PART 2 — The Truth That Shattered the Delivery Room

The room went silent except for the frantic beeping of the monitors.

Ethan stared at me like the ground beneath him had cracked open.

“You didn’t ask.”

The words hit him harder than I intended.

Or maybe exactly as hard.

Another contraction ripped through me before he could answer. Pain exploded down my spine so violently I cried out, gripping the bed rails until my fingers numbed.

“Pressure’s increasing,” Linda said quickly, checking the monitor. “Doctor, we need to move.”

Ethan blinked once, forcing himself back into focus.

Professional mode.

The version of him that could save lives while his own heart was breaking.

“Okay, Chloe,” he said softly, snapping gloves on with trembling hands. “I need you to breathe with me.”

I wanted to hate how calm his voice still sounded.

Wanted to hate that part of me still trusted him instinctively.

But another wave of pain crushed every thought apart.

Hours blurred strangely after that.

There was no sense of time anymore.

Only pain.

Heat.

Voices.

Machines.