Page 18 of Her Darkest Possession

What if my baby isn't okay? What if all that running, that violence, that trauma was too much? What if...

I gently push Anatoly's hand away and sit up straighter, my heart hammering in my chest.

I have to ask.

I need to know.

"Dr. Espina," I call out as she turns to leave. My voice cracks, betraying my fear. "How much Mifeprex does it take to terminate a pregnancy?"

The doctor turns back, her brow furrowing. Anatoly stiffens beside me. For a brief moment, alarm crosses his face.

"Mifeprex?" Dr. Espina asks carefully. "The abortion pill? Why do you ask, Mrs. Baryshev?"

6

ANATOLY

My entire bodyfreezes at Indigo's question.

Lola's words come rushing back to me like a knife plunging in my gut:"Do you know what I found in her purse? A box of abortion pills. Your whore doesn't want your baby, Tolya."

I stare at Indigo's face, searching for an answer. Her skin is pale under the harsh hospital lights. But there isn'tguiltin her eyes. Only fear.

Was Lola telling me the truth when she called to taunt?

Did Indigo really not want a baby with me?

"It depends entirely on the amount." Dr. Espina answers. "Typically, Mifeprex is administered as a two-pill regimen. The first pill blocks progesterone, which is needed to maintain pregnancy. The second pill, taken 24 to 48 hours later, induces contractions to expel the pregnancy."

Indigo's hand tightens around mine, and her lower lip starts to tremble. My heart races in my chest.

Tell me this isn't true. Tell me that you didn't do this deliberately.

Dr. Espina looks directly at Indigo, her brow furrowing. "Did you take Mifeprex, Mrs. Baryshev? If so, I need to know exactly how much and when."

Indigo looks away and my heart sinks. The hope that had bloomed in my chest earlier when Dr. Espina told me that she's here fades away. And now, only dread remains in their place.

Dr. Espina steps closer "Mrs. Baryshev? How much did you take?"

"I don't know how much…" Indigo admits quietly. "But someone forced a pill in my mouth. I didn't swallow it, I spit it out, but... it was dissolving. I tasted it." Her hands shake as she clutches at the hospital blanket. "Could that be enough to hurt my baby?"

Lola.

Fucking Lola forced that pill into my wife's mouth? That manipulative bitch lied to me on the phone, twisting everything to make me believe Indigo wanted to terminate our child.

I squeeze Indigo's hand, fighting to keep my voice steady. "Lola did this to you?"

Indigo nods, a tear slipping down her cheek. "She threatened to sell Amara if I didn't leave you. She... she said she'd make sure I lost the baby if I didn't cooperate."

My free hand curls into a fist, knuckles white with rage. How dare she threaten my wife? My child?

No more fucking games.

Lola will die. I'll make sure of it.

"She knew I was pregnant before I could tell you," Indigo whispers. "I'm sorry, Anatoly. I wanted to tell you myself."

Dr. Espina clears her throat gently, drawing our attention back to her. "To answer your question, Mrs. Baryshev, it's unlikely that simply having the medication in your mouth briefly would cause harm to the pregnancy. If you didn't swallow the pill and it was only dissolving for a moment, the amount absorbed would be minimal."