**Chapter 13: Shadows of Despair**

Six weeks had passed since Gerald's revelation, and Ashley's world had crumbled into a dark and foreboding reality. She stood in front of the mirror, staring at the reflection of a woman she barely recognized. Her skin was pale and clammy, her eyes sunken, and her hair dull and lifeless. The spark that once radiated from her very being had been extinguished, replaced by a dull, haunted look. At twelve weeks pregnant, a small bump had begun to form, a constant reminder of the life growing inside her. But it was a life that seemed to bring her no joy, only a sense of dread and foreboding. Gerald's obsession with the pregnancy had only intensified, and Ashley was now a shadow of her former self. She remembered the days when she would laugh and smile, when her bubbly personality would light up a room. But those days were gone, replaced by a constant fear of Gerald's wrath. He had isolated her from everyone she knew, cutting her off from the world outside their twisted reality. The only people she saw were the occasional delivery staff and Gerald himself, who seemed to take great pleasure in her misery. Ashley's eyes wandered to the bruises on her face, a testament to Gerald's frequent outbursts of anger. She had lost count of the number of times he had hit her, yelled at her, or simply hurt her for no reason at all. Her body ached from the constant pain, and her mind was numb from the fear. As she gazed at her reflection, Ashley felt a wave of sadness wash over her. She was trapped, trapped in a life she didn't want, with a man who didn't love her. Gerald's words echoed in her mind: "You're mine, bitch. The pregnancy is mine. The child...it's mine too." She knew she was nothing more than a possession to him, a means to an end. The door creaked open, and Gerald's voice cut through the silence. "Ashley, it's time for dinner," he said, his tone cold and detached. Ashley felt a shiver run down her spine as she turned to face him. She knew what was expected of her, and she dreaded the hours that lay ahead. As she followed Gerald to the dining room, Ashley couldn't help but wonder how much longer she could survive this ordeal. Would she ever find a way to escape, or would she be trapped in this living nightmare forever? The thought sent a chill down her spine, and she felt her heart sink into despair.