Kaitlyn POV

I sat on the metal chair in front of Douglas Carter in the small, dimly lit visiting room with cold walls. Douglas Carter was here, visiting me.. a complete surprise, especially since I knew the massive conflict between him and Martin. He was Martin's rival, his enemy. No one hated Douglas as much as Martin did.

He stared at me as if trying to read the thoughts swirling in my head. I wore the gray prison uniform, my swollen belly drawing attention. I felt like the tight pull of my hair, slicked back, was my only shield of dignity in this harsh place.

Douglas smiled gently, though his voice carried a firm edge as he said, "Kaitlyn, I know you've been wronged. You've been jailed for a crime you didn't commit, and the people behind it need to pay."

I looked at him with empty eyes, as if I no longer believed in anything. I didn't utter a word. I just stared at him, waiting for more.

He continued, "I know Martin and his sister played a big role in this, and I know there were false witnesses against you. But if you work with me, we can get revenge and reclaim what's yours." His voice was confident, filled with determination, as if his plan was destined to succeed.

I stayed silent, staring at the table as if lost in deep thought. My face betrayed nothing, just a blank stare hiding hundreds of swirling thoughts and worries.

In that moment, I felt a weight heavier than I expected. How could a pregnant woman survive in this hell? How could I give birth and raise my children in such a cruel place?

Douglas's voice was calm, yet insistent: "Kaitlyn, I'll support you with every resource I have."

I didn't know what Douglas really wanted. He spoke only of support until his true intention slipped out: "On one condition, Kaitlyn. Marriage... to me. Of course, Martin will file for divorce, and your first marriage will be over."

Shock hit me. Marriage. And Douglas... I was still reeling from the repeated blows of betrayal-from my husband's infidelity to my being thrown in prison.

I gave him no answer. Douglas promised himself he wouldn't give up until he got me out and delivered the justice I deserved. He stood slowly, took a deep breath, and said, "I'll wait for your answer. Take your time to think, but know I'm here to help you."

Then he turned to leave the room, leaving me alone with my conflicting thoughts, wondering about the difficult decision I had to make. I knew Douglas was Martin's greatest enemy. His sworn rival.

---

Seven months and two weeks had passed. Months had already gone by. Martin never visited me. I still couldn't understand why he felt compelled to treat me this way. I hadn't wronged him once. We were happy until I couldn't bear a child. I read in the news that Theresa had recovered and returned to work.

What she did was deliberate. As a doctor, she knew exactly where to stab to avoid killing me. Nine months had passed, and Martin had never shown up, not even briefly.

I looked at my belly, caressing it, tears in my eyes. It had been the only source of joy I'd felt since being imprisoned. At some point, I had wanted to end my life, but when I remembered the twins growing inside me, I imagined them growing up, becoming two people I would love more than anything.

The sound of footsteps caught my attention. I looked up to see a prison guard approaching. "Prisoner 3290, please come with me. You have a visitor," she said. I wondered who it could be.

Normally, I was an orphan. No one visited me. I had no family to belong to. I nodded and struggled to rise from the floor, following the guard.

We reached the visiting room. She opened the door, and a pale man with gray hair appeared. I had never seen him before. He noticed the confusion on my face and stood.

"Please sit. I'm not here to hurt you. I just came to give you this from your husband." He pointed to a file on the desk. I sat and took the papers. When I opened them, I saw the words in bold: "Divorce Agreement."

Tears threatened to spill down my cheeks, but I held myself together. I hadn't cried in nine months. This wouldn't break me now. I had been expecting the divorce papers because I knew this was what would come next.

As I opened the agreement, my eyes landed on the alimony. I couldn't believe he was treating me like some cheap person. "Who gives ten percent in alimony? He's rich, he earns more than many business owners," I thought, pain rising in my chest again. But I refused to let it bother me. I didn't want the money, nor did I plan to accept it.

I looked at the lawyer in front of me. "Please, your pen." He nodded and passed it to me. I had no regrets. I signed the papers, handed them back, and left the room.

I returned to my cell, collapsed onto the floor, and let the tears flow. It was too much for me to hold in.

The man I had loved, the one I gave everything to, had thrown me away like trash. And that wasn't enough.. he accused me of something I never did, and now I was paying a prison sentence for a crime I never committed. I cried until I couldn't feel my tears anymore. I sat in the corner of my room, lost in deep thoughts. I remembered the last three years with him.

I was deep in my thoughts when a sharp pain struck my side, and I screamed.

A prison guard ran to help me. I tried to get up, but I couldn't. He crouched beside me. "Are you okay?"

I clutched my side. "No! My side, it hurts so much. I can barely move my leg." I cried, holding my side as the guard tried to help me rise.

I screamed without stopping, drawing the attention of other guards and inmates. They came to help and carried me to the prison hospital. As soon as we reached the entrance, blood began to flow from my thigh.

Kaitlyn POV

Sharp contractions ripped through my stomach, and I struggled to hold back my tears as the pain grew unbearable. Something wasn't right. I was going into labor before my scheduled C-section. This unexpected situation terrified me, knowing it could cause serious complications during delivery.

I clutched my belly as another wave of pain swept over me. It was too late for an epidural, so I had no choice but to wait, hoping my obstetrician would arrive in time.

In prison, I didn't have the luxury of choosing my doctor or having a C-section. But Douglas, with all his power, had provided everything for me. During the previous months, he arranged an air-conditioned room with every necessity. I didn't know how he managed it, but he was that strong.

"I can't do this," I muttered over and over, tears streaming down my skin. Martin didn't know about his children or my pregnancy.

I was utterly alone. No family. No friends. The only thing I had achieved was my degree, thanks to Martin. At least that was something good that came out of that relationship. But now, in this chaos, my emotions were spiraling toward collapse.

Suddenly, a sharp pain stabbed my side, and I screamed. My vision blurred from the endless tears, whether from pain or heartbreak.

The door opened, and my obstetrician entered with her assistant and the nurse. They had been monitoring me since my arrival a few hours ago. Aside from the routine checks, nothing significant had been said.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, noticing the stern look on her face.

"Unfortunately, no." She moved toward my bed and adjusted the heart monitor on my belly. The steady rhythm of the heartbeat echoed off the walls as we all listened.

"I'm only picking up two heartbeats, and it's been like this since you arrived. I didn't say anything at first, fearing it might just be the monitor acting up.. it does that sometimes. But an hour ago, I had Marlene do an ultrasound, and it confirmed my fears."

I vaguely remembered the ultrasound. I had been half-asleep as the pain had calmed enough for a brief period. I shook my head, my mind spinning with thoughts. "It's fine, right? Two heartbeats.

" The doctor bit her lower lip, clutching her folder to her chest. "There should be three heartbeats.. yours and your baby's."

My chest tightened at her revelation. Had I lost one of my babies? I closed my eyes, my body trembling as sobs tore through me. I had chosen their names, everything. This couldn't be happening to me.

***********

I had no choice but to give birth naturally, despite the risks. It was too late for an emergency C-section, and they had to remove the deceased baby.

"You have to stay strong. Your baby is about to come out." I nodded, drenched in sweat, trying to gather myself. The doctor hurriedly prepared everything for the delivery.

I spread my legs wide as she guided me. "Calm down, inhale and exhale, then try to push slowly."

She gave me instructions, her hand ready near my body, waiting for the baby's head to appear. I took a deep breath and pushed. Soon, the head emerged, and we heard a baby's cry. The doctor encouraged me to keep going, and I pushed again. The baby was born, and in that moment, I fainted.

After the pain and pressure, a wave of relief washed over me.. at least physically. As they took my little baby to clean and feed him, he now lay asleep in the tiny bed prepared for him.

"It's a boy, a beautiful boy." The doctor handed him to me as I woke. Tears of joy ran down my cheeks as I held him. He was the only reason I hadn't ended my life, the reason I could endure the pain I had felt for so long.

My heart still ached for the second baby I had been carrying. I feared I would always be trapped in this pain, forced to carry it forever. Why couldn't I have a break? Despite the desire to claw my own eyes out, sleep crept in and embraced me.

The next day, I woke to Jake's cries, my son. My whole body ached as I sat up. I gazed at the wailing child, his arms flailing in frustration. Slowly, I swung my legs off the bed and stood. Blood surged immediately in my head, rushing down to my belly, already heavy with worry.

I approached him and finally reached his bed. He was so tiny, yet full of life. My eyes burned from all the crying yesterday. As I stared at my little bundle of joy, doubts crept into my mind. How could I care for a child when I could barely care for myself?

I was in a fragile state, and now I had to grieve the loss of my other son. I started changing Jake's diaper before lifting him into my arms and returning to bed. He squirmed the entire way, but I loved the feeling of holding him, despite everything. He was small, delicate. He looked exactly like his father. A stray tear slipped down my cheek as memories resurfaced.

My heart felt heavy in my chest, and I forced the tears out. I clasped my hands together, trying to gather my courage and strength. My son was still here, and I had to be strong for him. I sat on the hospital bed.

A fresh tear slid down my cheek. I thought about raising a child in prison. And then I remembered Douglas and his marriage proposal. I would accept. I would marry Douglas.

Kaitlyn POV

Everything around me screamed collapse, but my little baby Jake's voice stopped me. I looked at him and drew strength from his tiny presence. Even though my other child had died, I still had to be strong for the one who survived.

Tears fell hard, with Mrs. Harper by my side, who had helped me so much. She knew everything that had happened to me, the cruel plot that had been forged against me. I didn't know why yet, but I would find out the whole truth, eventually.

I kept staring at my baby. He was a miniature version of Martin.. the same Martin who had betrayed me, who threw the divorce papers without a second thought. Surely, everyone had been involved in taking my child before he even had a chance at life.

I breathed slowly, ready to make a life-changing decision. My child had to be kept away from me. Jake shouldn't grow up behind these prison walls, suffering.

Douglas was certainly seeking revenge on Martin, and he had chosen a partner like me to help him. He had chosen well. I had so many reasons to want revenge. Most importantly, my child would grow up with Douglas as his father in a place far better than behind bars.

I looked at Mrs. Harper, my voice catching in my throat, and said firmly, "You can help me. I want you to go to Mr. Douglas and tell him I want him to come visit me."

Mrs. Harper smiled immediately. "Well done, Kaitlyn. You have to be strong. Douglas is the best choice. He won't just be a good father; he'll be a strong partner to help you reclaim your rights."

Douglas had paid Mrs. Harper to take care of me. He had even assigned her to monitor my condition.

I knew the massive feud between Douglas and Martin. Marrying him wouldn't just be a shock.. it would be the final blow that would make Martin fall. But this was only the beginning.

It wasn't long before Douglas Carter entered my prison hospital room, his gray suit matching the sharpness in his eyes. Everything about him radiated power and authority. He smiled and walked slowly, flanked by a group of men and guards, with one man carrying papers.

I was about to speak, but before I could say a word, he nodded toward the man holding the papers and said, "This is our marriage contract, Kaitlyn. You have to sign it, and then we get married first, then we settle everything else."

What? I was truly shocked. He was prepared for everything, not even asking for my opinion, as if he already knew the reason he had been called here. He expected me to accept his offer to be his wife.

A storm of thoughts hit my head as I stared at Douglas. He was smarter than I had imagined. I finally understood why he always won any competition against Martin. Today, he had shown me why he was the best.

He motioned the man forward again, and I just stared. He hadn't asked me anything, but I drew in a breath and calmed myself. I handed my little baby to Mrs. Harper, picked up the pen, and signed.

Douglas did the same, taking the pen and signing, then smiled at me. "Congratulations, Mrs. Douglas Carter. From today, you are my wife."

Marriage didn't matter to me. This contract would only last for a while, then I would end it. An agreement to end once my revenge was complete.

Douglas stepped closer, sitting on the chair next to my bed. He pulled out a small velvet box and showed me a ring. Without giving me a chance to object, he slid it onto my finger.

The silence stretched between us until he spoke, his words firm and commanding: "Now you're my wife. I will take care of you, protect you. I know we have a long road ahead, but you must trust me, Kaitlyn."

He continued in a determined voice, "All I will do is make sure your prison time lasts no more than a year. You won't stay here long, and in the meantime, I will care for your child, register him under my name, and give you all the rights you need."

I nodded without saying a word. Meanwhile, Douglas motioned to a man, and a woman in her fifties entered. Douglas stood and said, "She will be your child's nanny. She will take care of him."

I looked at Mrs. Harper holding my baby. She was a good woman who had cared for my children over the past months. I knew what I had to do. "Mrs. Harper must be the nanny. You can take care of my baby."

Mrs. Harper protested, "But Kaitlyn, I'm about to retire. I don't think I'm at the right age to take care of him."

I looked at her with painful eyes, tears stinging. "Mrs. Harper, you witnessed every moment of my pregnancy. Please agree to work at Douglas's house as the nanny."

She hesitated, but Douglas solved it in two words: "If you accept to take care of the child, I will give you a lot of money, and I'll help your son work in one of my companies."

It wasn't Douglas's offer or my pleading that made her agree.. it was her love for my child. She looked at him in her arms, tears streaming, and said, "I'll agree only for him. I hope I can take good care of him."

Douglas stepped in, finalizing it. "There will be many people helping you, including Ceza, who is trained in childcare."

Douglas had been ready, as if he had arranged everything in advance. I felt a little relieved, knowing my child had a good mother to care for him. But the thought of my newborn being taken from my arms was painful, like someone had ripped my heart out.

Mrs. Harper placed Jake in my arms and left with Douglas and the others, giving me time to say goodbye. He had to be away to be safe.

I knew I would see him.. Douglas had promised he would always bring him for visits but it wasn't enough for a mother who had suffered years of infertility. One child had died, and now the other would be taken from me. I kept crying, holding him close to my chest, kissing him over and over. He was tiny and warm.