one hundred and seventy eight

Jenny's POV

As Elijah's mother approached me with a menacing aura, I braced myself for the inevitable confrontation. Her eyes bore into mine with a fiery intensity, a silent promise of the storm that was about to break loose. And then, without warning, her hand lashed out, delivering a stinging slap that echoed through the room.

The force of the blow sent me reeling, a sharp pain blossoming across my cheek as I crumpled to the ground. The taste of blood filled my mouth, a bitter reminder of the hatred that simmered beneath the surface. I knew all too well the depths of her animosity towards me, a venomous enmity that clouded her judgment and fueled her actions.

Despite the searing pain and humiliation, my thoughts strayed not to myself but to the precious life growing within me. The safety of my unborn child was paramount, a beacon of hope and vulnerability amid chaos. I couldn't let any harm befall them, couldn't bear the thought of their innocence being tainted by the darkness that