Maddox was trying really hard. Six weeks had gone by and he hadn't raped her yet – he hadn't even tried to kiss her. Sometimes he held her hand or laid an arm around her, but that was all.

Still it was grueling. All those time she had the feeling to walk on glass. She was constantly alert, contemplated every word she said and all the time she was afraid that he would lose his patience. Every night they had dinner together where he was trying to keep a conversation going, but it was never from heart to heart.

Dana couldn't tell him what thoughts occupied her mind. That she thought about Juice continuously, being so worried she barely slept at night. She didn't even dare to speak out his name. As long as Maddox managed to pretend Juice didn't exist, the situation seemed to be stable. But as soon as he felt that she still loved him... his friendliness would easily meet an end.

It was exhausting to keep up appearances, but she had to. Not only because of what he would do to her, but also to Kip. Maddox had made some kind of personal servant of him and even though Dana knew Kip hated it, he behaved meekly because of her. It had been a smart move from Maddox; this way he could be sure she would never harm herself.

Dana glanced at her watch. It was 3:25 PM. She stood up and walked outside, to the beach that bordered the house. There she sat down in the two-person swing looking over the sea. Sometimes she sat there with Maddox, but mostly with Kip.

It had became their fixed meeting place, every day on half past three. Maddox never objected, he allowed them a moment together. Usually he was in the office anyway around this hour, having Skype conversations with his business partners. Actually they were free to go wherever they wanted – they couldn't leave the island anyway. It was just a small patch of land and the dock was guarded 24/7, that had been one of the first things they had discovered.

"How do you feel today?" Kip asked as he sat down next to her. "You feel a bit better?"

Letting out a deep sigh, Dana leaned with her head against his shoulder. She stroked her belly. For a few weeks she was assuming something was growing inside her, but she hadn't dared to share her suspicions. Giving birth to a child that wasn't Maddox's would probably drive him insane. Saying out loud made it permanent, it scared her... and at the same time it was something she could no longer keep to herself.

"I think I know what's causing the nausea," she said after a while. She bit her lip as her eyes started to burn. Oh Juice... She pressed her lips together. Oh, how she wished he was here. She missed him every day, but right now she would be willing to give up her own arm to hold him just for a while. After taking a deep breath, she looked at Kip. "I think I'm pregnant."

The man's eyes widened. All colour was drained from his face. He also realized that wasn't something they could be happy about in their current situation.

"Shit, Dane..."

She wiped her eyes. "Yeah."

"How long..."

"Probably two months."

"You only found out now?"

She shrugged her shoulders, staring at the sand. "The nausea, the stomach pain, the missed periods... I thought it was caused by stress. This whole situation is just insane. But now I can feel it, somehow."

"Shit..." he repeated. "I don't know what to say."

Dana bit her nail as she fought off the tears. "I hope... I just hope he will see it one day. Will know about it." With her wrist she rubbed her eyes. There was no point in it, more tears glided down and sobbing she bent her head. "I miss him so much," she sniffled. "I miss him so terribly."

"I know." Kip turned towards her and wrapped his arms around her. "I know. I miss Cherry too. Even if..." He trailed off.

Dana closed her eyes. After she had told him what Cherry had done, they had never spoken about his girlfriend again. Dana knew he hated Cherry for her betrayal, but he still loved her. Of course he loved her.

Dana couldn't blame him – nor could she blame Cherry. She wouldn't know what she had done if she had been in Cherry's place. Maybe she would have betrayed Cherry too if she could get Juice back. She would even betray Kip. She loved her friends, but Juice...

She had wanted to grow old with him. And now she was having his child and he didn't even know it.