Chapter 4: I Wasn't Going Anywhere

Brielle's POV

“I’ll leave before I let him take Ellis from me.” I meant it. The words had barely left my mouth when the door opened without a knock and Tessa stepped inside, still wearing her coat with her bag hanging off one shoulder.

She stopped when she saw the bandage around my head and the IV in my hand.

“Brielle!”

She hurried to the bed. “Martha called me, but wouldn’t explain. What happened?”

I pushed myself up slightly, wincing when my wrist hurt. “I'm fine”

“Fine?” She pointed at the bandage on my head. “Does this look fine to you?”

“I fell down the stairs at the house.”

I swallowed. “Lucy pushed me.”

Tessa went still. “She pushed you on purpose?”

“Yes. We were arguing, and she grabbed my arm. The next thing I knew, I was falling down the stairs.”

“And where was Gideon when this happened?”

I stared at the blanket. “He watched me fall, then carried Lucy out. He never checked if I was alive.”

Tessa’s voice dropped. “You could have died, Brielle. Did he even call you?"

“He came this morning, but he didn't come to see how I was doing. He brought divorce papers.”

She stared at me in disbelief. “After everything that happened last night, that's what he came here to do?”

I nodded. “He still believes that video. He thinks I cheated with Everett, and nothing I said could change his mind. He placed the papers on the table and told me our marriage was over.”

“There's nothing I can do about what he believes.”

I pressed my good hand into the sheet. “I was pregnant.”

Tessa went quiet, and I forced myself to continue. “I was carrying twins. I found out three days before everything happened.”

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“I was planning to leave Gideon, and I wanted to get my things together first. I was afraid he'd accuse me of trying to trap him with a pregnancy, and I didn't know what he would do if I left with his children. He has money, influence and lawyers. I was scared he could make things difficult for me.”

Tessa reached for my hand. “You should have told me. You didn't have to go through that alone.”

“I know, I honestly wished I had.”

“What happened to the babies?”

I struggled to speak. “The fall caused serious complications, and the doctors had to deliver them early. The girl... Alice didn't survive.”

Tessa's eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Brielle. I'm so sorry.”

I turned my face away, but the tears came anyway. “Ellis is alive. He's in the NICU, but he's so small, Tessa. He needs help breathing, and the doctors are watching him closely.”

“Have you seen him?”

“Yes, this morning. There are wires and tubes everywhere, and when I stood beside his incubator, I could barely believe he was mine. I told him I was his mother and that I wasn't going anywhere.”

I closed my eyes. “I never got to take Alice home or hold her the way I imagined I would.”

She moved closer and wrapped her arms around me carefully. “I'm so sorry. I wish you had called when you found out, I would have come.”

“Everything happened so quickly. I was scared, and suddenly I was in that hospital.”

“I know.” She pulled back and wiped her cheeks. “But you're not doing this alone anymore. I'll help with whatever you need.”

“Thank you, this means a lot”

“Don't thank me. Just let me help.” Her eyes moved to the folder on the side table. “Have you signed the papers?”

“No.”

“Good. Don't rush into anything while you're still recovering.”

“I don't want to fight for the marriage, I just want to focus on Ellis.”

“Then that's what you should do. Your health and your son come first.” She paused before asking, “When can you see him again?”

“I'll ask the doctor. I want to go back as soon as they'll allow it.”

“Then I'll go with you.”

A small smile touched my lips. “I'd like that.”

She sat beside me again, then asked, “Does Gideon know about the babies?”

“No. The doctors asked if they should inform my husband, but I told them not to.”

I shook my head. “He came here with divorce papers. After the way he left me, I couldn't bring myself to tell him. I need to get stronger first, and I need to know I can protect Ellis.”

“I'm not asking him for anything. I just want to raise my son in peace.”

“And you will, one step at a time.” Her eyes moved towards the door. “What about your parents? Do they know?”

“No. I don't want them involved right now. My mother will turn everything into a performance, and my father will start worrying about the family name. I can't deal with either of them.”

“Then we won't tell them until you're ready.”

I glanced at her. “Martha called you?”

“Yes. She called as soon as they brought you here because she was worried you'd wake up with nobody beside you.”

I looked down at my hands. “Martha has always been kinder to me than anyone in that house.”

Tessa squeezed my fingers. “You have people who care about you, Brielle. Don't forget that.”

“Now, rest. I'll speak to the nurse about visiting Ellis, and when they say you can go, we'll go together.”

I nodded, feeling a little less alone than I had since waking up. Tessa had come, listened to everything and promised to help without asking for anything in return. Right now, she was the only person who had come for me, and that was enough.

---

Gideon's POV

I dropped my keys on the side table as I entered the living room. Martha stood in the doorway with her hands clasped in front of her apron, and something about her expression told me she had been waiting for me.

“Is there a problem, Martha?”

“You left your wife on the stairs, Mr. Shaw.”

My jaw tightened. “What are you talking about?”

“Mrs. Shaw was bleeding and could barely move. You carried Miss Reeves out and abandoned your wife.”

“Brielle made her choices. I had no reason to stay after what she did.”

“She was unconscious when I found her, and Arthur and I had to get her to the hospital. You didn't even call to ask if she was alive.”

“I knew she had been taken to the hospital.”

“A husband should check on his wife after something like that. He shouldn't leave her behind and return the next morning with divorce papers.”

My expression hardened. “This is not your business.”

“It became my business when I found her bleeding on the floor.”

“You seem to have forgotten your place.”

“No, Mr. Shaw. I respect you as my employer, but I won't pretend what you did was right.”

“That's enough, Martha.”

I turned away. “Send any hospital papers to my office if they come.”

Then I walked towards the study without waiting for her response.

Later that afternoon, I stood by the living-room window with a glass in my hand. Dad sat in the armchair while Mom occupied the seat across from him, and both seemed to have been waiting for me.

Dad spoke first. “You're ending the marriage this quickly?”

“It's already decided.”

“Have you thought about what this will look like for the family and the company?”

“I've thought about it, but the board and investors don't need to be involved.”

“It's easy to say that when you're not the one dealing with the consequences.”

I set my glass down. “I know how to run my business, Dad.”

Mom leaned forward slightly. “Your father has a point. Personal decisions can affect more than your private life.”

“I know.”

She held my gaze for a moment. “I hope you know what you're doing, Gideon. I don't want you making a mistake that comes back to affect this family or the company.”

“Because some decisions are more expensive to correct than they are to make.”

Dad leaned back. “We're not telling you to stay married. Just make sure this doesn't become a problem for the family business.”

“It's handled.”

I turned back towards the window, unwilling to continue the discussion. The decision had been made, and I wasn't going to keep explaining myself to anyone.

Mom watched me closely. “And if Brielle ever comes back?”

I set my glass down. “She won’t. She has no reason to return, and I have no intention of opening that door again.”

I turned away from the window, certain the matter was settled anyway.