Chapter 64: Devastating Discovery
Chapter 64: Devastating Discovery
(Aria’s POV)
“Alexander, why are you back?” Claire’s voice rang out from behind me, sharp with surprise.
I turned to see her rushing toward Alexander, who was standing in the hallway looking just as surprised to see her.
“Didn’t you say that there would be a meeting today?” she continued, positioning herself directly in front of him as if to block his view of me.
Alexander’s amber eyes narrowed in confusion. “Why are you here?”
Claire’s hand flew to her slightly swollen belly in that theatrical way she had perfected. “Richard said that your mother’s condition has improved, and asked me to come and help decorate her bedroom. He thought that if Elizabeth is discharged from the hospital, she will live more comfortably.”
I fought the urge to scoff out loud. The irony was almost too much to bear. Here was Claire, the very person who had likely poisoned my mother–in–law, pretending to care about her comfort.
But as I watched this exchange, something else nagged at my mind. The brief glimpse I’d caught through the c***k in Elizabeth’s door flashed before me. If Claire was here to decorate my mother–in–law’s bedroom, then who was the woman with Richard?
An absurd and outrageous idea formed in my mind, but I immediately rejected it. Impossible! I must have been thinking too much. Besides, Claire was pregnant now. It couldn’t be her.
“Is my mother feeling better?” Alexander asked, his expression softening with hope.
I noticed how his brow relaxed at Claire’s words, and it stung to see him so easily manipulated by her.
“I haven’t been to the hospital to visit Elizabeth recently, but I heard from Richard…” Claire paused dramatically, then took
Alexander’s arm possessively. “Why don’t we go to the hospital to visit your mother later and tell her the news of my pregnancy? She will definitely be happy, and she may even wake up.”
I narrowed my eyes, feeling a chill spread through me. If my mother–in–law knew that Claire was supposedly pregnant with Alexander’s child, she wouldn’t be happy–she’d be furious enough to die. Elizabeth had always seen through Claire’s manipulations.
Alexander must have noticed my expression, because he pulled his arm away from Claire’s grasp. He clearly knew his mother despised Claire more than anyone.
“Let’s talk about it another day when we have time,” he said, his voice noticeably cooler.
With Alexander back, there was no chance I’d be able to search Elizabeth’s room now. My mission had failed before it had even begun.
“I’m leaving first,” I announced, turning toward the stairs.
Alexander took a step toward me. “I’ll
take you
“No need,” I cut him off sharply.
”
As I walked away, I heard Claire’s shrill voice behind me. “What are you doing? She doesn’t even appreciate it, but you still shamelessly come up to her…”
“What are you talking about?” Alexander
s irritated tone carried down the hallway.
“Okay, okay, okay, I’m talking nonsense,” Claire backpedaled quickly.
Their bickering faded as I hurried down the stairs, eager to put as much distance between us as possible.
Halfway down, a sudden, sharp pain shot through my lower abdome
threatened to buckle.
“No, no, no,” I whispered, one hand instinctively moving to my belly.
.I gasped, clutchin
the banister for support as my knees
I managed to make it to the bottom of the stairs before another wave of pain hit me. This time, I felt something warm and wet
< Chapter 64 Devastating Discovery
+8 Points>
between my legs. Looking down, I saw with horror the small red stain spreading on my light–colored pants.
Blood. I was bleeding.
Panic seized me as I stumbled out the front door, fumbling for my mobile phone with trembling hands. Richard’s rough shove
against the wall must have done more damage than I’d initially thought.
“Please, please be okay,” I whispered to my unborn pup as I dialed Olivia.
She answered on the second ring. “Hey, what’s up? Are you still at the Reed house?”
“Olivia,” my voice cracked. “I’m bleeding. I need to get to Silvercrest Hospital right now.”
Her cheerful tone instantly vanished. “Where are you exactly? I’m coming to get you.”
“I’m outside the main entrance of the Reed pack house,” I said, sinking onto a decorative stone bench. “Please hurry.”
“I’m already on my way. Stay calm and don’t move, okay? Everything’s going to be fine.”
But as another cramp tore through me, I wasn’t sure I believed her.
Fifteen excruciating minutes later, Olivia’s car screeched to a halt in front of me. She leaped out and rushed to my side, her face pale with worry.
“Can you walk?” she asked, helping me to my feet.
I nodded, gritting my teeth against the pain. “Just get me to the hospital.”
The drive to Silvercrest Hospital was a blur of anxiety and prayers. I kept one hand pressed to my belly, as if I could somehow hold my tiny pup safely inside by sheer force of will.
“What happened?” Olivia asked, her knuckles white on the steering wheel.
“Richard pushed me against a wall,” I explained, wincing as another cramp hit. “I thought I was fine, but then I started bleeding when I was leaving.”
Olivia’s eyes flashed with anger. “That bastard. If you lose this pup because of him, I swear-”
“Don’t,” I cut her off, unable to even consider that possibility. “Just drive faster.”
At the hospital, I was immediately taken to the Obstetrics and Gynecology department. The doctor, a middle–aged female werewolf with kind eyes, conducted an ultrasound with gentle efficiency.
I held my breath as she moved the wand across my abdomen, searching for any sign of my pup’s heartbeat. The seconds stretched into an eternity of dread.
And then–a rapid, rhythmic pulsing filled the room. My pup’s heartbeat, strong and steady.
“Your baby is still viable,” the doctor announced, and I nearly collapsed with relief.
Tears sprang to my eyes as I stared at the tiny blob on the screen–my pup, still alive despite everything.
“However,” the doctor continued, her tone turning serious, “you’ve experienced what we call a threatened miscarriage. The bleeding indicates that the placenta may have partially detached from the uterine wall.”
My momentary relief evaporated. “What does that mean? Will I lose the baby?”
She adjusted her glasses, choosing her words carefully. “Not necessarily. Many women with threatened miscarriages go on to have healthy babies. But your pregnancy is now considered high–risk.”
“What can I do?” I asked desperately.
“Bed rest, for at least the next two weeks. No strenuous activity, no stress, no work.” She wrote something on a prescription pad. “I’m giving you some supplements to strengthen the uterine wall and support the pregnancy. And I want to see you again in three days.”
I nodded, willing to do anything to protect my unborn pup.
After getting dressed and filling my prescription, Olivia and I headed toward the hospital exit. I felt drained but determined. Two weeks of bed rest was a small price to pay for my pup’s safety.
“We’ll stop by Silver Leaf so you can request leave, then go straight home,” Olivia was saying as we walked through the hospital
<Chapter 64: Devastating Discovery lobby.
I was about to agree when I spotted them–Alexander and Claire, walking toward the elevator bank. My steps faltered.
“Let’s go another way,” I whispered to Olivia, trying to turn around.
+8 Points>
But it was too late. Claire had already seen us, her emerald eyes widening with malicious delight as she noted which department we were exiting.
“Aria!” she called, loud enough to draw attention from several people in the lobby. “What a coincidence. We’re here to visit Alexander’s mother.”
Alexander looked uncomfortable, his amber eyes darting between Claire and me.
“Let’s just go,” I muttered to Olivia, but Claire had already sauntered over, dragging Alexander with her.
Her gaze drifted pointedly to the Obstetrics and Gynecology sign above the department doors, then back to me.
A cruel smile played on her lips as she asked with false sweetness, “Coming from the OB–GYN department? Don’t tell me you’re pregnant too?”
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