Chapter 15
If luck had been on my side, perhaps I would have encountered a kind driver willing to offer me a ride home. But as the rain poured relentlessly, my tiny umbrella was of little use. Within moments, I was drenched from head to toe.
Unlucky was an understatement. I had been walking for a while, yet there wasn’t a single car in sight. A sharp, throbbing pain seized my belly, making it harder to move with each passing step. The pain grew unbearable, forcing me to stop. Instinctively, I clutched my stomach, trying to soothe the discomfort, but to no avail.
My hands trembled as I reached into my pocket for my phone—only to find it empty. I must have left it in the car. Panic surged through me. My car was too far back, and I knew I wouldn’t make it if I turned around now. My body felt weak, drenched in both sweat and rain, as I limped forward. Soon, the pain intensified, and I collapsed to my knees, barely able to breathe through the agony.
Then, I felt it—something warm trickling down my legs. My heart sank. No… No, please…
A chilling sense of despair consumed me. Was I about to lose my child?
A nursery rhyme echoed in my mind, a relic from my childhood—sugar, spice, and everything nice. But not all little girls were blessed with a life of joy. Some were born into hardship, their lives riddled with suffering. Was my child destined for the same fate?
The sharp screech of tires pierced through the night, followed by the unmistakable sound of brakes grinding against wet pavement. My vision blurred, but I managed to glimpse the black Jeep just inches away from me. The license plate—ACL999.
Ashton.
Relief flooded me, but my body was at its limit. I willed myself to stand, but my knees buckled beneath me. My world tilted as darkness encroached upon my vision.
“Foolish woman!”
A familiar voice rang in my ears—cold and impatient, yet tinged with something else. Before I could comprehend what was happening, I felt strong arms lifting me from the ground. And then, nothing.
—
When I awoke, the first thing I saw was a pristine white ceiling. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air. I was in a hospital.
My body ached all over as I shifted slightly. Panic clawed at my chest as my hands instinctively flew to my stomach.
“Don’t worry. Your baby is fine.”
The unexpected male voice startled me. Turning my head, I found Jared standing beside my bed, watching me with an unreadable expression.
I parted my lips to speak, but my throat was dry and burning. My voice barely came out as a whisper. “Why…”
Jared arched a brow before leaving momentarily. When he returned, he was holding a cup of water. Without a word, he slid an arm behind my back to help me sit up. The close proximity made me uneasy, and I instinctively put my hands between us, creating distance.
He ignored my resistance and brought the cup to my lips. “Drink.”
I hesitated but ultimately obeyed, taking slow sips. The cool liquid soothed the burning in my throat, making it easier to breathe.
Once I finished, he helped me settle back against the pillows before setting the cup down on the bedside table.
“Thank you,” I murmured, my voice still weak.
Jared didn’t reply immediately. He glanced at his phone, scrolling through something before giving me a curt nod.
After a moment of hesitation, I finally asked, “Does Ashton know I’m pregnant?”
His fingers stilled on the screen. Slowly, he lifted his gaze, his sharp eyes studying me. “You don’t want him to know?”