Chapter 54: The Corridor of Shadows
That night, Anna lay weary on the bed, her breath fragile, her skin pale beneath the dim amber light. She blinked slowly, forcing a faint smile when she saw Leon sitting beside her, his hands clasping hers—warm yet trembling.
— Are you… tired? — Anna whispered, her voice as fleeting as a breeze.
Leon shook his head, his gaze tender but carrying an ocean of unease.
— No. I’m only afraid… afraid you’re in pain. Anna, don’t ever leave me…
Her lashes quivered, sorrow flickering in her eyes as they locked onto his, luminous as though they could embrace his very soul.
— How could I ever leave you? Wherever you and our child are, that’s where I belong.
Her words gripped Leon’s heart, a bittersweet ache tearing him apart. He lowered his head, letting his forehead rest against her cold hand.
— I swear, Anna… I’ll protect you and our child. At any cost.
Anna held his gaze, her breathing faint, yet her smile glowed.
— I believe you. Because you are my Leon…
Her eyes finally closed, lashes trembling before surrendering to slumber. Her breathing evened out, soft and steady. Leon carefully drew the blanket up to her shoulders, his hand lingering as his fingers traced her fragile face, memorizing every line as though it might vanish. Her hollow cheeks still carried that gentle grace, tightening the ache in his chest. Leaning closer, he whispered against her ear, his voice blending with the monitor’s steady beep… beep…:
— Sleep. I’ll be here.
Once Anna had drifted into deep sleep, Leon rose, turned, and left. The door shut behind him with a faint creak, like a sigh, leaving behind the warm room filled with the breath of the woman he loved.
The corridor outside was cold, stretching endlessly. Harsh fluorescent light spilled onto the worn tiles, stripping everything bare. The air reeked of disinfectant, sharp in his throat, each breath cutting like a blade.
At the end of the hall, the doctor waited, a thick file in hand, his fingers tapping against the cover in a dry, hollow rhythm. His expression was grave, tightening Leon’s chest.
— Mr. Leon, — the doctor began as soon as he approached, his voice devoid of preamble — after reexamining Miss Anna’s condition, I… regret to inform you that we may need to terminate the pregnancy early.
A heavy silence fell. Leon’s ears rang as though he were drowning underwater. Only the pounding of his own heart thundered in his skull. It took him several seconds to force words out, his voice trembling but still holding on to composure:
— Doctor… didn’t you say right after the surgery that as long as Anna stayed in bed, the baby could still have a chance?
The doctor nodded, his gaze dropping with the weight of unspoken regret.
— That was true… before today. But after my examination— His tone sank, each word a nail driven into Leon’s chest — even if she stays in bed day and night, I cannot guarantee the safety of either mother or child.
Leon froze. The words struck like a hammer, shaking him to the core. His hand gripped the wall, veins bulging, knuckles bone-white. His breath grew ragged, chest constricting as if ready to burst. For a moment his knees buckled, and he had to lean against the wall just to remain standing.
Suddenly, the sharp clack of heels echoed down the corridor. A nurse rushed in, panting, sweat shining on her brow.
— Doctor! Emergency case—we need you now!
The doctor faltered, then glanced back at Leon. In his eyes flickered professionalism laced with guilt. He stepped closer, laid a heavy hand on Leon’s shoulder, and said:
— Mr. Leon, you and Miss Anna are still young. There will be other chances to have a child. Please… make the decision soon, for her sake.
Then he turned away, following the nurse, his figure vanishing at the corner, leaving Leon stranded in the frozen corridor.
Leon stood rooted. His heart was a hollow pit, swallowing everything whole. Losing Anna… he dared not think. But losing the baby… he could not bear it either. That tiny life was their blood, their fragile hope growing day by day. Thoughts spiraled in torment, suffocating him from within.
Then came the slow, steady tap… tap… of a cane striking the floor. Heavy footsteps followed, dragging a cold authority that thickened the air. A tall figure advanced, shoulders squared, the harsh light etching deep lines of time into his stern face. It was Sterling.
He stopped before Leon, eyes fathomless as an abyss, piercing and merciless.
— She fell down the stairs, didn’t she?
Leon jolted, his eyes widening, breath caught in his throat.
— You… how do you know?
Without a pause, Sterling replied, his voice calm, as if stating an undeniable fact:
— Because nothing in this house escapes me. And nothing happens without reason.
A chill ran down Leon’s spine. In his chest, a dark foreboding stirred. Sterling’s voice dropped lower, cold enough to freeze the marrow:
— She’s not worthy of you. Give her some money, let her leave. Your engagement will take place in two months.
— Grandfather… — Leon staggered back, horror in his eyes, his voice cracking — what are you saying?
Sterling’s lips curled into a thin, cruel smile. His gaze, honed by decades in the ruthless world of business, was as frigid as it was unyielding.
— I don’t repeat myself. Remember this—Sterling blood does not mingle with the lowborn.
With that, he turned, the echo of his cane striking the floor again: tap… tap… His towering frame faded into the cold corridor’s distance.
Leon stood frozen, every nerve aflame. In an instant, scattered fragments in his mind pieced together: the fall on the stairs, his grandfather’s sudden appearance, that icy gaze… It was no accident.
He slammed his fist against the wall, knuckles splitting, blood dripping, his eyes burning red with a mix of pain and fury. Yet beneath it all, a terror gnawed at him: how could he tell Anna? Could she survive such a blow?
The corridor drowned in silence. The fluorescent light flickered, the wind whistled through a cracked window, harsh and hollow. Only Leon remained, crushed beneath despair, his heart plunging deeper into a bottomless abyss with no escape.