Chapter 105 The Child is Fine
Aidan picked up the pace, eager to catch up to Aimée and see if she had that faint mint scent he remembered.
"Aidan, slow down," Alison called out, noticing the sweat trickling down his forehead. They were about to catch up to Jack.
"I'm good. You need to take care of yourself. Make sure you get that leg checked at the hospital," Aidan replied.
"My leg's fine. Aimée and her baby are more important..." Alison's heart ached at the thought. She couldn't imagine the pain of losing a child. If she lost Sophia and Ethan, she would be devastated.
"Alison, don't worry about others. Take care of yourself first," Aidan said, a hint of concern in his voice. If his suspicions were correct, Alison was completely innocent.
"Aidan, don't be so nice to me," Alison said, feeling uneasy. There shouldn't be this kind of connection between them.
"Why?" Aidan was taken aback. Wasn't it normal to be kind to someone you liked?
"Aidan, there's no future for us," Alison said, not wanting to give him false hope. It would only waste his time.
She could see the genuine concern in Aidan's eyes, something Jack had never shown her. She liked feeling cared for, but she knew she couldn't accept it.
"That's just your opinion, Alison. Don't say anything. Just let me hold you," Aidan said gently. Alison was so light, he wondered if she even ate.
Alison didn't argue. She knew she couldn't win against Aidan. The pain in her calf was becoming unbearable; she might really be injured.
Meanwhile, two men, each with their respective women, drove through the night towards a nearby town.
"Aimée, hang in there. We'll be at the hospital soon," Jack said.
"Jack, drive faster! We need to save our baby!" Aimée screamed hysterically, the pain overwhelming her.
Jack sped up, seeing Aidan carrying Alison and catching up. He couldn't believe that fragile Alison could hurt Aimée, but the situation made him furious. He thought Alison, like Emily, wasn't as innocent as she seemed.
He asked for directions as he drove, and by the time they reached the hospital, over an hour had passed. Aimée lay weakly in the back seat, covered in blood. Jack rushed her into the ER, startling the doctors.
"What happened?" a doctor asked.
"She's pregnant, fell, and is bleeding," Jack said anxiously. He desperately wanted to save the baby to avoid his mother's constant nagging.
The doctor quickly assessed Aimée's condition and urgently said, "Get her to the emergency room!"
Aimée panicked. If the doctor was sending her to the emergency room, did that mean there was still hope for the baby?
Jack held Aimée's hand, trying to comfort her. "Aimée, don't worry. The baby will be fine." Though he didn't like Aimée, seeing her in this state for the sake of their child made him feel a bit of sympathy.
Aidan arrived at the ER with Alison, but the doctors were busy with Aimée. Only two nurses came to assist them.
"What happened?" a nurse asked.
"Leg injury," Aidan replied.
"Please wait. A doctor will be with you shortly," the nurse said.
Alison wasn't concerned about her leg. She was more worried about Aimée's baby. "How is the woman who was just brought in?"
"Not sure, but with that much blood, it doesn't look good," the nurse replied.
"Is there any hope for the baby?"
"Hard to say. There's some hope, but it's not looking great."
"Hope is enough. Aidan, I want to wait outside the emergency room for Aimée."
"Alison, your leg hasn't been checked yet. Don't go."
"If you don't carry me, I'll walk there myself," Alison said, trying to get off the chair. She was too anxious to know about Aimée and the baby.
Aidan's heart raced. If his suspicions were correct, Aimée's baby could be his.
"Alright, I'll carry you," he said, also wanting to know the outcome. After all, it could be his child.
Jack sat dejectedly outside the emergency room, his face full of worry. He was deeply concerned about Aimée's baby.
Aidan asked Jack, "How's Aimée?"
Jack shook his head. "Don't know yet. We can only wait."
Aidan tried to comfort Jack. "Aimée seems like a strong person. She and the baby will be fine. Don't worry."
Jack sighed. "I don't even like kids. It's my mom who wants a grandchild, causing all this trouble."
Aidan continued to console Jack. "No one wanted this to happen. Stay calm and hopeful. They might both be okay."
Alison quietly held onto Aidan's arm, standing beside Jack. She couldn't do anything because Jack hated her. She could only watch him worry.
But it wasn't her fault. She couldn't understand why Aimée had pulled her down with her.
She knew Aimée didn't like her, but she didn't think Aimée would go this far.
Suddenly, the emergency room door opened, and a nurse hurried out. Alison quickly approached her. "Nurse, how is the patient?"
"Still in surgery," the nurse said, rushing to get supplies.
Jack glared at Alison with disdain. "Alison, stop pretending to care. I really wonder if women who look like you are all heartless." He shoved her hard, and Alison nearly fell. Her injured leg hit the ground, causing her to almost lose her balance. She managed to grab the wall for support.
Aidan rushed over, helping Alison lean on him. He shouted at Jack, "Jack, don't be so harsh on Alison. It might not be her fault!"
Jack sneered. "Do you think Aimée would harm her own baby?"
Who would believe a mother would hurt her own child?
But that was the reality.
Aidan tried to reason with Jack. "Jack, maybe things aren't as they seem. Why would Alison want to hurt Aimée? What reason would she have?"
"There's a reason. There must be!" Jack shook his head. "She doesn't want me to be happy. She wants me to suffer!"
Aidan gave Jack a meaningful look. "Jack, you're still thinking about that woman, aren't you? But that was Emily, not Alison. Alison is with me. I won't let you hurt her." Saying this made Aidan feel relieved. It was something he had wanted to say all along.
"Aidan..." Alison was moved, unable to find the words. She realized who truly cared for her. She held Aidan's hand tightly. "Thank you for believing in me."
"Alison, go sit over there. When Aimée comes out, let her explain. I believe it wasn't you," Aidan said.
If the baby was his, would Jack regret his attitude towards Alison?
Aidan firmly protected Alison, not letting Jack harm her again.
The "In Surgery" light above the operating room finally went off.
"Aidan, the surgery is over. Help me over there to see if Aimée and the baby are okay," Alison said, anxiously waiting for an answer. No matter the outcome, it would ease her mind.
The three of them stood quietly at the operating room door, their breaths held in anticipation.
At that moment, each of their hearts was filled with hope and anxiety.
"Doctor, how are the mother and baby?" someone asked urgently.
"The bleeding has stopped, and the baby is stable for now. But she needs to stay in the hospital for bed rest. The family must be vigilant," the doctor said.
Jack stood there, relieved but not overly happy. He simply said, "Thank you, doctor."