Chapter 6

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The needle went cold into my skin to my veins, and Sebastian didn’t let go of my hand.

I wanted to pull away. I wanted to scream, because I was so scared of needles since I was little, but the surprising part of everything is that the last person who should be saving me my husband’s uncle- was the one ready to help without looking back. I was so tired and weak, I couldn't even speak to him properly and tell him thank you. My body was too tired to fight, so I closed my eyes to sleep.

“Ma’am, stay still,” the nurse said, adjusting the IV. “You lost a lot of blood. We need this transfusion now, or we lose the baby.”

The baby.

The word hit me hard. I touched my stomach to know if I could feel it, inside of me, if my baby was still alive. I couldn't feel anything; I was so terrified.

Hours ago, when the doors to the ER burst open, I flinched, thinking it was Trent. Thinking it was Bella with that smirk.

But it wasn’t.

Sebastian.

I couldn't see him clearly, but I knew it was Sebastian. I looked at him, willing to say something but too tired to speak. He held my hands; his reaction showed that he was so worried.

He didn’t look at anyone else. Not the doctors. Not the nurses. Just me, on that bed, pale and shaking. His eyes were just on me.

“Take my blood,” he said. He did not ask any questions. No are you okay, because he already knew I wasn't.

The doctor, a tired elderly man with graying hair, blinked. “Sir, we don’t know if you’re a match; we will have to do a blood test —”

“AB negative,” Sebastian cut in. “I’m AB negative. Test me.”

The room went quiet for a while.

The doctor’s eyes widened. “That’s… that’s rare. We don’t have any in stock.”

“Then take mine,” he repeated, and sat down in the chair next to me without being asked. He rolled up his sleeve. His forearm was corded, strong. A billionaire who worked out. Of course he did.

I found my voice. It came out broken. “You don’t have to—”

“But I want to do it,” he said softly. He turned, looked at me then. The little I saw was that he looked scared. “Don’t talk. Save your strength.”

The nurse was already prepping him. Another IV. Another bag. His blood was going to go into me, into my baby.

My baby.

Trent’s baby.

Or maybe I should just say, my baby.

I never thought anyone would care for me this way. Sebastian was acting like he was the husband, and he was about to lose his wife and his child, keeping on holding my hands to comfort me, so I wouldn't feel alone.

“Same blood type, AB negative,” the doctor murmured while watching both our IVs. “Thank God, we can start the transfusion immediately. You two are lucky.”

Sebastian felt relief; he squeezed my hand. I hadn’t realized he was still holding it. His palm was warm. Mine was ice.

“I’m not leaving you, okay? Still sure you are fine,” he said, so low only I could hear.

I turned my head away. I felt so saved. I tried to hold back my tears.

“Thank you,” I whispered. It was all I could manage to say.

“For what? I am just doing what any decent person would have done?”

The transfusion took more than one hour. The nurses were coming in and out to check up on me. Sebastian’s thumb rubbed circles on the back of my hand like he was trying to warm me up from the outside.

At some point I drifted. To sleep a little. Just to forget the pain and exhaustion I felt at that moment.

In that place I saw the baby. A girl. She had my nose. And Trent’s eyes.

I woke with a gasp.

Sebastian was still there. He looked like he hadn’t moved.

“You were mumbling,” he said. “About the baby. About being sorry.”

“I’m not sorry,” I said quickly. “I’m keeping her.”

“It is just a dream, and I thought my baby appeared to me,” I said. “Okay, did need anything.”

I just shook my head to say no; I said nothing.

A young nurse came in to check my vitals. She was new. She smiled too wide.

“Mr. Voughn called earlier,” she said casually while wrapping the cuff around my arm. “Asking about you. We told him you were stable and that you’d had a transfusion. He said to tell you he’d call back.”

My heart skipped in anger, so Trent knew.

He knew I was in the hospital. He knew I almost lost the baby. And he told them he’d call back.

He didn’t come.

He was with Bella.

The room tilted. Sebastian’s grip tightened.

“Camilla. Breathe.”

“I’m fine,” I lied. “Just tired

…

The nurse left. The door closed.

Silence.

Then my phone, on the side table, buzzed.

I didn’t want to look.

Sebastian reached over and picked it up. He frowned at the screen.

“Unknown number,” he said. He didn’t open it. He held it out to me.

My hands were shaking too badly to take it. So he did.

He read it. His jaw ticked.

“What is it?” I asked.

He hesitated. Then he turned the phone so I could see.

_“Remove it and divorce him. Then Trent will be mine. Don’t make me do it for you. “

Bella.

The letters burned into my eyes.

I knew it was Bella.

She was threatening me.

Her message was clear: Get rid of Trent’s child, get out of the marriage, or I’ll make sure you lose both.

A laugh bubbled up in my throat. It wasn’t funny. It sounded hysterical even to me.

“She thinks she can decide my marriage and my pregnancy because I have been too calm. I will never let anyone hurt my child”, I said. My voice was flat. Dead. “If she tries anything funny, I will make sure she regrets it.”

Sebastian took the phone from me and set it face down. His expression was stone. “Do you want me to call security? Get a restraining order?”

“I want…” I started, and then stopped. What did I want?

I wanted Trent to walk through that door and say he was sorry.

I wanted Bella to disappear.

I wanted five months ago back, before I knew I was pregnant, before I had hope.

“I want to go home,” I said finally.

...

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Sebastian asked again. I sure you want to go home, to a husband that doesn't care about you or his child. You are pregnant; you deserve all love and care.”

I looked at him. I will be fine, t. Thank you for everything. It is just five months remaining, and I'll be out of the house for good.”I said, trying to smile. “Okay, but if anything, just call me and let me know,” he said calmly.