Chapter 8
When the hospital’s distinctive sterile smell hit my nostrils, I struggled to open my eyes through sharp pain and confusion. The heavy, dragging pain in my lower abdomen was still intense, but seemed suppressed by medication, becoming numb and heavy.
My first instinct was to touch my belly-it was still swollen, but I was shrouded in an ominous premonition.
Tina! Tina, you’re awake?!” My mother’s voice, choked with tears, rushed to my bedside and gripped my cold hand with trembling fingers.
My father stood at the foot of the bed, lips pressed tight, his eyes filled with suppressed rage and heartbreak.
“How is the baby…?” My voice was hoarse.
Mom’s tears immediately rolled down, her lips trembling, unable to speak. 2
Father stepped forward, took a deep breath, his voice low and heavy: “Tina, listen to me. You were in terrible condition when you arrived. The severe impact caused partial placental abruption, contractions couldn’t be stopped, and there was serious bleeding…”
My pupils dilated with terror, overwhelming fear completely consuming me.
My father continued through gritted teeth: “The doctors did everything they could… but the baby… the heartbeat has stopped. To save your life, you need immediate labor induction… otherwise, you might…”
I couldn’t hear the rest clearly. I only felt a buzzing in my ears, all the blood in my body seeming to rush to my heart before instantly freezing.
A life that had been nurtured for over six months, that could already kick, that already had movement-in that instant of falling, in that pool of warm, thick
blood… had left forever.
I was swallowed by immense emptiness and cold. I couldn’t even cry, my mind was completely blank.
“Who did this?” Father’s voice suppressed his anger. “Grace is at the police station-she’s the one who caused all this. And Aiden? His son is dead-where is he?”
My gaze slowly focused, looking toward the door.
Just then, the hospital room door was violently pushed open. Aiden rushed in, his hair disheveled, his expensive tailored suit wrinkled-clearly, he’d just come from the hospital where he worked.
Seeing my pale face and the pain and anger on my parents’ faces, Aiden’s steps faltered. His gaze unconsciously fell to my abdomen, then shifted to my bandaged wrists and the bloodstains on the floor. Aiden’s face instantly turned deathly pale.
Tina… Dad… Mom…” Aiden’s voice was hoarse, carrying undeniable panic. “You… the child…” He didn’t even dare ask.
My father, a distinguished Ivy League professor, calm and elegant, now stood there with eyes sharp as knives. He didn’t rage or curse, but stepped forward, walked up to Aiden, then blocked the direction of the hospital bed, asking in a restrained but cold voice:
‘Aiden, your mother broke into my daughter’s home, assaulted her, and caused her child’s death. And you, the child’s father-where were you when your wife
was under threat of death?”
Aiden trembled all over, his eyes evasive: “Dad… I…”
‘Answer me!!” Father’s voice wasn’t loud, but carried suppressed power.
I… I was at the hospital… there was an emergency consultation…” Aiden’s voice grew smaller and smaller, losing all conviction.
Images of Vera and the terrible memory of my fall flashed through his mind, making him feel guilty.
Emergency consultation?” Father laughed coldly. “You were busy saving other people’s lives, but couldn’t be bothered with his own wife and child’s lives?”
My father’s gaze swept up and down Aiden’s disheveled appearance, finally settling on his messy collar: “That perfume scent on you-is that from the operating room? It seems your emergency consultation was completed with someone else? You didn’t even dress properly before rushing here?”
Aiden’s body stiffened, completely unable to answer.
