AUTHORS POV
THE ICU lights dimmed signaling the end of a high-risk delivery.
The ward was almost silent except for the bickering of nurses and Doctor Natasha. Gavin held his wife's hand firmly, his eyes glowed with anxious tears threatening to escape his green eyes.
Doctor Natasha, turned to the married couple after handing their immobile baby to a nurse. A glimpse of sadness flashed in her eyes through her glasses.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Reed, but your child couldn't make it." Doctor Natasha announced grimly. Gavin's grip on Sydney's pale hand loosened, his heartbeat matched the beeping of the Life support monitor.
"There were high traces of caffeine in her bloodstream as well as the baby's. Unfortunately, the baby couldn't survive it."
Gavin said nothing. His eyes drifted to his dead baby and then to Sydney. She was crying, normally, he would wipe her tears away, but instead, it disgusted him.
"I'm sorry," she mouthed, veins bulging from her forehead. He said nothing but stared at her, his angry eyes were glistening with tears.
His silence cut layers through her skin. The last time she had seen him this way was when his father disowned him, and he got hit with the reality that he had an eighteen-year-old wife and one-year-old to take care of alone. She had never seen him cry so much before.
"Gav-" she reached feebly to cup his cheek but he stood up, his eyes leaving hers. He headed for the door, Doctor Natasha called him back but he ignored her.
"Dad!" Ethan, Gavin's ten-year-old exclaimed as Gavin walked out of the ward. Emily, his six-year-old sister, moved in his arms as she slept.
Gavin pressed his pale finger on his lips signaling Ethan to be quiet. Ethan nodded briskly, "How's mum and Xavier?" He whispered, his voice shaky.
Emily was so excited about the baby she came up with potential names for the baby with Ethan. Sydney, and Gavin joined in, and they settled with Xavier.
Gavin let out his breath, controlling his tears. He bent to look Ethan in the eyes. "Mum's a bit sore now- but she'll be fine."
He didn't mention Xavier, "And Xav?"
Gavin wilted slightly. "He's taking a nap he'll wake up soon." in Heaven.
Ethan grinned, his curly blonde hair bouncing as he leaned on the chair and sighed. "Thank God."
His smile didn't reach his eyes. "I've gotta go now champ." Gavin said nearly breaking down. He needed to leave now before lost his sanity.
Ethan stood straight, frowning, "You have to stay with Mum; she needs you."
She hadn't needed him since five years ago, she decided to go against his decisions, and now they are all going to suffer the outcome of her disobedience. Or at least that's what he thought.
"I'll be back in a few minutes." He moved the hair from Ethan's forehead and kissed him. "Don't wake up your sister."
He nodded, slightly concerned about the look in Gavin's eyes. Gavin kissed Emily's cheek and when he stood, Ethan saw the tear that dropped to the ground. Gavin knew he saw it and walked away before he could speak.
Reaching into the pocket of his designer khaki pants, he pulled out a handkerchief and flicked his tears away. His demeanor turned hard and professional like it always was in the face of the public.
As soon as he stepped out of the hospital, multiple camera lights captured him and within a second, he was surrounded by desperate paparazzi and newscasters.
"Mr. Reed, was the delivery successful?"
"Mr. Reed, we heard your wife, Sydney Reed, skipped prenatal care because she didn't want to stress herself. Is that true?" almost.
"Mr. Reed, you aren't speaking. Is the baby all right?"
Gavin tore through the crowds; a bodyguard cleared his path as he headed towards his car, ignoring the hypocritical questions.
Gavin got into the plush passenger seat of his Rolls-Royce and slammed the door shut but not after hearing a question that broke into his stony demeanor.
"Is it true Mrs. Reed decided to become independent because you abused her just like her father, Mr. Morgan, abused his wife?"
Logan River, Gavin's driver, drove into the luxurious street of Beverly Hills. The car was eerily silent. Logan wanted to ask if Mrs. Reed was fine but he feared Gavin with his life. No one enjoyed upsetting Gavin Reed. Gavin had not always been fond of throwing his anger at others until God knows what happened five years ago. Logan thought.
Whatever it was, it ruined him. Logan saw the flicker of pain in his eyes as he stared out the window.
"Turn up the music," Gavin instructed, leaning into the chair and closing his eyes, his hands intertwined.
Logan Obeyed but Gavin wasn't satisfied. "Play something cynical." His voice was shrill and demanding.
Again, Logan obeyed. "Louder." Done. "Increase the speed to 70."
Logan drew in a soft gasp of protest. "But sir-" he paused when he caught Gavin's glare in the rearview mirror.
Done. Gavin frowned at the memories of his dead baby playing in his head like a broken record player. "Turn to the left and hit the gas." His knuckles were white.
Logan swallowed and obeyed. Multiple colored lights penetrated through Gavin's closed eyes. He was calculating, "Lower your speed, turn to the right, accelerate and hit the freaking brakes."
Logan killed the engine in the parking space of the Red Room strip club. His eyes widened, it never occurred to him he was driving to a strip club.
Logan blanched and he opened the door for Gavin, "Mr. Reed, Mrs. Reed won't be happy if she knew you came here." for goodness sake, she just put to bed and you should be with her!
Gavin scowled down at him. "Don't tell me how to bloody live my life." Those words were so familiar. Sydney had told him those same words five years back. Her voice filled with odd defiance.
Covetous eyes washed over Gavin as he stepped into the club. He was spent, he needed some liquid courage. He had never felt so helpless in his life. The woman he loved so much murdered his child.
Gavin was already wasted half an hour in the club, his white shirt soaked in alcohol. He looked more like the foolish teenager he used to be; His shirt flown out, blonde hair disheveled. He looked inexplicably sad.
"Gavin!" A brunette gasped, seeing him. Gavin lifted his head from the bar table and looked at her.
He recognized her immediately. "Avery." She had been Sydney's best friend since high school, and his old fling before Sydney captured his heart.
She studied his face and gasped again, "You look awful, are you okay?"
He stood swaying, "Do I look okay?" He barked exasperatedly but she didn't flinch.
Her hands cupped his cheeks and she stared up at him with concern and a subtle hint of happiness. "How's Sydney and Xav?"
Gavin held her hand away and ran a hand through his hair. "There's a quiet space upstairs, you could tell me about it."
"Leave me alone Avery," he growled.
"Keeping it in won't make things better. We both know what that has caused over the years." She crossed her arms around her voluptuous chest. It ached with cravings. A coveted craving.
Gavin gave in and followed her to the room upstairs. He entered first and she locked the door behind her. The lights were vermilion, obscuring Gavin's vision. His eyes darkened. He remembered the first day he had slept with Sydney; she was sixteen, pretty, and everything he loved, not the woman she was now.
"Tell me," Avery whispered, pouring champagne into a flute. Gavin sat on the bed, his eyes barely open as he watched her.
He opened his mouth to speak but he couldn't. Desire pricked his soul as she walked towards him, in nothing but a handless top and leather mini-skirt outlining her voluptuous figure. A weapon of seduction she had always possessed.
Their past relationship had been nothing more than a tool to gain popularity in high school. She was a rich brat before life slapped her in the face and he was a lecher who played with girls' hearts.
Her lashes batted. "Have a drink, you might feel better."
He collected the drink and she made sure their hands brushed. He had a boner instantly and she noticed it. "I'm married to Avery." He knew what she was trying to do.
Oh yeah, where has that gotten you? "I can consider." she licked the edge of the flute.
He glared at her. "Sydney is your best friend."
"I loved you first."
He scoffed. "Past tense." He emptied the glass and she smirked. He stood up and tried to leave but she blocked him. His chest brushed her large ones. He wanted to feel it again.
"We both know how much you want it too."
He hated himself for being a man. "Human desires are deceitful."
"Human desires are an epiphany." When she noticed the flicker of surrender in him she took the courage to wrap her hands around his neck.
His fist clenched but he didn't push her away. She smirked and moved her lips seductively to his ear. He had always wondered how she became a principal without a college degree. "She doesn't deserve you."
He swallowed, "I love my wife."
She wilted but didn't give up, "But, she doesn't love you." He also heard, 'she killed your child.' "When was the last time you slept with her?" she sucked his neck.
He lost every bit of self-control. He grabbed her by the neck and pushed her to the wall, devouring her like a hungry lion.
He tore their clothes off within seconds and pushed her to the bed. Everything he had been holding in, he let them out on her. Then he realized what she actually meant. "Deceitful whore."
She smirked, " I missed you, Gav."