Then I found it: a letter from Eric’s lawyer. It outlined his inheritance, stressing the requirement for a direct biological heir to secure his estate. The pieces all fell into place.
His overprotectiveness, his insistence on perfection, his control over every aspect of my life was all part of his sick plan to ensure his fortune.
A wave of nausea and betrayal crashed over me. How could I have been so blind? I needed to get out of there, and fast. My heart pounded as I packed a bag.
As soon as I had everything I needed, I slipped out, praying Eric wouldn’t come home early from the gym. My hands trembled as I drove to my friend Andrea’s place, tears blurring my vision. I needed her help. I couldn’t face this alone.
Andrea opened the door, her face instantly filling with concern when she saw my tear-streaked face.
“Melody, what happened?” she asked, pulling me inside.
“It’s Eric. He’s… he’s not who I thought he was,” I stammered, collapsing onto her couch.
I poured out the whole story, from Maria’s warning to the envelope under the mattress. Andrea’s eyes widened with every word.
“I knew he was too good to be true,” she muttered. “But this… this is insane, Melody. What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. I left him, but I don’t know what to do next. I think I need to talk to a lawyer,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Andrea nodded. “Absolutely. You need to protect yourself. We’ll find you a good lawyer. You can stay here as long as you need.”
For the next few days, I stayed with Andrea and got in touch with a lawyer. We discussed my options, from seeking a restraining order to exposing Eric’s manipulative behavior publicly.
It was overwhelming, but I knew I had to do something to stop him from hurting anyone else.
And then came the biggest shock of all.
I had been feeling off for a while, chalking it up to stress. But when I finally took a pregnancy test, my world tilted on its axis. It was positive. I was pregnant with Eric’s child.
Panic set in. How could I raise a child on my own? The thought of going back to Eric made my skin crawl, but how could I give my child the life they deserved without his support?
I ran to Andrea’s room, clutching the test in my hand, tears streaming down my face. “Andrea, I’m pregnant.”
Andrea’s eyes widened in shock. “Oh, Melody…”
