Chapter 1

"Can this wanness mean you've been missing me?" Rhett questioned, and though his lips smiled his eyes did not.

Scarlett's eyes flashed at his arrogance and she squared her shoulders, no longer caring how he found out. "If I'm pale it's your fault and not because I've been missing you, you conceited thing. It's because-" and she hesitated for the barest sliver of a second before her temper overcame her, snapping bitterly, "it's because I'm going to have a baby."

His face took on the glow that always frightened her with it's incomprehensible intensity and she stared at him with frank hatred, despising him for putting her in this position now, for forcing her to say what she'd no intention of saying and putting her at a disadvantage yet again. His face hardened suddenly to match hers as he bit out cuttingly,

"You don't say? And who is the happy father? Ashley?"

She sucked in a breath and her eyes went wide as she sputtered "Why you- you-" she took a deep breath, composing herself and forced herself to continue calmly but with venom, "How do you dare? You- you know it's yours."

Her only answer was a languidly arched eyebrow and an infuriatingly calm, "Oh do I, my dear Mrs. Butler?"

She glared at him and the hatred in her was burning now, threatening to overtake her. With an extreme act of will she turned her back to him, making her way up the rest of the stairs. Reaching the landing she turned to face him. "I-I don't care what you believe, you cad. I wish you'd never come back." Her voice began to shake and grow louder but she continued, clenching her fists. "I-I hope I never see you again and I'll hate and despise you till I die. This is my child, mine, and if you ever try to come near me or him again I'll kill you, I will."

In spite of her best efforts a small sob escaped her and she swallowed it quickly, thinking that no matter what Rhett must never, never see how he had hurt her. She continued quickly, not caring who heard, "I- I wish it was anyone's child but yours, but you needn't feel under any-" and she nearly choked on the word, "obligation." Her eyes blazed suddenly and she hissed with venom, "But don't worry too much, darling- maybe it isn't yours after all."

And with all the limited dignity she still possessed, Scarlett regally entered her room, shutting the door, and hoped her sobs weren't audible outside.