Chapter 3: A Heartbeat Amidst the Heartbreak

୨୧ Shanna Reed ୨୧​

I stood at the nurses’ desk, my hands gripping the cold laminate counter as I waited for my discharge papers. My body felt hollow, every breath a jagged reminder of the life I had just lost.

A nurse with sympathetic eyes slid a final folder toward me, her voice softening. “Luna, your vital signs are stable enough for you to be discharged, but please listen carefully to the doctor’s orders. You need absolute rest. No heavy lifting, no emotional stress, and you must return tomorrow morning for your follow-up blood work and pelvic ultrasound to ensure everything is cleared properly.”

“I understand,” I whispered, my voice sounding like dry paper.

I signed my name at the bottom of the form, eager to escape the suffocating scent of antiseptic and despair.

Stepping out into the cool evening air, I flagged down a yellow taxi and slid into the back seat. The city lights blurred past the window, stretching into long streaks of gold and neon as the cab pulled away from the hospital.

My phone buzzed against my palm.

I pulled it out to check, my heart leaping for a fraction of a second before sinking again. It wasn't Ashton. It was Marine.

I answered and put the call on speaker.

“Shanna? Babe, where are you?” Marine’s voice rushed through the line, heavy with worry. “We were supposed to meet for dinner an hour ago at that Italian place downtown. You didn't show up, and you're not answering my texts. Is everything okay?”

“Marine,” I said. “I was in a car accident. I can't make it to dinner.”

Silence descended on the line for a second before Marine exploded.

“An accident?! Shanna Reed, what do you mean, an accident?! Are you okay?! Which hospital are you at? I'm getting in my car right now!”

“No, I'm in a taxi. I'm heading home now,” I interrupted. “Just... let me breathe, Marine.”

“Okay, breathe, honey. Then tell me everything,” she demanded, her voice firm with concern.

With the city blurring past the window, I spilled everything. I told her about the screeching tires, the shattered glass, the blood on the car seat, and the devastating news from the doctor that I might have lost the baby.

But deep down, I was convinced I had lost my baby. There had been so much blood, and I couldn't shake the hollow feeling inside me.

However, the most agonizing part was telling her about Ashton—how I'd walked down that sterile hallway, found him in the VIP wing, and watched Vivian throw herself into his arms. I told her about the cold, ruthless divorce demand he'd thrown in my face without a single ounce of remorse.

Marine remained silent for a long moment. When she finally spoke, her voice shook with barely contained rage.

“That lying, cheating piece of garbage!” Marine hissed, her fury practically radiating through the phone. “And Vivian? That manipulative little bitch only crawled out of the woodwork now that Ashton has secured his position as Alpha! She smells money and power, and she thinks she can just waltz back in and take your place?”

“She doesn't have to think it,” I laughed bitterly, staring out at the dark pavement. “Ashton has already chosen her. He told me the mate bond was a mistake. He wants her as his Luna.”

“And you're just going to take this lying down?” Marine demanded. “Shanna, please tell me you're not planning to sit and cry over that walking disaster of a man.”

Despite everything, a weak laugh escaped my lips.

“Marine...”

“No, don't Marine me! I've tolerated that man's nonsense for three years, and believe me, if I ever get my hands on him, he'll wish he'd never crossed paths with me.”

“Please don't get yourself arrested on my behalf,” I muttered.

“Then tell your soon-to-be ex-husband to stop giving me reasons to commit a crime,” she shot back.

For the first time that evening, I almost smiled.

But the smile quickly faded.

“A lot of things are out of my control now, Marine,” I murmured, leaning my head back against the worn leather seat. “Ashton has made up his mind. He doesn't want me, and he doesn't want a future with me. But my medical examinations weren't complete. The doctor said I have to return to the hospital tomorrow morning for further tests.”

“Then I'm coming with you. And don't even think about arguing. You have enough problems already without having to deal with me being stubborn.”

“Thank you, Marine.”

“Don't mention it. Just get home and try to get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow.”

We hung up, and the taxi dropped me off a short time later outside the house.

I walked through the front door and into the pitch-black hallway. The maids greeted me and asked if I wanted dinner.

“No, thank you. All I want is to freshen up and get some proper rest,” I replied.

That was exactly what I did.

I went upstairs, freshened up, and climbed into bed. But Ashton never came home that night.

He stayed with her.

I spent the night alone, curled up on my side of our bed, staring at the empty space beside me. Every few minutes, my eyes drifted toward the door, foolishly hoping he might still come home.

My hand instinctively moved to my stomach. Tears slipped down my cheeks as I stared at the emptiness beneath my palm. A part of me still couldn't accept that my baby was gone.

Eventually, exhaustion dragged me into an uneasy sleep.

The next morning, I dragged myself out of bed, still exhausted from the sleepless night.

True to her word, Marine's car horn beeped outside the driveway at exactly eight o'clock.

She helped me through the hospital doors, keeping a steady hand on my arm as we made our way through the corridors. After another round of blood tests and an ultrasound, Dr. Porting finally called us into her office.

She looked down at the new chart in her hands, studying the results carefully. Her eyebrows drew together as she flipped through the pages, occasionally glancing at the ultrasound report.

Something about her expression made my stomach tighten.

“Doctor?” I asked nervously. “Is something wrong?”

She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she placed the chart on her desk and looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite understand.

“Luna, I don't quite know how to explain this,” Dr. Porting finally said, her voice unusually gentle. “Based on the severity of your injuries and the heavy bleeding yesterday, we were concerned that you might have lost the entire pregnancy.”

My heart began pounding.

Marine immediately leaned forward. “What do you mean? Has something happened to her?”

Dr. Porting raised a hand reassuringly. “Please, let me finish. Your blood tests showed that your pregnancy hormone levels were still elevated, so we decided to perform a more detailed ultrasound to determine whether the pregnancy was still viable.”

I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening around the armrest. “Doctor, please. Just tell me what's happening.”

She glanced down at the ultrasound report one more time before looking directly at me. “You were pregnant with twins.”

I blinked, certain I'd heard her incorrectly. “Twins?”

She nodded slowly.

“Unfortunately, the trauma caused the loss of one of the babies. I'm deeply sorry about that. However...” She paused, allowing the words to settle before continuing. “The other baby is still alive. We detected a faint but persistent heartbeat.”

“I also need you to understand that this is still a delicate situation,” Dr. Porting continued. “The surviving baby is still at risk because of the trauma and bleeding. We'll need to monitor your pregnancy closely with regular scans and blood tests to see how it progresses.”

I stared at her, barely able to process what she was saying. “Does that mean my baby is going to be okay?”

“I wish I could give you that guarantee, but it's too early to make that promise. What I can tell you is that we detected a heartbeat, and that's encouraging. For now, you need strict medical supervision, plenty of rest, and regular follow-up appointments.”

For several seconds, I couldn't speak.

One of my babies was still alive.

A hand flew to my mouth as tears blurred my vision. I had spent the entire night mourning, believing I'd lost both my babies. Yet somehow, one of them had survived.

“Are you sure?” I whispered, looking at the doctor desperately. “Please, tell me you're sure. There's really a heartbeat?”

Dr. Porting nodded gently. “Yes, Luna Shanna. We detected a heartbeat.”

A broken sob escaped my lips.

I lowered my head, pressing both hands against my stomach as tears streamed down my cheeks.

One of my babies was gone. I would never get to hold that little one or watch them grow.

But the other...

My surviving baby was still fighting.

Marine immediately moved closer, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. “Oh, Shanna,” she whispered, her own voice breaking. “Your baby is still here, sweetheart.”

“I thought I'd lost everything, Marine,” I sobbed. “I thought my baby was gone.”

“Not everything, honey. Not everything.”

I closed my eyes, allowing her words to sink in.

Ashton might have abandoned me. He might have chosen Vivian and thrown away everything we had built together.

But I wasn't completely alone. I still had a reason to keep going.

I lowered my hand to my stomach. “I'm going to protect you,” I whispered through my tears. “I promise.”

For the first time since the accident, hope began to find its way back into my broken heart.

And this time, I wouldn't let anyone take it away from me.

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