Chapter 116
Sophia
The ticking of the wall clock felt like a hammer against my temples as I paced the living room for what must have been the hundredth time. My ankle monitor weighed heavier than usual, a constant reminder of my helplessness while my daughter—my baby—was somewhere in an ambulance fighting for her life.
My stomach twisted into knots so tight I could barely breathe, and all I could think was: If she dies while I'm trapped in this fucking apartment, I'll lose my goddamn mind.
Sage Morrison stood by the window, her phone pressed to her ear. I watched her expressions change, desperate for any information about Lily. When she finally lowered the phone, I nearly lunged at her.
"What is it? Please tell me she's okay," I begged, my voice cracking. My hands were shaking so badly I had to clench them into fists, nails digging painfully into my palms.
"I just received a text from Mr. Sterling," Sage said carefully. "The ambulance is already en route to St. Mary's. Lily's condition is critical but stable. She's hanging in there."
I closed my eyes, relief and terror battling inside me. A sob threatened to escape, but I swallowed it down, tasting bile and fear. "And Dr. Robinson? Is she—"
"Yes, he's already preparing for her arrival. He'll be handling her care personally." Sage's tone was gentler than I'd ever heard it. "Mr. Sterling also asked me to tell you that he appreciates how quickly you acted. If you hadn't started CPR immediately..."
She didn't finish the sentence. She didn't need to.
"How kind of him," I said, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. "How fucking magnanimous of Blake Sterling to appreciate me saving OUR daughter." I sank onto the couch, my legs suddenly too weak to hold me.
The memory of Blake in that prison cell telling me he would take Lily away flashed through my mind. His cold eyes, his cruel words—" We are done, Sophia. There are no second chances. " The memory cut deeper than any knife, twisting in my gut as I recalled how he'd looked at me like I was nothing but dirt beneath his expensive shoes. After everything we'd been through, he'd treated me like a criminal, worse than his mother ever had.
Elizabeth appeared from the kitchen carrying a tray with sandwiches and tea. Her eyes were red-rimmed, but her movements were steady, practical.
"You need to eat something," Elizabeth urged, pushing a plate toward me. "You haven't had anything."
"I can't," I whispered, my stomach churning with anxiety. "How the hell am I supposed to eat when my baby could be dying? When I can't even hold her hand?" My voice broke, and I pressed my fist against my mouth, biting down on my knuckle until I tasted blood, anything to stop the scream building in my chest .
Sage stepped forward. "Ms. Green, I understand this is incredibly difficult, but Elizabeth is right. You need to maintain your strength."
I shook my head stubbornly. Food was about as appealing as chewing glass right now.
"We're working on getting you a special visitation allowance," Sage continued, her voice taking on a more official tone. "But I need to warn you—if you refuse to take care of yourself, it will impact the judge's decision. Judge Cedric will want to see that you're stable enough to handle this crisis."
My head snapped up. "What do you mean, special visitation?" My heart stuttered, hope and suspicion warring within me. I'd learned the hard way not to trust anything that sounded too good.
"I've already contacted Caroline Winters. She's filing an emergency petition with Judge Cedric for a hospital visitation exception to your house arrest."
Hope flickered dimly in my chest for the first time since they'd taken Lily away. "They might let me see her?"
"It's possible," Sage nodded. "But there would be conditions. Security personnel would need to accompany you at all times, and you'd be monitored throughout the visit."
Elizabeth sat beside me, her hand on my arm. "It's better than nothing, Sophia."
I looked at the sandwich on the plate—turkey on whole wheat, cut into triangles the way Lily liked it. My throat closed up at the sight, remembering how she'd giggle when I pretended the triangles were little boats sailing into her mouth. God, what if I never heard that laugh again? My throat tightened, but I forced myself to pick up half a triangle.
"Good," Sage said with approval. "You need your strength, both for Lily and for your case."
I took a small bite, tasting nothing. It might as well have been cardboard for all I cared. As I chewed mechanically, my phone rang. Alex's name flashed on the screen, and I grabbed it so quickly I nearly dropped it.
"Alex? How is she?" I demanded, my heart racing. Every cell in my body tensed, bracing for the worst.
"She's with Dr. Robinson now. They're working to stabilize her condition before they can determine exactly what's wrong." His voice sounded strained, exhausted.
"Is she awake? Has she asked for me?" I couldn't keep the desperation from my voice.
"She's sedated, Sophia. But..." He hesitated. "There was an incident here."
My grip on the phone tightened. My knuckles went white. "What happened?"
"Blake and I had a... disagreement. Things got physical."
"What? He hit you?" My voice rose sharply. "That arrogant son of a bitch! What the fuck is wrong with him?"
"It doesn't matter. His father stepped in and defused the situation. What matters is Lily—"
"It absolutely matters!" I was on my feet now, fury surging through me. "Our daughter is fighting for her life and he's picking fights like some goddamn high school bully?" I stopped, aware of Sage watching me carefully. I took a deep breath and lowered my voice. "I just want him gone, Alex. I want him to disappear from our lives completely."
"I know," Alex said softly. "But right now, we have to focus on Lily. I promise I'll call you the moment I know anything more."
"You'll stay with her?"
"All night if I have to. I won't leave her side."
After we hung up, I sat staring at the phone, tears burning behind my eyes. I imagined Blake in his thousand-dollar suit, throwing punches while my child lay unconscious nearby.
"I'm sorry," I said finally, glancing at Sage. "I shouldn't be getting angry at a time like this. Lily is what matters." Though God knows that bastard deserves every ounce of my rage and then some.
"It's understandable," Sage replied, surprisingly empathetic. "For what it's worth, I think Mr. Sterling is probably just as terrified as you are. Men aren't always... useful when it comes to emotions. They tend to channel fear into anger."
I looked at her skeptically, a bitter laugh threatening to escape . Since when did Blake deserve the benefit of the doubt? But Sage's expression was genuinely understanding.
"You're handling this better than many would in your position," she added. "You're going to get through this, Ms. Green."
The phone rang again before I could respond. Alex again.
"Sophia?" His voice sounded lighter this time. "Dr. Robinson just came out to update us. Lily is stabilizing. They've identified the problem—a blood clot was partially blocking one of her heart valves. They're working to clear it now."
I pressed my hand against my mouth, tears spilling over. "Oh thank God," I whispered. Relief crashed through me like a tidal wave, making me dizzy. My baby was fighting. She was hanging on. "Is she—will she—"
"Dr. Robinson is optimistic. She's responding well to the medication." He paused. "Sophia, I want you to know, no matter what happens between you and Blake, between any of us... we're family. Lily connects us all."
I couldn't speak past the lump in my throat, so I just nodded, forgetting he couldn't see me.
"I'll call again soon," he promised, and hung up.
Elizabeth pressed a mug of tea into my hands. "Drink this. It's chamomile with honey, the way you like it."
I accepted it gratefully, warming my suddenly cold fingers against the ceramic. Sage stood by the window, tactfully giving me space to process my emotions. Outside, Manhattan's lights twinkled against the darkening sky, millions of lives continuing as normal while mine hung in suspended animation.
I took a sip of tea, the sweet warmth sliding down my throat, and a thought surfaced from the depths of my exhaustion and fear: I wish I'd just married Alex in the first place. I wish we'd never come back to this godforsaken city. I wish I'd never let myself fall for Blake's blue eyes and passionate promises.