Chapter 22 A SECRET I CANNOT NAME (Ethan’s POV)
“Is she still asleep?” I asked, my voice low, sharp, trying to sound casual, but failing entirely.
Lena stood in the hallway outside Demilia’s room, arms folded tightly across her chest. Her eyes flicked up at me, and for the first time since I met her, she didn’t glare. She looked… worried, even more than me.
“She’s resting,” Lena said. “She just needs time.”
“Time,” I repeated, as if the word tasted wrong. “What exactly happened?”
Lena hesitated, way too long, and that made my stomach clenched. “What aren’t you telling me?” I demanded sternly. She swallowed hard. “She fainted earlier, okay? But she’s fine now.”
Fine? I won't take that for an answer. The one word I despised so much. People tend to say“fine” when things were falling apart.
People said “fine” when they were lying. My jaw flexed, ready for action, to tear into pieces if possible. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
“Because she doesn’t trust you,” Lena snapped before she could stop herself. “And honestly? I don’t blame her.” I ignored the sting of that. I would even be surprised if she doesn't act like that. That's typical Lena. I pushed past her and opened the door quietly.
Demilia lay curled on her side under the blanket, her breathing shallow, her face pale...way too pale. The room was dim except for the weak glow of a lamp on the nightstand. Her hair stuck to her forehead from sweat. Her fingers trembled every now and then, even in sleep.
She looked small fragile, and breakable. And something shot through my chest so violently I almost staggered. I turned back to Lena. “How long has she been like this?”
“She’s just stressed nothing to be alarmed at.”
“Lena.” My voice darkened. “I’m asking you a question.”
She finally sighed, defeated. “Two days.”
Two whole days? I looked at Demilia again, my pulse thundering.“Why didn’t you call a doctor?”
“She begged me not to,” Lena said softly. “She… she’s hiding something.”
My gaze sharpened instantly. “Hiding what exactly?”
Lena’s eyes widened, making her to step backward. “Forget I said anything.”
I moved closer to her, ready to force the words out of her mouth. “Lena, tell me everything.”
“No.”I inhaled slowly, trying not to lose control.
“You know I can find out myself.” Lena clenched her jaw. “And you know she doesn’t trust you with her pain. Or her secrets. And that’s your fault, not mine.”
My teeth ground together, but in a way, she was completely right. But that didn’t anything in stopping the surge of fury and fear twisting inside me.bI dismissed her with a wave. “Leave us.”
She hesitated, not willing to make a move.
“Now.”
Lena stormed out, muttering under her breath. The moment the door clicked shut, I sat slowly on the edge of the bed. I gently brushed my fingers along Demilia’s cheek.bHer skin was cold, way too cold.
“Damn it,” I whispered. “What are you doing to yourself?” She shifted slightly but didn’t wake.
I felt it then...something different in her breathing. The strange tightness, the strain. As if she was fighting an invisible battle. Something was wrong, terribly wrong with her.
And I already knew what it was. The signs had been too clear. From the nausea, to the fatigue.
The way she held her stomach when she thought no one was looking.
The way her eyes softened at small things, then hardened when I came near.
I knew everything. I had known long before she did.
But she wasn’t ready to hear the truth.
And I…
I didn’t want her to hate me for knowing first. I didn’t want her to think I cared, because in my dictionary, caring meant weakness. And weakness meant losing control. And losing control… I couldn’t afford that.
Not when she already unraveled too much inside me.
I stood abruptly, pulled out my phone, and walked toward the far corner of the room. I dialed a number...one I rarely used. My private doctor answered on the second ring. “Mr. Blackwell?”
“Come to the estate, right now.” There was a sharp inhale. “Is it the patient you mentioned?”
“Yes.”
“Symptoms?” I lowered my voice, glancing at Demilia.
“Fatigue, fainting, great pain, difficulty breathing. And…” I paused. “…possible complications.”
The doctor didn’t speak for a few seconds. Then...“You were right, sir. The illness is progressing.” My chest tightened just on hearing that. “Explain.”
“It’s a rare gestational condition. It attacks early pregnancies. Some mothers recover, while some… don’t.” The room tilted slightly.
“And the child?” I whispered.
“The child is at risk,” he said quietly. “Without immediate treatment, you may lose them both.”
Lose them? The both of them at once? That made me to panic in fear.
No. No. That can't be. The thought of losing Demilia... Of losing that child she was trying so desperately to protect... Something inside me rebelled with brutal force.
“What treatment?” I demanded.
“I’ll prepare an emergency IV. But she must not know it’s for pregnancy. We’ll disguise it as a ‘general stabilizer.’”
That's a great idea. She would suspect nothing at all. “And after that, what happens?” I asked.
“She needs constant monitoring. Let her rest very well, no stress. No emotional strain.”
I closed my eyes as I thought of how to make her do that. No emotional strain will be very difficult. That meant me, that I shouldn't stress her. Everything about me was emotional strain and everyone knows about that.
“Prepare everything,” I said. “Yes, Mr. Blackwell. And, sir…?”
“What?”
“If she collapses again, the baby may not survive.” A cold wave rolled through me that instant.
“Do everything necessary,” I said, voice deadly calm. “Cost is irrelevant.”
“Yes, sir.” I ended the call with a trembling hand. It took me some time to even know where I was. I stared at them in disbelief, wondering what would be of me if she doesn't make it.
I...Ethan Blackwell...was trembling, because of a woman.