Alle Kapitel von BETRAYED BY BLOOD : Kapitel 51 – Kapitel 60

Tanya's POV. I'm taken to the hospital by customers who are more than happy to drive me there, and I'm thankful for their generosity. The pain is immense, and I find myself cradling my tummy to cope with the on sudden rush. Every unexpected jolt of the car strikes pain through my body, and I desperately try not to cry. Finally, we make it. The customers help keep me on my feet as we make our way in. My clear baby bump makes it evident to the staff of my situation. I'm placed on the gurney and rolled into one of the rooms before they move me onto a bed. Despite its softness, it doesn't ease the awful cramps that start escalating in pressure. The hospital staff all look like worker bees, rushing to and from the room to prepare for the birth. One carries towels, another soft blankets. One adjusts the position of my bed so my back is slightly raised, whilst another attaches me to fluids, injecting the top of my wrist with a needle. One of the nurses also sets up an ultrasound, quietly

Tanya's POV. Some part of me is hoping for a different reaction from my past love, maybe some form of acknowledgment that would change everything. But hope is often a feeble thing, that can be harshly shattered by the realities of life. This cruel reality crushes my expectations and longing, as Marco completely blanks me. His glares daggers into my heart as he turns away and moves into the next door house. Not wanting my daughter to see my misplaced feelings, I take Claire's hand and head into our home. I prep dinner, and we eat whilst she tells me all about her day. I always love listening to her stories of what she got up to. And despite the lingering desire to speak to the man next door, I remain enthusiastic and present in our conversations. Later however, as I'm washing the dishes, I hear a loud sound coming from Marco's house. Recalling Lisa's request, my eyes widen with realization. With Claire, we rush out the door and into the other. The bathroom light is on, and I hear Ma

Marco's POV. It warms my heart to see the relief in Claire's eyes as she realizes it is me. She eagerly takes my hand as I take her away from her bullies and safeguard her from them. However, I can't help but stiffen as the child for the third time this week encompasses me in a hug. Her dainty arms doing their best to wrap around my understandably larger body. I always have a particular softness towards children. To adults, I have no desire to showcase any form of remorse or whittle down my brashness. But with children... there is something about their innocence that captures my attention. My negative outlook on people's intentions never befalls on children. Even with their temper tantrums, they have a level of purity with regards to the world around them. You could never blame them simply because they don't understand enough about life. They are always good intentioned, or at least oblivious to the consequences of their actions. How could you be mad or mean to something so fragile?

Tanya's POV. I race towards the two, my hands pressing firmly against Raphael's chest, shoving him away from Mr. Barlow. Of course, my hand meets with the bully's rippled chest, and I can barely push him. He chuckles at my feeble attempt, only stepping back with a malicious grin. Raphael isn't as tall as Marco, but he is still a decent height for a male. And he didn't get classed as a bully for no reason. Although muscular, there is no smooth elegance or refinement to his physic. Raphael is a rough piece of work, as if he has been carved with a blunt knife. Curated with jagged edges, a shaggy unkempt beard and buzz cut. He is like a rusty machete, worn, weathered, and ragged, but still dangerous enough to cut you and give you a nasty infection. "Stop! Stop this nonsense!" I yell, decently fearful, as I feel a close friendship with Mr. Barlow. Even with his annoying old man tendencies. I don't want to see him getting hurt. Everyone stays away from Raphael and tries hard not to ge

Tanya's POV. It's a known verified fact, that a mama bear will do anything for her cubs. And in that very moment, I'd never felt so much emotion in my life. Every instinctual motherly fiber within me is scorching with fierce intensity. My heart hammers against my chest as my weak senses heighten to their extremity and adrenalin kicks in. "Claire! Claire!" I scream, darting from one side of the pathway to the other, the crowd parting for me as I desperately look for my child. No one would ever understand how much my daughter meant to me. After I chose to leave Marco, I was nothing. Caspian found me washed up by lake on the brink of death, and even after he saved me, I was a hopeless empty shell of my former self. The loss of my love was so destructive to my brain and heart, every day after that felt like a chore. The weeks blurred as I aimlessly slept my worries away. And the only thing that kept me from ending it was knowing I had a responsibility to my child. She kept me eating,