Chapter 60

Ethan rushed through the hospital corridors, his heart racing with worry. He stopped at the nurse's station, out of breath. "I'm here to see Sarah Mitchell," he said, his voice urgent.

The nurse nodded sympathetically. "Room 304, but Dr. Carson would like to speak with you first. Follow me, please."

She led him to a cabin a few doors down, knocked briefly, and then opened the door. "Dr. Carson, Ethan is here to see Sarah Mitchell."

Dr. Carson looked up from the files on his desk, his expression serious. "Ah, Ethan, thank you for coming. Please, have a seat."

His heart raced as he replayed the doctor's words in his mind. Panic surged within him, twisting his stomach into knots. He felt trapped in a nightmare, one where he couldn’t wake up.

“Mr. Gray, I understand this is a difficult time for you,” she said gently, her voice calm yet firm. “I want to assure you that we’re doing everything we can for Sarah.”

Ethan leaned forward, desperation clawing at his throat. “What do you mean? What happened to her? Why is she here? I need to know!” His questions spilled out in a frantic rush, each one fueled by a growing sense of dread.

Dr. Carson took a deep breath, her demeanor unflinching. “Sarah was admitted due to complications related to an abortion procedure. It’s not uncommon for patients to experience issues afterward, and we are monitoring her closely.”

The words hit Ethan like a punch to the gut. Abortion. The shock coursed through him, leaving him momentarily speechless. He felt as if the ground had shifted beneath his feet, his world tilting on its axis. A wave of hurt crashed over him, mingling with disbelief. How could she have made such a choice without telling him?

“Complications?” he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper, trembling with emotion. “What kind of complications? Is she going to be okay?” Panic rose in his chest, tight and suffocating.

“Right now, she’s stable, but we need to keep her under observation,” Dr. Carson explained, her voice soothing but firm. “Some women can experience severe bleeding or infection after such procedures, and we’re ensuring that she receives the best care possible.”

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, feeling overwhelmed. Guilt gnawed at him, but it was overshadowed by a deep-seated anger. “I can’t believe she did this! How could she abort our child without even telling me? I left everything for her and the baby. I was ready to be a father!” His voice cracked, the hurt spilling over into rage.

Dr. Carson smiled gently. “I’ll take you to her room now. Just remember to be gentle with your words. She may be feeling vulnerable.”

As they walked down the corridor, Ethan felt a mix of anxiety and determination. The sterile walls seemed to close in around him, but he pushed through, focusing on the task ahead. He had to confront Sarah, to express his anger and hurt, but also to show her that despite everything, he still loved her.

They arrived at Room 304, and Dr. Carson opened the door, revealing a dimly lit space filled with the quiet hum of medical equipment. The sight of Sarah lying on the hospital bed, pale and fragile, made his heart ache. She looked so small and vulnerable, a stark contrast to the vibrant woman he had known.

Dr. Carson glanced back at him, her expression encouraging. “I’ll give you a moment alone,” she said softly before stepping out, leaving Ethan to face the reality of Sarah’s situation.

Ethan approached the bed, his heart heavy with conflicting emotions. “Sarah,” he whispered, his voice barely above a breath, filled with tension. “What have you done?”

Her eyes fluttered open slowly, confusion clouding her gaze as she tried to focus on him. “Ethan?” she croaked, her voice weak and raspy.

“Yeah, it’s me,” he said, struggling to keep his emotions in check. “I came as soon as I heard. I’m so worried about you… but I’m also furious. How could you do this?” The hurt spilled over, his voice trembling with a mix of love and betrayal. “You didn’t just make a choice for yourself; you made a choice for both of us. You took away our child!”

A tear slipped down her cheek, and she turned her head away, unable to meet his gaze. “I didn’t want to hurt you,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan’s chest tightened, anger mixing with pain. “But you did, Sarah! You betrayed me. I was ready to be a father. I wanted this baby. How could you think you could handle this alone?” The words burst forth, raw and unfiltered.

“Lily promised me that if I aborted this child, she wouldn’t ruin my career,” Sarah whispered, tears streaming down her face. Her voice was shaky, filled with desperation. “I didn’t want to lose everything I’ve worked for, Ethan. I thought I was doing what was best for us.”

Ethan’s anger faltered, replaced by a wave of confusion and hurt. He had spent so much time feeling betrayed by Sarah's choice, but now he realized the weight of the pressure she faced. Lily—his ex-wife—had always been a formidable force, and the thought that she could manipulate Sarah like this ignited a new fire within him.

“Lily? She did this to you?” Ethan’s voice trembled with rage, but it wasn’t directed at Sarah anymore. “How could she put you in this position? This is about our child, not her petty games!”

Sarah looked at him, her eyes wide with fear and despair. “I didn’t want to lose my job, Ethan. I thought… I thought if I just went through with it, everything would be okay. I thought I could handle it alone.”

Ethan couldn’t hold back any longer. He stepped forward and enveloped her in his arms, pulling her tightly against him. “I’m not angry at you, Sarah. I’m angry at the situation, at Lily for putting you in this position. I love you, and I would never want you to feel like you had to make this choice alone.”

Sarah sobbed into his shoulder, her body trembling with the weight of her emotions. “I’m so sorry, Ethan. I didn’t want to hurt you. I thought I was doing the right thing.”