CHAPTER 61 - It couldn't be

The darkness was all-encompassing at first, as if I had been submerged in deep, cold water. Somewhere in the distance, faint, distorted voices floated toward me, too muffled to make sense of. My limbs felt like lead, too heavy to move, and my mind spun in circles, tethered somewhere between consciousness and oblivion.

Then came the faint tug of a voice. My name, spoken softly at first, then more insistently.

“Daphne… Please, wake up.”

The sound was familiar, comforting, even,but laced with desperation. It drew me closer to the surface, like a lifeline cutting through the fog. My eyelids fluttered open slowly, the harsh fluorescent lights above making me wince. My body felt alien, too weak to obey my commands, and the sharp tang of antiseptic filled my nostrils.

I blinked, forcing my vision to adjust. White walls, the steady beeping of monitors, and the faint hum of hospital machinery greeted me. I was in a hospital room.

“Daphne,” Jayden’s voice was thick with relief, his face suddenly filling my field of vision. His hand gripped mine tightly, grounding me. He looked disheveled, dark circles under his eyes, his shirt wrinkled and untucked. “Thank God you’re awake. You scared the hell out of me.”

“W…What happened?” I croaked, my throat dry and scratchy. I tried to sit up, but the dull, throbbing ache in my head forced me back down.

“You fainted,” he said, his voice trembling despite the steady facade he was trying to maintain. “The doctor said it was exhaustion, dehydration, and stress. Daphne, you’ve been pushing yourself too hard. You haven’t been eating or sleeping, and…”

“I’m fine,” I interrupted weakly, even though I could hear the lie in my voice. My hands instinctively moved to my stomach, and my mind raced. “Jade,” I gasped. “Where is she? Is she okay?”

“She’s stable,” he said quickly, his tone firm but reassuring. “The oxygen helped, and the doctors are monitoring her closely. She’s still fragile, but she’s okay. I promise.”

Relief washed over me so fast that it left me lightheaded. My baby was okay. For now. But as the wave of relief subsided, guilt took its place, sharp and unrelenting. What kind of mother was I, letting myself get to this point? Jade needed me, and I had let my own body betray me.

“I need to see her,” I said, trying once again to push myself up. But Jayden’s hands were on my shoulders, gently but firmly keeping me in place.

“You need to rest,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “You can’t help her if you’re not well yourself. The doctor said if you keep going like this, you’ll end up back here—or worse. Daphne, please. You can’t keep doing this.”

His words stung because they were true. But the defiance in me…the same defiance that had gotten me through every hardship in my life, rose to the surface. I turned my head away, refusing to meet his gaze. “You don’t get to tell me what to do,” I muttered. “You don’t get to pretend like you care.”

His grip on my hands tightened, not enough to hurt but enough to make me look at him. His face was inches from mine, his expression raw and unguarded. “I do care,” he said quietly, his voice trembling. “Whether you believe me or not, I care about you. And about Jade.”

Before I could respond, the door opened, and the doctor walked in, clipboard in hand. He smiled warmly when he saw me awake.

“Good to see you’re awake, Mrs. Horton,” he said. The title made me flinch, but I said nothing. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I’ve been run over by a truck,” I muttered, earning a small chuckle from the doctor.

“Well, that’s to be expected. Your body’s been under immense stress, and you’ve been neglecting your basic needs. Thankfully, your husband brought you in when he did. You’ll need to stay here for at least another day for observation, and you’ll need to take it easy. I’ll have the nurse bring you something to eat.”

Jayden spoke up before I could protest. “No need. Just let me know what she can have, and I’ll take care of it.”

The doctor nodded and left the room, and I sank back into the pillows, too tired to argue. Moments later, the door opened again, and Grace stepped in, a basket of fruits and a food pack in her hands.

“Oh, Daphne,” she said, rushing to my side. “You gave me such a scare. How are you feeling? Jayden told me everything. Work's got me choked up, that's why I haven't been able to come around.”

I turned to look at Jayden but he looked away.

“I’m fine,” I said, though the hoarseness of my voice betrayed me. “Grace, I’m so sorry for snapping at you the other day. I… didn't… I…”

“Stop,” she said, cutting me off. “You don’t have to apologize. I understand. You’ve been going through so much, and I should’ve been more patient. I just wanted to help.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, and before I knew it, she was pulling me into a hug. It was the kind of warmth and comfort I hadn’t realized I’d been missing until that moment.

“How’s the baby?” she asked gently as she pulled back. “Have you picked out a name yet?”

“Her name is Jade,” Jayden answered before I could.

Grace’s face lit up. “That’s beautiful. She's definitely priceless, I can't think of any name more perfect than that. She’s going to grow up to be just as strong as her mom.”

I gave her a small, tired smile, but her words hit me harder than I expected. I didn’t feel strong. I felt like I was barely holding on by a thread.

Grace unpacked the food, but her phone buzzed before she could set it on the table. “I’m so sorry,” she said, glancing at the screen. “It’s work. I have to take this.” She hesitated, then added, “But I’ll be back later, okay? Get some rest. I love you girlll”

She left in a hurry, leaving me alone with Jayden. He didn’t waste any time, pulling his chair closer and opening the food flask. The rich aroma of soup filled the room, and my stomach growled despite my earlier protest.

“I’ll feed you,” he said, ladling some soup into a bowl.

“I’m not hungry,” I muttered, crossing my arms.

He didn’t even look up. “I wonder if you’re mad at me, at yourself, or at Jade,” he said evenly, setting the bowl on the tray in front of me. “But none of that changes the fact that you need to eat.”

I glared at him, but my body betrayed me again, my hunger outweighing my pride. I reluctantly allowed him to lift the spoon to my lips, but my gaze drifted toward the door. My breath caught in my throat, and I choked on the soup.

“Daphne!” Jayden exclaimed, grabbing a napkin to wipe my mouth. “Are you okay?”

But I wasn’t paying attention to him. My eyes were fixed on the figure standing just outside the door, staring through the small glass window.

It couldn’t be.