Jake leads me into his room before closing the door. We take a seat on his bed and he takes hold of my hand before soaking in the sight of me.

"Talk to me, Emily. What did the doctor say? How do we manage this?"

I tell him everything I know. Repeating the information is scary and overwhelming. There's so much to remember. Jake remains silent and appears to be deep in thought. When I'm done, I find it difficult to read what he's thinking. He looks terrified so I use the chance to try and explain my thought process behind my decision.

"I want you to understand that I have to do this, I have to have this baby. When my father died, I was living life without a purpose. I didn't see a future because I spent every day wishing I was dead," I tell him quietly.

It's hard transporting back to the times of living with Mom and Trevor, but it's important to go back and work through those feelings.

"When I met you, I finally found a reason to live. I see a future for myself, a future with you. I see a future with you and our child. This tiny baby growing inside me is a reason to live. I'm a different person to who I was back then. I'm strong. I have the strength in me to fight against this, Jake."

His blue eyes fill with a layer of glossy tears. I reach up to wipe a stray tear and give him a small smile of reassurance.

"What if I lose you?" Jake whispers before hanging his head in remorse.

Seeing him so broken and emotional over this isn't easy for me. When I first met Jake Melvin, his feelings and emotions were locked behind a steel safe. Over the past year, he's learned to let down his guard and show me a side of him the rest of the world doesn't see. All I want to do is hold him and tell him everything is going to be okay, but I can't lie to him. I can't give him false hope. He's held me so many times before and told me the same thing. I truly believed in his words and it was the only way I endured the darkest times of my life. I can't give Jake false hope in case the worst happens. I take hold of his hand before placing it over my stomach. The sight of it causes me to smile through my tears.

"We both love you so incredibly much, Jake. This baby needs you and so do I. We can't do this without you. I can't do this without you," I whisper.

He searches my eyes before nodding in acceptance. I finally blow out the breath I'm holding and feel a new surge of life flow through me. When Jake is by my side, I feel like I can conquer anything.

"I'm right by your side, Wentworth."

It's all I need to hear to know I'm going to get through this. Jake leans down to press a kiss to my stomach and the sight of it warms my heart.

"Are you tired? You look exhausted," Jake says before pulling the covers up and over me.

I'm enveloped in his scent and I yawn before nodding my head.

"I'm always tired. Being pregnant is now my excuse... You caused this, Jake." I say before pointing down at my stomach. He laughs before settling in beside me.

"It's not my fault I'm irresistible. You can't keep your hands off me," Jake grins.

I swat his chest before laughing.

"God, you're so full of yourself."

He shoots me a devilishly handsome smile that causes flutters to fill my stomach.

"Baby... You love me that way."

I snake my fingers through his hair before gently tugging him toward me. Kissing him knowing we're on the same page over the pregnancy soothes my soul. Jake kisses me slowly, savoring every last second of having his lips on mine. I sigh against him before settling on his chest. His fingers stroke through my hair and within seconds, I'm fast asleep.

*

Trying to study and get through a day of education feels like running a marathon. Jake remains glued by my side through every lesson. Wherever I go, I feel his eyes watching me. It's like having my own personal bodyguard. I'm eating lunch with Trish and Jake when I see Ivory from across the canteen. Her eyes scan the area as she looks for a place to eat. She hasn't talked to me since I got home from the hospital several days ago. It saddens me and frustrates me at the same time.

"She'll get over it, Em." Trish says to me with a knowing look on her face.

I tear my eyes off Ivory before pushing aside the sadness consuming me.

"Yeah, I guess." I mutter under my breath.

Underneath the table, Jake rests his hand on my thigh before giving it a gentle squeeze. It's his way of reminding me I'm not alone. I feel a scorching gaze burning in my direction. When I lift my head, I find Violet glaring at me. Her eyes flicker between me and Jake before flashing with jealousy. Is she always watching me?

"I'm beginning to think Violet has an obsession with us," I mutter.

Jake frowns before following my line of gaze. When he makes eye contact with his ex-girlfriend, his features twist with dislike.

"Ignore her. She'll disappear once she doesn't get the attention she so desperately craves," Jake mutters before turning his back on Violet.

The lack of attention from Jake causes Violet's jaw to sharpen. She grabs her backpack before storming out of the canteen like a toddler having a tantrum.

Once my last class is over, I'm surprised to find Jake isn't outside the door waiting for me. We always ride home together after school and I was hoping to stop off for greasy fries. I have the biggest craving for greasy fries. I reach into my bag to find my phone before discovering it's out of battery. I groan and decide to go looking for him despite feeling like I'm dragging my feet with every step. Why is being pregnant so damn exhausting? Especially being pregnant when nobody is aware you're pregnant. I dodge the crowds of frenzied students trying to get home after a long day. My hands naturally fall to my stomach to protect the baby and I blow out an exasperated breath. I understand why the Doctor advised me to spend the remaining months of my pregnancy at home. I figured I'd try to live life as normal as possible if I didn't want to go stir crazy.

I notice one of Jake's friends hanging by the water fountain. He's scrolling through his phone as I approach him.

"Hey, have you seen Jake?" I ask him. He lifts his free hand before pointing in the direction of the school exit. He doesn't lift his head once from his phone and I roll my eyes at him in response.

"Thanks, bud." I mutter before shuffling toward the college exit.

As soon as I step foot outside, the wind whips harshly around me. I instantly shiver and wrap my arms around my top half to protect myself against the weather.

"Jake?" I call out his name.

The area is beginning to grow deserted as students drive away and the day draws to an end. I hoist my bag up my shoulder before searching around the perimeter of the building. Where could he have gotten to? This isn't like him. Did he freak out about the pregnancy and ditch me again? No, he wouldn't do that. Jake promised to be there for me.

"Jake?" I call out a little louder.

There's no sound other than the wind whistling past me. Goosebumps scatter down my arms and I wish I'd bought a jacket with me. I notice his car is still parked in the parking lot which means he's still here... He hasn't ditched me. Where is he?

"Jake?" I call out for a third time while walking around the back of the building.

That's when I hear the lowered muffled voices. Does one of those voices belong to Jake? I slow down my footsteps before peeking around the corner. My heart drops to the pit of my stomach when I notice Jake having a very animated conversation with Violet. I'm too far away to make out any words but the sight of them together causes uneasiness to stir inside me. Why did they have to come to the back of the building to talk? I don't get a good feeling about this.

I fear Jake has unfinished business with Violet and I don't want to get in the way of that. I'm about to turn around and give them privacy when I watch Violet stretch out her arm and place her hand on Jake's shoulder. She leans closer to say something to him and my hands ball into fists in response. I know that look on her face. It's a flirtatious look and she's on the hunt to catch my boyfriend. Not just my boyfriend, but the father of my child. I smirk with pride when Jake drops Violet's hand from his shoulder and takes a bold step back. If Violet is upset by his reaction, she doesn't show it. The girl's poker face is impeccable. Jake says something in response and he looks sad... defeated. I hate how seeing Violet after all this time is digging up feelings from the past for him.

Whatever Jake says to Violet causes her shoulders to slump. I'm hoping he turned her down once and for all and she's finally gotten the message. To my complete surprise, Violet takes a brave step forward, places her hand on Jake's chest and leans up to kiss him. My mouth falls open in complete shock. I'm not a particularly jealous person but seeing another girl force a kiss on my boyfriend fills me with rage. Not just any girl... But a girl who makes me instantly see red. Not many people have the ability to make me feel that way. I feel nausea swirling deep in my stomach. The kiss only lasts a split second before Jake pushes Violet off him and stumbles back. He yells something at her before reaching up to press his fingers against his lips... Lips that belong to me. He whirls around to walk away from Violet when his eyes connect with mine and he freezes in place.

I stare back at him in horror and disgust. The color drains from Jake's face and he takes a step toward me with his hands held up in surrender.

"Emily... I swear. It's not what it looked like," Jake tells me with instant regret.

I know exactly what it looked like. It looked like Violet tried to force herself onto Jake. My judgment isn't clouded or wrong. I watched everything unfold with my own eyes. My eyes blaze red with fury and I feel the frustration bubbling uncontrollably in the pit of my stomach. My gaze travels past Jake and lands on Violet who's standing behind him. This time, she's gone too far. From the moment she showed up, she's been hell bent on getting under my skin. She set out a plan to steal Jake from me despite him wanting nothing from her. She ignored human decency and girl code... I hate her. I hate her with a burning passion.

"You... bitch! I'm going to kill you!" The words leave my lips involuntarily.

I notice fear flash through Violet's eyes for a brief second before she smirks at me. She actually smirks at me. A guttural noise of anger builds in the back of my throat and I charge toward Violet. If she wants to play, she better be prepared to get down and dirty with me. I won't go down without a fight.