Chapter 31

Ethan’s POV

I almost felt like my heart had stopped beating for a second.

The pain on my arm that distracted me in the last seconds vanished as if it never existed. Owen’s grip on me loosened as he sucked in a deep breath in shock. Slowly, as both of lay there, helpless, Skylar fell to the ground.

A pool of blood formed below her, pouring onto the soil. Skylar's eyelids dropped as though she was going to sleep.

“No.,” I mumbled to myself and quickly jumped to action.

I pulled her head into my palms and examined it. No. It’s not the head, thank God.

My hands now went to search for her hands. Although they were covered with blood, I couldn’t spot a significant wound anywhere. That’s when I found the blood oozing out of her back. She had been shot in the back.

“We need to take her to the hospital, now!”

“Call the paramedics. There’s no way we can drive to the hospital without any medication.”

“The ambulance cannot get in here, this place is deserted,” Owen explained. “Ethan, she is losing too much blood, we need to hurry.”

Although it didn’t seem like a good idea, we had no choice left. We had to take her to the hospital on our own. I picked her up in my arms and hurried into the car. As soon as we were inside, Owen drove as fast as he could.

“Skylar, please open your eyes for a second.” My voice was too low for her to hear.

I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t say anything. Seeing her in a pool of blood left be without any words. My vision was getting blurry by the ticking seconds.

She took a bullet for me.

I was supposed to do that for her. I was supposed to protect her from him.

I almost started shaking when we reached the hospital. The paramedics took her out of the car and rushed her into the operation theatre while I just stayed behind. I sat there inside the car, staring at my finger, drenched in her blood.

The events replayed in my mind. I could still feel her warm body over mine as she took the bullet for me. And then, I broke down.

The car filled with my sobs, as I lay my head down and cried. There seemed no end to it. Every time I thought, my mind wavered back to how she protected me.

Why did she do it? Did she have any clue about what she was doing? She could’ve pushed me away, why did she have to take it?

I shook my head. I can’t keep waiting here. I need to make sure she’s getting the best treatment possible. I need to make sure she’s safe. I got out of the car and raced up.

“Who is the relative of the patient?” The doctor was enquiring Owen.

“Me,” I said. “I. she’s my wife.”

The doctor nodded. “Your wife lost a lot of blood. And I’m afraid we cannot assure her survival through this.”

“What the fuck are you even saying?” I yelled at her. “You are a doctor and you’re supposed to save people! What do you mean by-”?

“Ethan, calm down!” Owen tried to cool me.

“No!” I said. “She has no idea what she’s talking about! Skylar cannot-”

“Then you should have been careful. We’ve agreed to operate on her without getting the police involved only because we want to save her. And we just want to tell you what the truth is. It’s not easy to save a pregnant woman with a bullet inside her!” She snapped at me.

I felt my heart skip a beat for the second time in the day. This time, it almost froze.

“What?” Owen said.

The doctor looked at him, confused as to why there was no ounce of blood left on his face. “What?”

“What did you just say?” I asked her.

“I said we’re ready to operate on he despite-”

“No,” I said. “You said she is. that she has...”

“Yes.” She nodded. “She is carrying a child. She is pregnant.”

I let out the breath I’ve been holding for almost a minute now. The blood drained from my face as I was left speechless at her words.

“Skylar’s. she is pregnant?”

“Didn’t you know?” She asked in disbelief. “Your wife is three weeks pregnant.”

I fell onto my knees at that instant.

She’s pregnant.

Skylar is carrying my baby.

We’re going to have a baby.

Our baby.

No.

No.

No.

Skylar needs to survive.

“No.,” I said. “You can’t let anything happen to her or the baby. Please.” I begged her. “Please save them.”

“It’s a very risky job.” She explained. “She has a bullet inside her. And we don’t think a pregnant mother can survive it.”

“No. she can’t just leave me alone. We cannot let our baby die.”

“We’re going to give your best. We’ll try to save both of them.” She said.

****

It has been five hours already. Everyone I knew was in the hospital.

I decided to not disclose about the pregnancy to anyone. Although I don’t want to be a pessimist about it, I can’t help but be practical about the situation.

I knew that the odds weren’t in my favor. And if just one of them survives through the operation, I don’t want Skylar to know we were ever going to have a baby.

Owen thought that was extremely cruel of me to even think about it. But I know what that can cause. Skylar will never be the same after knowing that she was pregnant, and the baby couldn’t survive. She will never come out of it.

I think I can share the grief for both of us. I should be able to leave the bitter truth behind and move forward.

After what seemed like ages, the doctor came out.

“We could not save the baby.” She didn’t hesitate in stating the fact for me. “I’m so sorry.”

I nodded. All through the back of my eyes burned to let the tears flow, I held myself firm and decided to not break down again.

I had to be strong for both of us.

“I think it’s time you tell your wife about it.”

“No,” I said. “I can’t break the new to her right now. She just.”

“I know it’s hard. But you can’t keep it from her.”

“I can,” I said. “I can keep it from her. She doesn’t have to know about it right now."

“No.” The doctor shook her head. “You cannot keep the news from her. She has the right to know about it. It’s her child too.”

"Not right now, please."

She wasn’t convinced. “I’m sorry, but if she finds out after a while from a different source, I think she will be in more pain than you can imagine her to be in.”

With that said, she turned around and left. It was time for me to meet her. I left a shaky breath and went for the doorknob. Twisting it gently, I stepped inside.

I slowly walked inside, dragging my legs towards her. With every step, my left felt heavier. Although I felt the relief to see her fine, I couldn’t let my heart settle. We lost our baby.

Skylar turned to me as she heard my footsteps and gave me a gentle smile. I couldn’t smile back. I was afraid my face gave away everything.

I slowly sat down beside her and took her palm in mine.

“How are you feeling?” I asked her.

She nodded. “I’m fine.” And she smiled again. “Come here.”

I followed her hand and bent down. She took my head in her palms and gently placed a soft kiss on my forehead.

“I need to tell you something.” She said.

I nodded. “Yes?”

“I’ve been feeling very sick these days.” She said.

I frowned.

“I. I didn’t tell you anything because I thought it was some food poisoning or something but.” her words went down to whispers. “I don’t think... I think I’m pregnant.”

I sucked in a deep breath. Did she know?

“I don’t know anything yet.” She said. “But if I was pregnant, I want you to ask the doctor if the baby is fine.”

She doesn’t know...

I felt a sharp pain shoot up as I listened to her words. She is still expecting. What would happen if she knows that the baby is no more?

I couldn’t bear the thought. She put both of them at risk by taking the bullet for her. He’d rather die than let her know about the pregnancy.

“No baby.” he said. “You’re not pregnant.”

Her face fell instantly. “Oh.,” she said. “Did the doctors run the tests?”

I nodded, holding my head high so that she doesn’t notice the tears in my eyes.

“Yes,” I said. “They ran all the test to see if they could perform the surgery. You weren't pregnant."

She nodded. And then she smiles again. “How do you feel about having babies?”

My voice broke. “I think that’s the most beautiful thing that can happen to us.”

“Me too.” She said. “I thought you’d not want to settle down just yet. I’ve always wanted to have babies. I’m glad we’re on the same page with it. Anyway, I've been meaning to ask you, who sent the divorce papers to us?"

Sighing in despair, I face palmed, "Our stupid friends. It was their plan. Brett said it was his idea, said we needed a push so we could confess our feelings to each other. Can't say I'm mad at him for it though, it definitely worked out in our favor."

Rolling her eyes, she chuckled. But soon, a frown took to her face, "What happened to Jake?"

I reached forward to stroke her hair, "Owen's taking care of everything and everyone involved. They are all going to go behind the bars for the crimes they have committed. I'll make sure of it."

Sighing, she nodded. A grim line took to her mouth. I hated seeing her like this, and I was ready to do anything to bring a smile onto her face. In order to lift her spirits up again, I probed her again,

“Please get well soon.” I kissed her palm. “We can have as many babies as we want.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Why does that sound perverted to me?”

I smiled. “Well, I can’t wait to break more furniture in our house. How does that sound?”

“Ugh, please shut up.” She said.

I smiled and reached up to her. “We are going to have a baby. I know that’s what you want too.” I said. “And when we do. we're going be a complete family. I promise you that.”

I watched as a tear slipped from her eyes.

“I love you.” She mumbled, as her eyes began to drop.

“I love you too,” I said, giving her one last kiss before she went to sleep.

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