Chapter 172 Where Did You Go That Night?
"The fact that she conceived at all, that she made it through the first trimester without major complications—that's already a miracle. The morning sickness is severe, yes, but medically speaking, the fetus is developing normally for now. We're doing everything we can with the mildest medications and nutritional support to ease Mrs. Hamilton's symptoms and keep her strength up. But the underlying fragility... there's no rushing that. Recovery takes time."
"Takes time? Look at her!" Alexander paced the room, hands clasped behind his back, agitation radiating from every movement.
"She's vomiting bile. You call that normal development?! If anything happens to her, you people—"
A harsh retching sound cut through from the master bedroom.
Alexander abandoned the argument mid-sentence and bolted toward the sound.
"Edith!"
He shoved the door open to find Caroline hunched over the edge of the bed, heaving violently into the silver basin positioned there.
She was struggling. Her stomach had been empty for hours. All that came up now was acidic fluid and bile forced out by sheer muscle contractions.
Alexander feared that soon she'd be bringing up blood.
Even through the convulsions, Caroline kept one hand pressed protectively over the slight swell of her abdomen, trying to soothe the tiny life being jostled inside.
"I'm here. Don't be scared, don't be scared..."
Alexander dropped to one knee beside her, steadying her trembling shoulders with one hand while the other rubbed gentle circles on her back.
He'd done this countless times over the past months.
What had started as clumsy attempts had evolved into practiced care. Every detail of managing her pregnancy symptoms had become instinct.
Still, Caroline never seemed comfortable accepting it.
The retching finally subsided. She collapsed back against the pillows, already trying to refuse his help.
"Don't talk yet." Alexander carefully adjusted her position, making sure she was properly supported, then reached for the lemon water he kept ready on the nightstand. He brought the straw to her lips.
"Just a small sip. It'll help."
Caroline obediently took a mouthful and forced it down.
The cool, slightly tart liquid slid down her raw throat. The nausea receded fractionally.
She opened her eyes slowly, focusing on Alexander's worried face hovering above her.
"I'm sorry... I made a mess again..."
"Don't say that." Alexander set down the glass and picked up a cloth dampened with warm water, gently wiping the sweat from her forehead.
"There's no mess. You could never be a mess. Don't ever say that again."
Caroline instinctively turned her head, trying to avoid his ministrations.
"Alex... you don't have to... let Kenna handle this... I can't keep making you do these things..."
Being cared for by Alexander like this—so attentively, so intimately—felt wrong somehow.
A voice in the back of her mind kept insisting he shouldn't be doing this, that he shouldn't have to...
Alexander set down the cloth and took her hand carefully in his.
"You can. You can ask me to do anything. Because I'm your husband. Taking care of you—it's what I want. It's what I need."
Caroline stared into his eyes, into that unfathomable complexity swimming in their depths, and forgot to pull away.
But something still felt off.
Finally, she found an explanation that satisfied the confusion in her heart.
"Edith can..." She closed her eyes and leaned forward until her forehead rested against his.
"But... as Alexander's wife, I shouldn't be so demanding. I shouldn't make him work this hard..."
Alexander's wife...
Alexander went rigid. He barely stopped himself from crushing her against his chest.
He knew exactly who she meant.
Not the spoiled, universally adored Edith, but the patient, understanding Caroline who'd always put him first—the one he'd hurt most deeply.
Even with her memories gone, even believing herself to be someone else, those bone-deep instincts remained. She still wanted to do things for him, to ease his burden.
Alexander clenched his jaw, forcing down the sob threatening to escape his throat.
"It's not hard." He carefully wrapped his arms around her and eased her back down.
"Taking care of you is the easiest thing I've ever done."
He settled on the edge of the bed, holding her hand, his thumb tracing slow circles across her knuckles.
Caroline seemed more comfortable now. Her eyes closed, her breathing gradually evening out.
After a moment, she spoke softly.
"Alex... thank you."
"Every time this little one gives me a hard time, I think I can't take another second."
"But then you're there. Like a lifeline pulling me back from drowning. It's still awful, but... somehow I can hang on a little longer."
Alexander's response came almost involuntarily.
"You saved me too."
The words were out before he could stop them.
Caroline's lashes fluttered. She opened her eyes slowly, confusion written across her features. "I saved you? When?"
Alexander's heart hammered against his ribs.
He forced himself to stay calm, rapidly constructing a plausible explanation.
"During the darkest period of my life. When I was at my lowest. Your presence, the fact that you were alive... that itself was salvation."
Caroline's pale cheeks flushed pink at his words.
She bit her lip, murmuring, "Alex, since when did you get so... sappy?"
Alexander watched her let the subject drop, felt the tension in his chest ease slightly.
But then a deeper ache took its place.
He studied her profile, so close he could count her eyelashes. A question he'd buried for months surfaced unbidden.
Before he could think better of it, he asked, "Edith, do you remember? The night of my twentieth birthday party, after everyone left—you went out. Where did you go?"
Caroline froze. Her brow furrowed.
"Twentieth birthday... going out..."
"I remember getting a phone call... who it was from, what they said, I can't..."
"Then I left the house. I ran into my sister..."
"She seemed jealous... right, she thought I was going to see you..."
"I didn't stop to explain. I just left. After that... I..."
She raised one hand, pressing it unconsciously against her temple.
"Where did I go? Why can't I... my head... my head hurts..."