18

Jayson’s POV

My fingers would not stop trembling after rushing Betty to the hospital.

I stood outside the operating theatre with my heart slamming against my ribs so hard, that I thought it might crack them open.

The fluorescent lights of the private Paris clinic felt too bright, too clinical, too indifferent to the chaos inside me.

There was so much blood on the floor of the resort lounge, on Betty’s dress, on my hands when I lifted her.

The image would not leave me. Her face was pale, her eyes unfocused, her hand still pressed protectively over her stomach even as consciousness slipped away.

What if she loses the baby?

I shook my head, no, I shouldn't even think about that.

She can't, I've already filled every quiet moment of the last weeks with the imagined future of becoming a father, holding my baby's tiny hands. Soft cries in the middle of the night. The weight of a child against my chest

I never allowed myself to want anything that much before, the way i wanted to hold my child. Now the possibility of losing it felt like my world is about to shatter.

“Jayson, she will be fine.” Jewel’s voice reached my side, we left the resort together, I don't even want to think about what caused the scene.

She stood close to me, her fingers wrapping around mine. I met her gaze for only a second before I pulled my hand free, her soft suddenly unbearable.

“I hope you’re happy now,” I said, the words coming out low and raw. “Are you finally happy? Right?”

Her eyes widened. “How is it my fault that she came to the resort and found me? She said a whole lot of things, you don't expect to keep quiet because she's your wife.”

“You could have ignored her!” I raised my voice before I could stop it. “Look away, or walk out of there. Why didn’t you do any of that?”

“Jayson, please do not yell at me.” Tears gathered in her eyes, shining under the harsh lights. “I was never at fault. She suddenly fell and that was when you saw her…”

“Betty is carrying my child.” I stepped closer, the words tearing out of me. “I brought this up a few days ago. I told you to ignore her if you ever meet her. I told you she might act childish, that the pregnancy made her emotional. I begged you.”

“Jayson, you’re hurting my feelings!” Jewel’s voice cracked. “Saying all this when you don't even.know what happened is cruel.”

I scoffed.

Her tears only fed the anger burning through my chest. Every soft word she ever said to me, every shared memory, felt suddenly hollow in the face of the blood I had seen on Betty’s clothes.

The door of the operating theatre opened.

The doctor stepped out, mask pulled down, expression carefully neutral.

I turned so fast my vision blurred for a second.

“Doctor…how is my wife?”

He hesitated only for a second. “She’s fine, but Mr Blackwood I’m sorry to inform you that she lost the baby.”

I grabbed the front of his coat before I even realised I moved. “Why didn’t you save my child? Why?!”

“I’m sorry, we tried our best but the trauma was too severe and there was nothing more we could do.”

I let go of him and staggered backward.

“No…no…”

Jewel’s arms came around me and I wrapped my arms around her body, the first sob escape from my chest. Tears rolled down my face.

She patted my back the way she used to when we were younger, when the only thing that could break me was the thought of losing her.

“Do not worry,” she whispered against my hair. “I’ll give you another baby.”

I froze with disbelief, the words landed like a second blow.

Did she just say that?

I broke the hug so abruptly that she stumbled.

“I lost my first child…”

“It’s not a big deal.” Her voice was soft, as if she were soothing a child. “We can make another one. Stop acting like you’re in love with Betty. You love me, not her.”

“I’m so disappointed,” I said quietly. I wiped my face with the back of my hand, the tears still falling despite my effort of controlling it.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor and I turned to leave only to see Betty’s parent.

Betty’s parents stood there, looking at me with so much hatred.

“You really are a monster.” Marcus said.

“What did I do again? Huh? Marrying your daughter was the biggest mistake of my life! My life hasn't been normal since then.” I said.

I don't know what they expect me to do, kill myself for her or what?

I just walked away, the pain of losing my baby hurts more and I don’t care about their opinions.

I just want to punch my bag and scream out the pain.