Chapter 4

Janet's POV

My vision was fading in and out.

Ashley sat in a chair scrolling through her phone, glancing up at me every now and then like I was some lab rat she was observing.

"Janet, tell me something. Why did you even marry into this family in the first place?"

"For my brother's looks? For the Martinez money?"

"But you've gotta think. You came from nothing. What made you think you deserved to walk through those doors?"

I didn't answer.

I just kept pressing the spots Dr. Miller had told me about.

Pressing as hard as I could.

Even if the hope was razor thin.

Ashley kept going.

"If you hadn't gotten pregnant early, my brother never would've married you."

"The plan was for you to pop out a son, at least make yourself useful."

"But then the ultrasound came back. A girl. The old man's face went black."

"Thank God Rachel's carrying a boy. Otherwise the Martinez line would've died out this generation."

She stood up, walked over, and nudged my leg with her foot.

"So here's the thing. You need to know your place."

"Don't go chasing what isn't yours."

"Once Rachel has her baby, you sign the divorce papers, take the money, and walk."

"You can still find some regular guy to settle down with. That's not a bad deal."

I opened my eyes and looked at her.

"Does Jason know you're talking to me like this?"

Ashley smiled.

"Of course he knows."

"He's the one who asked me to talk to you."

"He said you're stubborn and he was worried you'd take it hard. Told me to be gentle with you."

I tried to curl my lips into a smile.

Couldn't manage it.

Another wave of pain ripped through my abdomen. Stronger than anything before.

The drug had completely worn off. The baby was coming.

"Ahhh!"

I couldn't hold back the scream.

Ashley stepped back, frowning.

"What a pain."

She opened the door and called out, "Someone get in here. Check if she's ready to push."

A nurse crept in nervously, took one look at me, and went pale.

"Fully dilated. I can see the head."

"But there's too much bleeding. We need to deliver right now."

Ashley waved her off impatiently.

"Then do it."

She gave the order and left to find Jason, not giving a damn about whether I lived or died.

The nurse didn't dare say a word. She crouched down and tried to help me dilate manually.

But I had nothing left to give.

Too much blood loss. My strength was completely gone.

The baby was stuck. Neither coming out nor going back in.

Seconds dragged into minutes. Every one of them pure agony.

Then, suddenly, rapid footsteps echoed from down the hall.

A lot of them.

Boots hitting the floor in perfect sync.

The nurse's face went white. "Who's there?"

The door flew open.

A team of men in black tactical gear stormed in, all armed.

The man in front ripped off his helmet, revealing a sharp, angular face.

The moment he saw me, his eyes turned red.

"Miss!"

I opened my mouth but nothing came out.

I just reached for him.

The nurse panicked and started shrieking.

"Who are you! How did you get in! Guards! Someone call the guards!"

The man didn't even look at her. He rushed to my side and dropped to one knee.

"I'm late. Forgive me, Miss."

He lifted me in his arms and barked orders over his shoulder.

"Clear the area. Get the medical kit. Now."

"Yes, sir."

The black-clad team moved fast.

The nurse tried to slip away and got slammed to the ground. She thrashed and yelled:

"You can't touch me! This is the Martinez family hospital!"

The man turned his head and looked at her.

His eyes were cold as ice.

"The Martinez family?"

"You dare lay a hand on my daughter? There won't be a Martinez family for much longer."