4

Violet's POV

The entire drive to the hospital, all I could think of was my baby.

My little Belle– even the thought of her being in made me twist over and over again. 

I parked in front of the hospital and rushed inside, tears blurring my vision as I approached the front desk. 

“Belle Ashford, please tell me how she's doing?”

The receptionist stared at me for a moment before her eyes flared with irritation. 

“So you’re one of the relatives of that innocent child?” she spat, “How could you be so careless?”

I froze. Careless? 

“That girl was barely breathing when she was brought in, what sort of madness makes someone smoke around a girl?”

“What? Someone smoked around Belle?”

“Go and ask your family, not me!”

I rushed inside, grabbing a pass to the room along the way. 

I could already see Ivy standing at the door while Jason held her close. 

I brushed past them and entered a room, a sob escaping my lips as I saw my baby’s condition.

I sat in front of her, taking her hands into mine. “Baby? How are you feeling?”

“M-mommy?” she whispered, her eyes fluttering open. “Mommy, I couldn’t breathe, I tried telling her when I felt that icky feeling again, like you said I should…”

My stomach twisted. 

“But she…” she whispered. “She didn’t stop and I felt icky and ickier…”

Jason spoke up, “Violet, you just got in and you’re stressing her out?”

I turned to Ivy. “What happened?”

“Are you accusing me of hurting my daughter?” 

“What Happened?”

Ivy glanced around before she let out a pitiful sob. 

The same script over and over again.

“I’m sorry, Violet.” Another sob. “I wanted to catch up with a few old friends. They just smoked a little in our private room, and I couldn’t leave Belle alone, right?”

“If I knew this was going to happen…” she trailed off, hiding in Jason’s arms. “I really tried to help her, but I don’t think you explained the instructions properly…”

I raised an eyebrow. 

“I mean you were rushing over things; it seemed like you were upset we were going out so…” She stopped. “Forget it. Maybe I misunderstood. I tried using the emergency medication but I couldn't find it.”

“That's enough, Ivy.” Jason pulled her even closer. “You don’t have to defend yourself. Everyone knows you love Belle.”

My fingers were digging into my hands at this point, my skin burning at their antics. 

“I…” She started, “I shouldn’t say this but I don’t think it's just because of the smoke.”

“Really?” Jason glanced at me suspiciously. “What do you think happened?”

“If she was being cared for well… I mean if she got her medications regularly and rested…” Her eyes landed on mine. “A little smoke wouldn’t create such a crisis.”

The entire hospital was mad at her but my husband— who looked nothing like that—was too busy coaxing her to realise his daughter almost died. 

The thought made my chest tighten. 

And to top it all off, she was trying to blame me? 

“Violet!” Jason barked, grabbing my arm. “You had one job for seven years and you still couldn’t do it?!”

“Because of you, my daughter is in this state! Did you even take care of her at all or were you too busy…” his face twisted with disgust, “Trying to make a place in my heart?”

“I’ve explained it to you in every language. You need to prioritize Belle, always!”

“Don’t yell at Violet, Jason.” Ivy stepped forward. “This is my fault, if I was with my daughter during all these years, this wouldn’t have happened.”

I glanced between them, then at my daughter, fighting the question at the tip of my tongue. 

The retort, all the things I wanted to say.

But over the years, I realized that defending yourself or fighting against a judge who had already declared the verdict was useless. 

No matter what I said; Ivy was the victim and everything was at fault. 

Even today. 

“Mr. Ashford,” We turned to see the doctor. “We’ve been reviewing her treatment, where is her mother?”

“I’m her mother, me.” Ivy shoved me aside, rushing forward. 

“Alright, I need some clarifications from her reporters, how long has she been on these medications, when were her last visits and how frequent have her attacks been lately?”

Color drained from Ivy’s face immediately. 

“Uh, I…”

“Seven years,” I spoke up. “She was born with this condition. Her last visit was last week and she hasn’t had any asthmatic attacks lately.”

The doctor glanced around the room, his forehead creased for a moment before he spoke. “Thank you, uh, you must be her mother then?”

Ivy’s eyes widened as she glared at me. 

She tried to speak but he talked over her. “She needs to stay overnight for observation. You got lucky this time; please be more careful,”

Jason pulled out his phone as the doctor walked away. “I have something to handle with my friends. I’ll return soon.”

He started walking away and Ivy spoke up. “I’ll stay. Besides, who can take better care of Belle than me? Her real mother.”

A sob escaped her lips again and Jason hugged her one last time before vanishing down the hall. 

Once he was gone, Ivy wiped her tears, tore off her mask, and pulled out her phone, giggling at videos. 

I sat beside Belle, kissing her forehead. 

“M-mommy?”

“I’m right here baby,” I whispered. 

“You won’t leave again, right?” 

I glanced at Ivy who was focused on watching videos. “Don’t worry, baby. Just get some rest.”

“But, Mommy—“

“Oh my gosh.” Icy suddenly groaned. “Can’t she keep her mouth shut for two seconds?” 

“I’m trying to relax here,” she spat, “Why must she whine so much when you’re right here, huh? Are you not enough for her?”

She huffed, falling silent before she stood up.

“Since you have everything handled here, I need to grab some things from home.” She smiled, “Manage this situation. It's what you've been doing for seven years anyway.”

I didn’t turn back once. I stayed focused on Belle and kissed her forehead all over again.

Jason left and so did Ivy. They left with promises of coming back, but for the entire night, I didn’t even get a single phone call.