ANNA’S POV
“Anna…” Ryan’s voice was soft when he found me on the floor outside, my knees tucked to my chest, my face hidden in my hands. My body was shaking with sobs that I couldn’t control, and even though ! heard him, even though part of me wanted to shove him away, I didn’t move when he bent down and reached for me. His hands were warm against my arms, steadying me, and it hurt more than anything that I didn’t shrug him off this time. I just sat there crying, letting him touch me, hating myself for not being able to hate him enough.
He cussed under his breath and before I could say a word, he slid one arm under my knees and the other around my back and lifted me into his arms bridal style. I gasped and hit at his chest with weak fists, my words breaking through the tears. “Put me down, Ryan! I told you to leave me alone! Just leave me the
hell alone!”
But he didn’t. His jaw was tight, his eyes hard as he held me close against him, carrying me like I weighed nothing. “You just recovered, Anna,” he muttered firmly, his tone brooking no argument. “I’m not letting you get sick again. And you’re already carrying a baby inside of you, so there’s no way in hell I’m leaving you out here on the cold floor crying like this.”
“Ryan, put me down now!” I hit him again, but there was no strength in me, only anger and pain. He kept walking, ignoring every single protest until he reached the bed. He laid me down gently, tucking me against the pillows as if I was fragile, and that only made me angrier. I shoved at him, glaring with swollen, tear–filled eyes. “I told you to leave me the hell alone!”
He sighed, dragging a hand down his face, and sat on the edge of the bed. “Anna… listen to me. Please. I know you’re angry, I know you’re scared, but you honestly need to calm down. It’s not as deep as it feels right now. Mom will be fine. She has to be fine. She loves you too much not to come around.”
I turned my face away, my chest heaving with ragged breaths. His words were supposed to comfort me, but all they did was dig deeper into the storm in my chest.
He reached for my hand again, his voice lowering as he covered it with his own. “And this baby inside of you?” he whispered, his thumb brushing over my skin. “We’re having it, and I’ll be more than happy to take care of you, to take care of both of you. You’re mine, Anna, and I want this. Nothing is going to change that.”
His lips brushed against my forehead in a soft kiss, and then he lingered there, whispering, “Don’t worry. baby. You’re not going to be alone in this. We’re in this together. I’ll be with you every step of the way. If school worries you, I’ll support you in every way I can. You don’t have to carry this alone.”
My throat tightened. The words should have been soothing, but instead they made something inside me snap. I pushed his hand away and sat up, my voice sharp and shaking. “No, Ryan! You don’t get to decide
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that for me Leave me the hell alone
“Anna-”
+15 BONUS
I cut him off with a cry that tore straight out of my chest. “I’m going to have an abortion!”
The silence that followed was deafening. His entire body froze, his eyes darkening in a way that made my stomach twist. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to keep speaking even as tears poured down my cheeks. “I won’t let this pregnancy ruin everything! I won’t let it tear this family apart. If removing this baby means everything goes back to normal, then I will, Ryan. I will.”
His breathing changed instantly, harsh and heavy, his chest rising and falling as if he had just been punched. His fists curled at his sides, his eyes burning with something I had never seen before. He looked at me like he couldn’t believe what he just heard, and then like he was seconds away from losing control.
“Anna,” he growled, his voice low, trembling with anger. “Don’t you dare.”
I swung my legs off the bed, trying to move past him, my tears blinding me. “You can’t stop me, Ryan-”
I didn’t even get to finish before his body moved. In a blur, he was on me, grabbing me before I could reach the door, spinning me and slamming me gently but firmly against the wall. My breath hitched as his hands locked around my wrists, pinning them above my head. His eyes were dark, furious, his face so close to mine that I could feel the heat of his breath on my lips.
“You are not removing this baby, Anna.” His voice was sharp, cutting, every word vibrating with rage. You’re having it. Don’t ever think of removing it. Don’t!”
“Ryan-“I gasped, my heart racing, my body trembling in both fear and something else, something I hated myself for feeling.
His grip tightened just slightly, his chest pressing against mine, his jaw clenched as if he was fighting to keep from breaking apart completely. “I swear to God, Anna,” he hissed, his forehead brushing mine, his voice raw. “This baby is MINE, and I won’t let you take it away. NEVER.”
And before I could argue, before I could scream or cry or say another word, his lips crashed onto mine, fierce and desperate, swallowing all my anger and tears in one consuming kiss.
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