year, have a baby next year, and we’ll be grandparents.”
Ten minutes after takeoff, the news flashed across the internet. Plane crash. Mom’s flight…
Before I could even process Mom’s death, Dad, consumed by grief, jumped from our apartment building one quiet morning.
I lost both my parents in a matter of weeks.
Chad, the youngest sales manager at our company, charming and attentive, was there for me during my darkest hours.
His kindness and support made me fall for him. I, a confirmed bachelorette, agreed to marry him.
Looking into his sincere eyes, I thought I’d found true love.
I thought we’d be happy forever. I was wrong.
Soon after the wedding, I got pregnant. Chad was ecstatic.
He convinced me to quit my job and stay home.
To earn money for baby formula, Chad started his own business.
Sarah, his childhood friend, joined him fresh out of college.
They were inseparable at work. One day, I brought Chad lunch and found Sarah sitting on his lap.
Swallowing my hurt, I asked him to keep some distance from Sarah. He scoffed.
“She’s like a sister, okay? I don’t even think of her that way. Don’t be silly.”
“You’re losing your mind. I wouldn’t even look at Sarah like that. Otherwise, I would’ve married her years ago.”
But who plays the “pocky game” – mouth-to-mouth – with their “sister” at a company retreat?
The ambulance sped through the streets, sirens screaming.
“The patient is hemorrhaging! We need a signature for the surgery! We may lose both mother and child!”
The elderly woman burst into tears.
“I found her on the street! Her husband is…gone. Please, save her!”
“Quickly! Get her into surgery! Now!”
Anesthesia flowed through my veins.
Everything went black.
Chapter 4
I woke up to a sterile white room, instinctively reaching for my belly.
It was flat. Tears welled up.
“Honey, don’t cry. It’s not good for you. You’re young. You can have more children.”
The elderly woman sat beside me, offering comfort.
“That husband of yours is a piece of work! You’re better off without him. I’ll find you someone a hundred times better.”
She sighed.
I managed a weak smile.
“Thank you. I’m divorcing him.”
The woman’s face brightened.
“Good! Good for you! Don’t be a fool for love. There are plenty of fish in the sea.”
“Could you do me a favor?” I asked.
“Anything, dear. We’re practically family now.”
“My apartment is in the Beverly Hills complex. The code is 321123. Could you get my phone? I want to thank you properly, and I need to pay the hospital bills.”
The woman waved her hand.
“Don’t worry about that. I took care of it. My good-for-nothing son has plenty of money.”
“I’ll text him to bring your phone when he visits.”
I remembered the abandoned factory where it all happened. It was in a developing area, not far from a row of luxury homes.
This woman, who could afford to pay my hospital bills, collected cans?
She seemed to read my mind.
“That boy insisted on bringing me here from the countryside. I get bored easily. He bought me a plot of land to grow vegetables. I was just coming back from watering my garden when I found you. Fate, I tell you.”
“Your son sounds wonderful.”
She reminded me of my mother.
If only Mom were still here…
“It’s a shame he won’t settle down. Almost thirty and still single. Drives me crazy. You’re such a sweet girl…you know, you should marry my son after you divorce that loser.”
Her eyes lit up with excitement.
I chuckled awkwardly.
“You’re funny.”
She was completely serious.
“He’s a bit older, but he’s handsome. Works out every day. Strong and healthy…you two would have beautiful babies…”
“Megan? What are you doing here?”
A furious voice cut her off.
Chad.
“Are you addicted to this drama? Now you’re faking it at the hospital? If you hadn’t called pretending to be sick, Sarah wouldn’t have worried and rushed out to see you, and she wouldn’t have gotten into that car accident. Don’t you feel any guilt?”
Was he blind? Couldn’t he see how pale and weak I was?
I scoffed.
“Is she dead? Because if the mistress is dead, I need to buy some fireworks.”
Chad’s words were venomous.
“You could die, and Sarah would still be alive!”
“How did you get so vicious? Don’t you care about your baby’s karma?”
He yanked my arm.
“Come on. We’re going to apologize to Sarah.”
Before I could react, he pulled me off the bed.
The elderly woman tried to stop him, but ended up on the floor.
I cursed him.
“You spineless coward! Admit you have a mistress! Karma will get you both! You’ll get what’s coming to you!”
“Whack!”
Chad slammed his bag against my head.
“I spoiled you during the pregnancy. Sarah cares about me, and you accuse her of things!”
My ears rang.
The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in my heart.
I lay on the floor, laughing and crying. What had marriage given me?
“What were you doing when I called for help? You and Sarah were already sleeping together, weren’t you?”
“You left me alone in the middle of nowhere. What were you doing? Playing tonsil hockey with Sarah?”
Chad’s face paled.
A month ago, a video popped up on TikTok. It was from the company retreat. Sarah lost a game and had to share a pocky stick with Chad. They ended up kissing, Sarah even using her tongue to get the last bit from Chad’s mouth.
A coworker filmed it and posted it online. Chad’s expression, the pure enjoyment on his face, made me sick.
Caught, he showed no remorse, dragging me across the floor.
“Get up and apologize to Sarah!”
A tall man in a black suit entered the room.
“Son! Son, you’re here! Help this poor girl!”
The elderly woman scrambled to her feet, relief flooding her face.
