The Battle Between Two Men
"Lucia is about to give birth. I'm taking Lyla to the hospital to visit her. Sophia and Ethan are sleeping soundly. Just check on them occasionally during the night," Alison instructed.
"Ma'am, are you taking Lyla out alone? It's so late already." The nanny looked at Alison with concern.
"It's fine. I'll meet Aidan and Lucia at the hospital soon. I have to go now," Alison said before hurring out of the house.
"Ma'am, please take your time!" the nanny called after her.
"I know," Alison shouted, waving to the nanny.
She hailed a taxi.
"To XX Hospital," she said.
"Okay," the driver replied.
The car sped toward the hospital.
Within twenty minutes, the cab pulled up to the hospital entrance.
Alison leapt out and sprinted toward the emergency room.
She’d called Aidan repeatedly along the way, but no one answered.
When she tried Jack’s number, it was turned off.
Jack! I'll teach you a lesson once you're back!
Alison vowed silently.
“Nurse, did a pregnant woman come in about ten minutes ago?” she asked.
“Yes,” the nurse replied.
“Where is she? Is she about to give birth?"
“The emergency room.” The nurse pointed to a closed metal door nearby. "Right there."
“What?! How could this happen?”
"The patient was bleeding heavily when she arrived. After the OB/GYN examined her, she was rushed straight to the emergency room,” the nurse explained.
Alison looked in that direction, asking, "What about her husband?"
“He’s in the ER, but the doctors and nurses won’t let him in. He..." the nurse held back, then added, "Never mind. If you're Lucia's family, you can wait right here by the door.”
"Thank you." Alison carried Lyla over.
Lucia's cries echoed from inside.
Lyla started wailing and kicking wildly.
"Please take the child somewhere quieter. Don't disturb the surgery," a nurse warned.
"How is Lucia?" Alison asked.
"She's still in critical condition. Could you please get your child to be quiet? This is the most crucial moment. The slightest mistake could endanger both mother and child,” the nurse said anxiously.
"You...what did you say?" Alison leaned against the wall, feeling dizzy.
"Please take the child further away," the nurse said before closing the door and entering the operating room.
Furious, she called Jack again.
Yet, the phone still rang with the same disconnection tone.
Next, she called the Winston family's ancestral home.
"Hello, who is this?"
"Please have Grandfather come to the phone. This is Alison.”
"Please hold. I'll have the master come to the phone."
"All right, thank you."
There was the sound of slippers scuffling across the floor, followed swiftly by the maid's voice, "Sir, Ms. Alison is on the line. Please come to the phone.”
"Alison, so late at night? What is it?"
"Grandfather, Lucia is in critical condition at the hospital. Aidan is with her in the emergency room. I'm holding Lyla, and I'm afraid I can't hold on. Could you send someone over?"
"All right, I'll come myself and bring Rock and Emily."
Alison hung up the phone, exhausted.
Suddenly, the adjacent door swung open.
A loud infant cry pierced the air.
Lyla abruptly stopped crying and turned her head toward the sound.
Her big eyes blinked rapidly.
"How is Lucia?" Alison urgently asked.
"The baby is fine," the young nurse said, carrying the baby. "Ma'am, please compose yourself. I'm afraid Mr. Winston will need to prepare for the funeral.”
Alison froze, tears instantly streaming down her face.
Chaos erupted in the room.
Both babies kept crying, driving Alison crazy.
"Ma'am, try feeding the baby some milk. He might stop crying," someone nearby suggested.
Alison picked up the infant and began feeding him.
The baby finally stopped crying.
Lyla, lying nearby, also quieted down.
"Is Aidan still inside?” Alison asked as she fed the baby.
“Mr. Winston has been by his wife's side the entire time. No one can persuade him to leave,” the nurse replied.
Alison nodded.
While feeding the infant, she called Emily.
“Emmy, where are you?”
"Almost there. Just a few more minutes. Has Lucia given birth?" Emily asked anxiously.
Alison's heart sank.
She hesitated before answering, "Yes, a boy. But..."
"Grandpa must be thrilled. But what?"
"Lucia passed away."
"What?!"
Alison choked on her words, unable to speak.
She hung up the phone, tears welling in her eyes.
She quietly gazed at the baby in her arms, who was asleep.
Lyla had also drifted off.
The hospital room fell into an eerie silence.
Uneasy, she longed to visit Lucia.
"Nurse, the children are both asleep. Could you watch them for me? I need to see Lucia. I'll be back soon."
"Go quickly, ma'am." The young nurse nodded.
Alison rushed toward the morgue as fast as she could, practically running.
The door creaked open, and a chill swept over her.
Covered in white sheets, Lucia lay still.
Alison walked over to Aidan, whose hand was still tightly clasped around Lucia's cold one.
"Aidan, you still have the baby," she said softly, trying to soothe him.
"Get out," he said coldly.
He sat there motionless, like a statue.
Is he dismissing me?
Alison froze.
"Aidan, it's me..." she said.
"I said get out!" he nearly roared, his voice thick with hoarseness.
She pressed her lips together, glanced at Lucia, and turned to slip away.
As she reached the mortuary door, Aidan's raspy voice cut through the air.
"Take that child with you. I don't want to see him. He's not coming to Lucia's funeral either."
"Aidan, that's your child. Would Lucia be happy if he wasn't allowed at her funeral?” Alison stopped abruptly.
"I said no! If it weren't for him, Lucia wouldn't have..." He paused, then shouted. "Get out! Do you hear me?"
Alison stepped out of the morgue.
At that moment, Alexander appeared, leaning on his cane and accompanied by members of the Winston family. Each of them looked exhausted and dejected.
"Alison, is Lucia inside?" he asked.
"Grandfather, Lucia..." Alison choked out.
"I know. Let's go in and see her. That child..." Alexander held back.
Alison waited quietly outside the door.
This time, Aidan didn't shoo them away.
Could Aidan truly be resentful toward me?
Why?
Confused, she returned to the ward.
——
Three days passed.
On the day of Lucia's burial, many people attended.
Steady rain fell, tapping on people's hearts and weighing heavily on their spirits.
Not far away, a tall, slender figure suddenly appeared on the path leading to the cemetery.
Alison froze at first sight, but quickly recognized Jack.
He had finally returned—at the very end of Lucia's funeral.