The Interrupted Plan

**Charlotte's POV**

The party was finally happening. The mansion, which had become a prison for me over the past few months, was now filled with life, music, and voices. Vanessa had transformed every corner of the house into a display of opulence and control. Everything was perfect, exactly as she had planned. For everyone present, the night was a celebration of Richard’s power and wealth. But for me, that night was supposed to be my chance to escape, to put my plan into action and finally free myself.

Since the morning, I had felt a growing agitation within me. The twins were more active than ever, and a feeling of unease had settled in my body. I tried to ignore it, focusing on the details of my plan, but it was as if my body was warning me that something was not right.

As the guests arrived, each more dazzled than the last by the grandeur of the party, I moved through the house with a surface calm, maintaining my façade of obedience and docility. Richard barely noticed me, too absorbed in his guests, while Vanessa shone by his side, the perfect hostess.

Everything was going according to plan. I knew where the exits were, had an ally waiting outside, and the chaos of the party would be the perfect distraction. But then, as I walked through the ballroom, a wave of pain overtook me, intense and unexpected.

I tried to disguise it, smiling at the guests and pretending everything was fine, but the pain only grew. It was a familiar pain, yet still terrifying. The air seemed to escape my lungs, and each step became more difficult. Suddenly, I felt warm liquid running down my legs. My heart raced in panic. My water had broken.

My plan, which had been carefully crafted over the past few months, was crumbling before my eyes. I needed to act quickly, but my body was betraying the urgency of the situation. I began to breathe deeply, trying to stay calm, but the pain intensified, spreading throughout my body.

One of the guests noticed my discomfort, and before I could react, Richard was by my side. His concerned but firm expression told me he already knew what was happening. “Charlotte, are you okay?” he asked, but there was an edge of urgency in his voice.

I tried to respond, but the pain cut off my words. Vanessa appeared right after, her eyes narrowing in suspicion but also something that looked like… satisfaction. She always seemed to be one step ahead, and now, I was vulnerable, exactly where she wanted me.

“We need to take her to the hospital now,” Richard ordered, starting to move to help me. But before he could do anything, Vanessa placed her hand on his arm, her fingers closing over him with surprising firmness.

“Richard, the party is still going on. You need to be here for your guests,” Vanessa said with a sweetness that almost masked the command in her voice. “Let the staff take Charlotte. You can’t just abandon the party.”

I saw the hesitation in Richard’s eyes. For a moment, he seemed torn, looking from me to Vanessa as if trying to decide which duty was more important. Finally, he nodded, his shoulders dropping in a resignation that cut deeply.

Vanessa smiled, satisfied, and signaled to one of the staff nearby. “Take her to the hospital immediately,” she instructed, maintaining control of the situation. “And make sure she gets the best care.”

I was being taken out of the mansion, feeling a mix of pain and betrayal. Richard had let me go alone, preferring to stay by Vanessa’s side and his guests. The reality of my situation became increasingly clear. Vanessa was taking my place, and Richard was allowing it.

As I was taken to the car, I could sense the guests’ stares. Many of them looked at me with concern, murmuring among themselves. To all of them, I was still Richard’s wife, the mother of the children he so eagerly awaited. But there was something more, a silent discomfort that permeated the atmosphere. Vanessa, despite all the control she wielded, was seen as an intruder by many there. They didn’t know how deeply she had infiltrated our lives, how she was gradually taking my place.

The ride to the hospital was a blur of pain and fear. Each contraction was a painful reminder that the birth of my children was out of my control. Everything I had planned for that night, all my efforts to escape, was being undone by the very process of bringing these twins into the world.

When we finally arrived at the hospital, I was quickly taken to a delivery room. The medical team moved urgently around me, preparing to bring my children into the world. Richard was not by my side. Instead, I was surrounded by strangers, people who had no idea of the terror I felt, of the internal battle I was fighting to stay calm.

The hours that followed were pure exhaustion. Each contraction seemed to tear a piece of me away, each scream echoing as a reminder of how much I was at the mercy of events. Finally, I heard the first cry, sharp and strong, followed by the second. My children were born. They were here.

I should have felt relieved, but all I felt was deep fear. I knew that now, more than ever, I needed to protect them. But how could I do that when Richard was determined to completely control their lives and mine?