Chapter 60 Exactly What I Was Avoiding
Darcy's POV
My eyes snap open as a piercing pain shoots from my abdomen. I gasp for air but the pain only worsens.
I shake my head to reduce the dizziness but it doesn't help. After a few minutes the pain reduces.
Without wasting another second, I sat up. I pat my chest, to calm myself down as my eyes scan the room.
Hazel is on the floor playing. Her stuffed toys surround her. Then my gaze shifts to the wall clock and it's a few minutes past four in the morning.
I still remember saying I wanted to rest my head for some minutes. How did I sleep off?
The doors! I didn't...
A loud hiss tears from my throat as another round of pain slams me again but this time, harder.
My eyes widen and I grit my teeth as I struggle to remove the duvet. My stomach churns.
Tears sting the back of my eye as I fall on the floor and start crawling towards the bathroom. My gut retches.
My knees burn as they drags against the ground. I open the cover of the WC and throw up everything in my system.
It stops after a while and I lean against the wall, panting. Beads of sweat drip down my face.
I have no words to explain what exactly is wrong with me. My thoughts are all over the place, so I close my eyes.
My hands find their way to my abdomen and hold it. I remain on the floor for a while, steadying my breath and trying to regain a bit of strength.
I hold the sink to support myself as I stand up with wobbly legs threatening to give out at any moment.
I stare at my reflection in the mirror and my face is a mess. My hair is disheveled.
Adrian, please come home. I cry internally. I really do not want to break down before he returns.
A call wouldn't hurt, right? At least, I get to know that he's almost done with his work.
I blink slowly and splash water on my face. Using the wet hands, I brush back my hair and roll it into a messy bun.
Hazel shouldn't be awake by this time. I can try to put her to sleep.
I hold the wall as I limp out of the bathroom.
My eyes instinctively shift to where she is but she wasn't there.
Hazel!
I push my myself farther into the room but she's not in the room. My breath hitches and my head is fuzzy.
My heart skips a beat and panic courses through my veins.
Where is she?
"Hazel?" I call out with a shaky breath.
Putting more pressure on my body. "Hazel!" My tone is higher than before. My hands tremble as I rush into the closet.
Ignoring the ache in my legs. I check under the table, behind the chairs but nothing.
What is happening? I already changed all the cameras. Is it still possible that someone is able to enter the house and take my baby?
I shake my head, waving off the thought but my emotions spiral out of control as I start to cry. My lips quiver.
I hurry out of the room. There she is at the end of the hallway, close to the stairs.
My eyes widen in horror. My lips part but I dare not shout her name. She might fall down the stairs if I startle her.
My legs pick up the pace as I run towards her. My body screams for me to stop but I didn't. I can't.
She already has one foot on the step. I snatch her immediately I get to her. I fall to the ground with a loud thud but my arms wrap around her protectively.
I suck in air sharply as my knees hit the floor.
I dig my fingers into her scalp and kiss her hair. My breathing becomes ragged.
For a moment I thought, I had lost her.
What would I have done?
If only I locked the door before I dozed off, I wouldn't have gotten such a bad scare.
Hazel's soft hands rest on my neck as I lie on the floor. My chest rises and falls repeatedly. Tears roll down my face.
A terrible migraine slams me and I wince. Hazel's hand rubs my face as she becomes fussy.
I sniffle and wipe my tears with the back of my hand. I open my eyes and another panic attack tugs at my chest.
Hazel's hands are stained with blood. How did she injure?
I squeeze my eyes shut and clench my jaw as I sit up with my back resting against the wall.
I raise her up, checking her body for injury but I don't see any. Hazel bats her lashes, and soon her cries fill the hallway.
I hug her to my chest and pat her back.
If the blood is not hers, then...
Warm liquid runs down my nostrils. Hesitantly, I touch above my lips and I'm nosebleeding.
Still holding Hazel with one hand, I clutch onto my head as it feels like it is about to split open.
The more Hazel looks at me, the louder her cries become. I flash her a weak smile from behind the pain.
"Baby, stop crying," I smile but she continues crying.
I clean off the blood with my shirt and raise my head, so the blood doesn't come rolling again.
I show her my face, "see? Mummy is fine." I say quietly, still smiling.
She hiccups and stops crying. Oh my baby!
I kiss her again and stand up, walking back into the room. I remove Hazel's clothes and bathe her, after which I wear her a set of clean sleepwear.
Her eyelids start closing. Carefully, I lay her on the bed, guarding her sides with pillows.
Ensuring the door is locked, I return to the bathroom and strip out of my clothes and stand under the shower.
The cold water cascades down my body and my hands press against the wall.
What is wrong with me?
My legs are firm to the ground, because if I fall, it won't end well. I can still manage to take care of Hazel but she'll be vulnerable, if I pass out.
Seconds turn to minutes and I walk out of the shower and look at my full reflection. Hollow eyes. Weight loss. Stress is carved into my body.
I can still talk to Adrian as long as he doesn't see me like this. He will only blame himself for not being here and I don't want that.
I pick Adrian's shirt which is oversized on me and put on a white panty.
Later, I join Hazel on the bed. Covering our body with the duvet. I close my eyes to catch more sleep but it has eluded me.
So, I watch Hazel sleep peacefully. Gently, I caress her cheeks and she hums.
I bring his shirt closer to my face and I inhale his scent.
My phone starts ringing. Who's calling at this time?
Not bothering to turn, I search for my phone on the lamp stand until my hand lands on it.
I take it and sit up.
Video call. Shit.
Adrian is already looking at me.
Exactly what I've been avoiding.
"Hey baby," I beamed.
He doesn't smile back and the background is different from the suite he lodged.
"Why are you still awake?" I ask.
"Why are you so pale?" He asks in a deep, tense voice.
I stiffen but force a smile. "Pale?"
"I don't appreciate lies!" He cuts in, seething.
I tilt my head. If there's anything Adrian hates the most, it's lies and I've done nothing but lie to him all this time.
Why didn't it occur to me? Will he forgive me for it?