**Chapter 3: The Devil's Bargain**

Nicole's eyes narrowed as she stared at Coop, her anger and fear simmering just below the surface. "You did this on purpose?" she repeated, her voice low and menacing. Coop shrugged again, his expression unrepentant. "I may have had a little something to do with it," he said, his voice dripping with arrogance. "But you're going to be just fine, Nicole. You're going to have my baby, and we're going to make this work." Nicole felt a surge of rage at his words. "Make this work?" she spat. "You mean, you're going to control my life, dictate what I do, and expect me to be grateful for it?" Coop's smile faltered for a moment, and Nicole saw a glimmer of something darker in his eyes. "I'm just trying to do what's best for my child," he said, his voice cold and detached. Nicole laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "What's best for your child?" she repeated. "You don't even know me, Coop. You don't know anything about me, and yet you're willing to ruin my life for the sake of your own selfish desires." Coop's expression hardened, and he took a step closer to Nicole. "I'm not going to let you talk to me like that," he said, his voice low and menacing. "You're going to do what I say, and you're going to do it with a smile on your face. Because if you don't, I'll make sure that you regret it." Nicole felt a chill run down her spine as she realized the true extent of Coop's control over her. She was trapped, and she didn't know how to escape. She thought back to the night they had met, and how she had felt drawn to him. She had thought he was charming, funny, and attractive. But now, she saw him for what he truly was: a monster. As Coop's eyes seemed to bore into her soul, Nicole knew that she had to think fast. She couldn't let him control her, dictate her life, and ruin her future. She needed a plan, and she needed it now. With a sudden burst of adrenaline, Nicole turned and walked away from Coop, leaving him standing in her living room. She didn't know where she was going, but she knew she had to get away from him. She grabbed her purse and her phone, and she walked out the door, leaving Coop and his sinister plans behind. As she walked down the street, Nicole felt a sense of freedom that she hadn't felt in weeks. She was on her own, and she was determined to take control of her life back. But she knew that Coop wouldn't give up easily. He would come after her, and she needed to be ready. Nicole pulled out her phone and dialed a number, hoping that someone would answer. She had a feeling that her life was about to change in ways she never could have imagined.