Chapter 20: The Unborn Truth

The man's eyes seemed to gleam with a sinister light as he walked over to Ashley, his movements slow and deliberate. He reached out a hand and gently rubbed her belly, his touch sending shivers down her spine. Ashley's eyes widened in horror as he smiled, a smug, self-satisfied smile that made her skin crawl. "Ahh, Ryan's baby, I see," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "I didn't know you were pregnant. Congratulations, Ashley." Ashley's mind reeled as she processed his words. How did he know she was pregnant? She hadn't told anyone, not even Ryan's closest friends. And then it hit her - he must have been watching her, monitoring her every move. The thought sent a wave of fear through her, making her stomach churn. The man's hand was still on her belly, his touch making her feel sick. She wanted to push him away, to scream at him to get his hands off her, but she was bound to the chair, helpless. Ashley's eyes filled with tears as she thought about Ryan, about the baby they had planned to have together. She was 27 weeks pregnant, and Ryan would never get to see his child grow up. The man's eyes seemed to bore into hers, his gaze searching for something. "You're going to have to make a choice, Ashley," he said, his voice low and menacing. "You're going to have to choose between your life and the life of that baby." Ashley's heart was racing as she realized what he was implying. He wanted her to make a choice between her own life and the life of her unborn child. She knew she couldn't make that choice, not without knowing what was at stake. "What do you want from me?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. The man's smile grew wider. "Oh, I think you know," he said. "I think you have a pretty good idea." Ashley's mind was racing as she tried to think of a way out of this situation. She knew she had to stall for time, to try and come up with a plan. But as she looked into the man's eyes, she saw something there that chilled her to the bone. She saw a complete and utter lack of empathy, a complete disregard for human life. And in that moment, Ashley knew she was in grave danger. She was fighting for her life, and the life of her unborn child.