<Chapter Twenty–Eight
Chapter Twenty–Eight
Ava’s POV
+8 Points)
“Are you ready?” Phoenix asked, her voice devoid of its usual warmth. She didn’t even glance my way. It hurt, but it shouldn’t have because I knew she was angry, but shouldn’t it have ended by now?
The night I drove home after the exhausting and frustrating encounters with both Aiden and Elson, Phoenix had been furious with me for keeping everything to myself. Apparently, Sarah had told her, and she felt betrayed that I hadn’t confided in her. I tried to explain, but she refused to listen. Since then, which was days ago, she had spoken to me only in short, clipped, emotionless tones. The cold shoulder was getting too frustrating.
“When will you stop being angry with me?” I asked softly.
She stilled for a moment. And just when I thought she might respond, she grabbed her bag. “I told Elson to escort you because the shop is full. See you later.” And then she was gone.
Tears sprang to my eyes. Pregnancy hormones. I was usually able to hold them back, except at night when discomfort or memories of the warmth of my ex–husband’s and then his betrayal crept in. But now, with Phoenix giving me the cold shoulder, I felt truly lonely. Apart from the little life inside me, she had been my only solace, a ray of light. But now, she was distant and despite my explanations, she still refused to speak with me properly even though her care was still constant. It shouldn’t have hurt this much, but it did.
A few minutes later, I was ready to leave for my prenatal examination. Outside, Elson leaned against the car, dressed casually, his posture relaxed. The moment he saw me, he straightened. For some ridiculous reason, my heart picked up speed, my face heating up. Not because of attraction or anything close to that, but because of the lingering tension from our last argument. We hadn’t seen much of each other since then. I had spent most of my time resting, and exercising occasionally in my room as recommended by the doctor. Our only communication had been through brief phone calls and emails.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
I nodded, and soon we were driving up the busy road toward the hospital. The car ride was quiet, aside from the soft music playing through the speakers. I rested my head against the window, trying not to drift off. Lately, I’d been sleeping more, probably due to boredom, but it felt inappropriate to fall asleep in a car, with Elson, on my way to the hospital.
Yet, I did just that. I jolted awake as the car came to a stop, realizing we had arrived. At some point, Elson must have reclined my seat to keep me comfortable, probably that was why I slept through the forty–minute ride. Without exchanging words, we stepped out of the car and into the hospital building, his hand resting on my back. The touch was warm, and gentlemanlike, but I didn’t push it away, though it made me feel oddly
aware of the space and tension between us.
A few moments later……
My heart pounded as I stepped out of the doctor’s office, his words still echoing in my mind.
“Ava, we need to monitor you closely. Your blood pressure is high, and you’re showing signs of preeclampsia. It’s not severe yet, but it isn’t mild either and could progress quickly. There’s also a risk of preterm labor. I need you to take it easy, no stress, and no overexertion. And if you experience any unusual pain, swelling, or
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<Chapter Twenty–Eight
dizziness, you must come in immediately.”
I had nodded, swallowing the fear rising in my chest.
“What about a natural birth?” I had asked, trying to keep my voice calm.
48 Points
The doctor sighed. “We’ll see how things go, but if the risks increase, we may have to consider an emergency C–section.”
I had forced a smile, determined not to let fear take over. “I’ll be fine. The baby will be fine.”
Even though I was trembling with fear.
“Are you okay?” Elson’s voice pulled me back to the present.
“Yes, I am.” I lied. He knew it, but he didn’t push. He just studied me for a long moment before nodding.
“We can leave now,” I added, and he grabbed my duffel bag. His hand instinctively returned to the small of my back, but unlike before, I wasn’t bothered as my thought was faraway from the warmth and unsettling feeling of it. My thoughts were rather focused on the doctor’s words, the way his face was etched with genuine concern. I chewed on my cheek, forcing myself not to dwell too much on the what–ifs. I chose my baby despite the risks, and I don’t regret that.
I was lost in thought when it happened.
“Ava?”
My feet halted. My entire body went cold the moment my brain perceived the voice. Oh God, that voice. I don’t need to turn around. I knew exactly who it belonged to. It was one I had heard whispered in the secret of our shared moments, in laughter, in anger, in love. One that had once been my safe haven and my destruction. My breath caught in my throat, my hands trembling. No, it couldn’t be.
Elson turned first, his hand falling away from me, but I couldn’t move. My heart pounded against my ribs, the sound deafening in my ears.
“Ava, is that you?” The voice came again, clearer and closer.
I shut my eyes as a shiver ran through me. Oh God. It really is him. Slowly and painfully, as if moving through
a dream, I turned and met the icy, shock–filled gaze of Kyle Banks.
He stood there, his brows furrowed and his lips parted in shock as he focused on my face. Slowly, his gaze dropped to my stomach. His breath hitched, and he shuffled his feet back a little in disbelief. He shook his
head slightly, as if he couldn’t belie what he was seeing.
I should have laughed at his sheer disbelief because I was in disbelief too. Instead, I stood frozen, watching my world crumbling to my feet.
“You’re pregnant?” he whispered, voice hoarse with emotion.
Beside me, Elson shifted. “Do you know him, Ava?”
His voice was cautious, and curious, but I wasn’t listening even though I heard him. My limbs felt weak, my breath was in short, fast gulps. My heart raced erratically, my pulse a wild and loud drumbeat in my ears.
“Yes,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “My ex–husband.”
I felt Elson freeze a moment before he pulled me closer, his body shifting slightly in front of mine, shielding me. Kyle noticed. His eyes flickered to Elson, taking in the closeness, before returning to me, burning with
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<Chapter Twenty–Eight
something close to anger.
Is he really angry? At me? The sheer audacity.
“You’re pregnant, and I didn’t know?” His voice was no longer just shocked. It was sharp, laced with
accusation.
Anger surged through me like a raging wave, pushing away the remnants of my shock. I stepped out of Elson’s hold, my hands clenched into fists.
“And so what?” My voice was sharp, trembling with fury. “Do I owe you that information?”
+8 Points >
Kyle looked taken aback for a second, but then the anger in his eyes only rekindle it’s heat. “Yes. You do.”
“Why?” I spat.
“Because it’s my child.”
I let out a bitter laugh, my body shaking. The pressure in my chest was unbearable, and my breathing was labored, but I didn’t care. “Says who? Huh? Says who?”
His eyes flashed. “I don’t need anyone to tell me, unless….unless you cheated on me before our divorce.”
What the…?
“How dare you?” My voice cracked with rage, and I instinctively took a step forward. My instincts urged me to stop and listen too my body system, the doctors words, but I was too damn angry to care.
“How dare you….” I continued.
“Then why did you keep what’s mine from me?” he demanded, cutting me off.
My vision swam as fury surged through my body in waves. My body felt too hot, my pulse too fast. My fingers clenched into fists, my body trembling but before I could spit out another retort…
A sharp, tearing pain ripped through my stomach. I gasped, doubling over.
“Ava?” Elson caught me as I sagged, panic in his voice.
I gasped. “I don’t know, I just felt a sharp….Ahh!” I tried to answer, but another wave of pain crashed over me, stealing my breath. I clutched my stomach, my nails digging into the fabric of my dress.
“Ava, are you okay?” Elson’s voice was frantic now, his body crouched that I could see his face if I turned my head from my bent position.
No. I wasn’t. The pain was so excruciating, I couldn’t even say the words. My body was on fire, my heart hammering, sweat dampening my skin. Oh God! My baby. What is happening?
“Get the nurse!” Elson shouted, and within seconds, people swarmed around me. I was being rushed back into the hospital, the world spinning as I fought to breathe through the pain.
If someone had told me this was how today would go, I wouldn’t have believed them. But here I was, caught in agony, with people’s voices fading in the distance as my body got drowned in the pain I was experi
- ng.
Oh God, please let my baby be okay. I don’t know if I would be, but let my child be fine. I prayed silently with tears trickling down my face, mixing with my sweats.
Please, let my child be fine.
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