CHAPTER 2: THE TEST RESULTS

POV: Vivienne Hart

"The anesthesia is going to wear off completely over the next hour, you might start feeling some sharp discomfort in your abdomen, but your vitals are looking much more stable now," Dr. Evans said, stepping closer to Vivienne's bedside while he flipped through the digital charts on his tablet, he looked relieved.

"The surgery went well then? Is everything okay inside?" Vivienne asked, her voice sounding raspy and hollow to her own ears as she tried to adjust her position on the pillows, though every minor movement sent a dull, throbbing ache straight through her lower torso.

"The internal bleeding from the impact was contained quickly, and we managed to repair the minor lacerations without any further complications, but the blood work we ran before you went under came back with some very specific results that we need to discuss immediately," Dr. Evans explained, pulling up a chair to sit beside her bed he clearly wanted to deliver the news with his full attention on her reaction.

"Just tell me straight doctor, I can handle whatever it is, and I really just need to know what is happening to my body right now," Vivienne muttered, her hand automatically resting over her stomach while her chest tightened with an immediate, overwhelming sense of dread.

"Vivienne, you are pregnant, and the ultrasound we performed right before the procedure confirmed that you are actually carrying twins, both of whom survived the trauma of the accident and are showing strong, steady heartbeats at the moment," Dr. Evans said, a small, encouraging smile appearing on his face, though his eyes remained watchful because he noticed the way her entire face drained of color at his words.

"Twins? Are you absolutely certain about that, because we have been trying for so long, and I didn't think it was even possible anymore," Vivienne whispered, her fingers gripping the rough hospital blanket as a wave of intense, conflicting emotions washed over her, because this was the exact news she had dreamed of sharing with Roman for years, yet the timing felt like a cruel joke given the photo still burning a hole in her mind.

"We are entirely certain, as both gestational sacs are clearly visible and healthy, but because of the physical trauma you just experienced, you are going to need absolute bed rest and zero stress for the foreseeable future if you want to keep this pregnancy viable," Dr. Evans warned, tapping a few notes into his screen before standing up and adding, "I will give you some privacy to process this and contact your husband, but a nurse will be in shortly with your medication."

The moment the heavy door clicked shut behind the doctor, Vivienne reached for her phone with trembling fingers, her heart racing against her ribs as she stared at Roman’s contact name, wondering if finding out he was going to be a father to twins would finally make him open his eyes and leave Celeste's side.

Before her thumb could press the dial button, a sudden loud pinging notifications flooded the top of her screen, forcing her to look at her social media feeds where her name and Roman's were suddenly trending across every major entertainment and business news outlet in the country.

"Oh no, please don't let this be what I think it is," Vivienne whispered to herself, her breath catching as she tapped on the first link and saw a photograph taken just an hour ago outside Saint Jude’s Specialist Hospital.

The image showed Roman walking swiftly through a crowd of reporters, looking fierce and protective as he carried Celeste bridal-style toward a waiting luxury SUV, his coat wrapped tightly around her shoulders while the massive headline above them read, Billionaire Roman Ashford Rushes Pregnant Childhood Sweetheart to Safety: Is Celeste Vance the Future Mrs. Ashford?

Vivienne stared at the screen while her phone began to vibrate violently in her palm, the caller ID flashing with the name of her mother-in-law, Eleanor Ashford, which made Vivienne’s stomach churn because Eleanor had never called her just to offer comfort or kindness.

"Vivienne, I assume you are looking at the internet right now, so I will get straight to the point without wasting any of our time," Eleanor said the moment Vivienne answered, her tone completely devoid of warmth, sounding more like a corporate executive delivering a termination notice than a relative.

"Eleanor, I am actually in the hospital myself I was involved in a severe car crash tonight, I really cannot handle any family drama at this exact moment," Vivienne replied, her voice shaking as she tried to defend herself, but Eleanor didn't even pause to ask if she was injured.

"That is unfortunate, but we have a much bigger situation to handle here, because the public is already speculating about Roman and Celeste, and if Celeste is indeed carrying Roman's child, perhaps it is time you step aside gracefully instead of causing a public scandal that could destroy the Ashford Group's stock values," Eleanor stated coldly, her words cutting through Vivienne with a sharpness that left her completely numb.

"You want me to step aside? I built that company alongside your son for seven years, Eleanor, and you are telling me to just disappear because of a rumor?" Vivienne asked, a cold, hard anger suddenly replacing the deep sadness in her chest as she stared down at the hospital gown she was wearing.

"Let's be realistic, Vivienne, because you have never been able to provide Roman with an heir, and now that Celeste is giving him what this family actually needs, your presence is only going to complicate things, so doing this quietly would be best for everyone involved," Eleanor said, entirely unaware that Vivienne was currently carrying two Ashford heirs in her womb at that very second.

"I understand exactly where you and Roman stand now, Eleanor, so thank you for making this choice so incredibly easy for me," Vivienne said, her voice dropping to a calm, icy whisper that completely cut off whatever Eleanor was about to say next.

Without waiting for a response, Vivienne pulled the phone away from her ear and disconnected the call, her face completely expressionless as she immediately dialed a completely different number that she had memorized years ago but hoped she would never have to use.

"Arthur, I need you to come to City General Hospital immediately, I want you to bring the standard marriage dissolution paperwork with you," Vivienne said the moment her family’s private legal counsel answered the phone, her hand resting firmly over her stomach as she made the final decision to protect her children from the Ashford family forever.