Chapter 3

Carla~

The first thing I noticed was the sound.

A steady, rhythmic beep… beep… beep drilled into my skull, sharp and unforgiving.

It felt invasive, like it was echoing inside my head instead of outside it. I tried to move away from the noise, only to realize I couldn't.

Then came the smell; strong, sterile.

Disinfectant so overpowering it burned the back of my throat. My stomach lurched violently, and I gagged, a weak sound scraping out of me as nausea washed over my body.

"Uugh…"

My eyelids fluttered, heavy and stubborn, before finally giving in.

Bright white light assaulted me instantly, forcing a pained groan from my lips. I squeezed my eyes shut again, my head throbbing as if it might split open. When I tried once more, carefully this time, the world slowly came into focus.

White walls surrounded me.

A ceiling light so bright it felt cruel.

And machines.

Machines were everywhere.

The beeping I'd heard earlier was coming from a monitor beside the bed, its screen filled with green lines that rose and fell in time with my heartbeat. A plastic tube trailed from my hand, taped down carefully. I stared at it for a long moment, confusion clouding my thoughts.

A hospital.

I was in a hospital.

I immediately tried to sit up, panic surging, but a dull ache spread through my body in protest. A sharp hiss escaped me as I fell back against the thin mattress, my heart beginning to race.

"Easy… easy…"

A voice drifted in from somewhere nearby.

I turned my head slowly, blinking as a blurry figure moved into my line of sight. The scent of disinfectant clung to them too, mixing with something faintly medicinal.

"You’ve been out for quite a while." the woman said gently. "Try not to move too much."

A nurse.

Her face finally came into focus, soft but concerned as she checked the monitor beside me.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "What… what happened?" I croaked, my voice barely recognizable.

Her expression shifted slightly, careful. "You fainted. Stress-induced syncope."

Stress?

The memory hit me suddenly, violently; my legs giving out, the dizzy spin of the room, whispering Xavier’s name as darkness swallowed me whole.

My chest tightened.

My eyes drifted toward the doorway instinctively, my heart skipping a beat despite myself.

"How long has it been?" I asked, almost absentmindedly.

The nurse took a step closer before answering.

"Two days."

I looked up at her, as if scanning her face for any sign of a lie.

"Two days?" I repeated, only earning a nod from her.

Panic crept through me again at the sudden revelation. I'd been out for two whole days!

I suddenly reached out to grab her wrist in an almost desperate manner.

"My husband..." I whispered.

"Is he here? Did he come for me?" I asked even though a small part of me already knew the answer.

"Did… anyone come for me?"

The nurse hesitated, an apologetic look crossing her feature.

And that told me everything I wanted to know.

I slowly let go of her, sitting back on the bed like I'd just been reprimanded.

The door suddenly creaked open and this time, a doctor walked in with a polite smile.

"Glad to see you're awake, Mrs Lockwood."

"I have excellent news for you." He announced, making me look up with furrowed brows.

Stopping in front of me, he suddenly handed me a paper.

"Congratulations." He grinned as I hesitantly accepted it.

My eyes widened at the content of the paper in my hand, my breath hitching.

Pregnant.

I was three weeks pregnant.

The world around me turned blurry in an instant. Everything the doctor was saying began to sound like distorted jargon.

I couldn't barely breathe.

My thoughts slowly began to spiral.

Pregnant.

The word echoed over and over in my head, refusing to settle. I stared at the paper in my hand, fingers trembling slightly as reality tried to sink in. What did this mean for me… for us?

Especially now.

Especially when my husband clearly had...someone else.

Would Xavier remain indifferent toward our child the same way he's always been with me?

Or would this change something?

I found myself clinging to the smallest, most fragile hope; that maybe this was the miracle I've needed for so long. Maybe this child would soften him. Maybe it would bring some warmth into his cold heart.

"Mrs. Lockwood?"

The nurse's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts.

I blinked, realizing she and the doctor were both staring at me now, concern etched into their expressions.

"Mrs. Lockwood, are you okay?" one of them asked.

I didn't answer. I couldn’t. All I could do was stare blankly ahead, my mind still miles away.

The nurse guided a glass of water into my hands. I took it mechanically, managing only a small sip before setting it aside.

"That's alright," she said gently. "Just try to relax."

The doctor gave me a reassuring smile. "I'll come back shortly for more checkups and to sort out your prescriptions."

I nodded faintly.

They both left soon after, the door clicking shut behind them, leaving the room eerily quiet.

I was alone.

My hand moved on its own, resting lightly against my stomach. Nothing had changed yet but somehow, it felt different already.

There was a life growing inside me.

I imagined a child with Xavier's piercing blue eyes, the same dark hair and sharp features. A tiny version of him...of us.

And for the first time since waking up, a small smile curved my lips.

Maybe… maybe this wasn't so bad after all.

But then my gaze drifted to the television mounted on the wall.

And my breath caught painfully in my throat.

Xavier was on the screen.

Standing tall and confident as always, he was accepting yet another award with a wide smile as flashes from cameras lit up the stage.

BUSINESS MAN OF THE YEAR!

He made the headlines once again.

However, that wasn't what twisted my heart in pain. That wasn't what filled my mouth with a bitter taste.

My eyes were on someone else.

Estelle.

And like always, she was standing way too close to Xavier, her hands glued to his body like she owned him. Like she belonged right there.

She smiled directly at the camera, smug and unashamed.

Almost as if she knew I was watching.

Almost as if... she was daring me to make a move.

An idea suddenly struck me.