Every morning, he woke up early to prepare a nutritious breakfast, carefully bringing it to my bedside and watching me eat each bite.

In the evenings, he drew warm baths for me, massaged my swollen legs, and hummed lullabies to my growing belly before bed.

Sometimes, my hand would instinctively rest on my rounded stomach, but instead of maternal joy, my face reflected only icy indifference.

While Dereck was meticulously counting down to my due date, I was planning my escape.