Serena and Fred walked in inside their house.

- What a lovely baby, wasn't she? You think we are going to have a beautiful girl like that, too?

Fred's heart was aching. He knew Serena said all those things in purpose. As soon as she saw Offred about to go upstairs, a smirk appeared on her face.

- Oh, don't worry about that devil child you lost.

Offred freezed. She and Fred were looking each other in the eyes for a fraction of second before he turned to Serena raising his hand as he was about to slap her.

- IF YOU WANNA LIVE ..
- What, Fred? Is this the proper way to talk to your wife in front of the Handmaid?

Offred had tears streaming down her face. She ran upstairs crying.

- Listen here, you sick.. I am the husband. I can punish you if you misbehave and don't obey to my word. Do you understand that?
- You're not quite in the position to give me orders, Fred. The Wife is responsible for the Handmaid. All you have to do with her is rape her systematically.
- Shut your fucking mouth!
- Why? Did I say something that's not true? I'm warning you, Fred. I can hurt her. She doesn't have to pay for your mistakes, poor thing.

Fred thought that in that moment he was either going to kill her or walk out of the room to avoid it from happening. He chose the latter.

Offred was standing near the window, sobbing. What were they going to do to escape this hell? It was impossible. Suddenly the door of her room opened. It was Serena.

- Tonight we'll be having the ceremony. I hope it's your lucky night, cause I'm not going to give you any more chances.

She left without saying anything else. Offred layed her head next to the wall and kept looking outside. How much longer? How much?

Fred saw that Nick was outside cleaning the car. As he was about to go to him, Serena stopped him.

- Fred! I just told Offred that we will be having the ceremony tonight. This is her last chance.
- You don't get to decide about her chances.
- Actually I do.
- No, I do. Now get out of my sight, I don't want to see you.

He was about to go out but she grabbed his arm. Then, she came closer to him, trying to smell him.

- We've been married for more than six months now.. and you haven't even tried to touch me.

Fred turned around angrily.

- I never will. You wanted all this, I didn't. You ruined my family.
- That woman isn't your family! I am.
- You will never be. You're just the murderer of my baby.
- It was the right thing to do for your salvation. I gave you the chance to have another baby now. Our baby.
- It won't be yours! It will be mine and of my woman! The woman I love! That woman is my LIFE! THAT WOMAN THAT YOU SICK BASTARDS TREATED LIKE AN ANIMAL!! YOU PUT HER UNDER ANESTHESIA WITHOUT HER WILL AND KILLED OUR BABY!

Tears were streaming down his face as he was talking. In that moment Nick came in. He saw Fred's red eyes and tears and Serena's nervous face.

- I.. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt..
- No, don't worry, Nick. Mr. Waterford was about to go upstairs to get ready for the ceremony. Can you do me a favor and please go tell the Handmaid to start getting ready?
- Sure, Ma'am.

As he was about to go Fred violently grabbed his arm. His eyes were filled with tears and enormous hate.

- You are not allowed to go to my.. Handmaid's room. Never. Do you hear me? NEVER!

Nick didn't know what to do or think. He tried to remain calm. Serena closed her eyes and nervously touched her forehead.

- Nick, go and tell her, please. I'll talk with Mr. Waterford.

Nick looked at Fred, who was still holding his arm so tight.

- Sir?

Fred wasn't letting go of his arm.

- Fred, let him go. Now!

He didn't have any other choice. Nick went upstairs, while Fred rushed out of there. Serena sat on the nearest chair, breaking down. Even though she pretended to be tough and cold, Fred's behavior towards her hurt her so much. When was he going to understand that she had done a favor to him and only because of the great love she had for him she had saved that slut, too. At least she was going to serve for something. Give them a child.

Nick softly knocked on Offred's door. She was still at the same spot Serena had left her. As soon as the door opened she got up a bit scared. Nick smiled.

- Hello.

Offred was looking at him scared.

- I.. I'm Nick, the driver.
- Yeah.. I know who you are. Hi.
- How.. how are you feeling?

Offred turned her head to the side and didn't say anything.

- I know it's a silly question to ask at this point.. I'm sorry. Um.. Mrs. Waterford said you should get ready for the ceremony. They're waiting for you.

Offred nodded. She was trying to keep her tears.

- Thank you.. Nick.
- Praise be.
- Praise be.

Nick closed the door very slowly, trying to memorize every detail of her. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on.

After Offred was ready, she went to her masters' bedroom. There they were, waiting for her. Fred looked devastated. It was obvious that he had been crying. She tried to keep herself together and went and laid down where Serena was waiting for her. Fred poured some whiskey on his glass and drank it at one sip. Then he went near her, slowly opened her legs and unzipped his pants. Serena was holding her wrists as always and looking somewhere at a blank point on her right side. She looked lost in her thoughts. Offred was looking at Fred. He was keeping eye contact with her, too. His cock got hard right away. He had been drinking the last two hours before the ceremony to try and kill somehow his pain. Only Offred could cure him. His Joy.
As he put it inside her, she closed her eyes a little bit in pain and in pleasure. His movements were becoming slightly faster. Offred let out a little moan. This turned him on even more. He touched one of her thighs without taking his eyes off her. Serena wasn't even paying attention. Of course, Fred was trying not to make it too obvious. Offred was keeping her eyes closed. Fred closed them too, moaning in the peak of his orgasm. Offred let out another small moan too at the same time with Fred's. He was still staying inside her. In those moments all he could think about was how much he wanted to lay down with her, hug her, kiss her whole body. Serena was looking at him with anger.

- What are you doing, Fred? Go clean yourself. Offred must go now.

Fred stepped backwards and then zipped his pants. Offred got up and left. They were looking at each other until she closed the door.

- What did you think you were doing, huh?
- What?
- You're not supposed to look at her during the act, nor touch her! I saw your hand on the upper part of her thigh!
- I will do whatever I want. She is mine. All mine.
- Not for too long.
- For an eternity.. and even longer.

He went to the bathroom and smacked the door. She was left there, in her bitter anger. Offred was going to pay for it all.