The doctor continued seriously, "We checked her medical records. She’s experienced several previous injuries and accidents during the pregnancy already. The fetus is unstable."

Guilt hit me instantly.

While she had been suffering through all of this alone...

I knew absolutely nothing.

"If she loses this baby," the doctor added carefully, "it may become very difficult for her to conceive again in the future. From now on, she needs complete rest and proper care." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

I closed my eyes briefly before nodding firmly.

"I understand."

This time...

I would protect both of them properly.

Alicia remained unconscious when she was transferred into the ward.

Bandages covered both sides of her swollen face.

The sight of her lying there so quietly made my chest ache painfully.

I sat beside the bed silently for a long time before finally reaching for her hand.

Then, almost unconsciously, I placed my other hand gently against her stomach.

It still felt unreal.

For four whole months, this tiny life had been growing quietly inside her...

And I had known nothing about it.

What kind of husband was I?

What kind of father was I ?

A bitter smile touched my lips faintly.

I suddenly remembered Washington.

Back then, whenever Alicia carefully looked after Bella, I would sometimes catch myself imagining what our own child might look like someday.

Would it be a boy or a girl?

Would the child resemble me more... or Alicia?

At the time, I had forced myself to stop thinking about it.

Our relationship was already unstable enough.

It felt foolish to dream about a future like that.

But now, thinking back on it...

Alicia had already been pregnant then.

And I hadn’t even realized it.

The sound of my phone ringing pulled me back to reality.

I glanced once at Alicia before standing up quietly and walking out of the ward to answer the call.

"Hello."

"Mr. Blackwood," the police officer said from the other end, "we’ve caught the suspects involved in Mrs. Sinclair’s kidnapping."

My expression darkened instantly.

"And?"

"We interrogated them. According to their statements, Lucas Summer was the one who hired them."

Lucas Summer.

The moment I heard his name, my jaw tightened violently.

The officer continued, "At the moment, we still need Mrs. Sinclair to provide an official statement regarding the incident."

"Alicia is not in any condition to give statements right now," I replied coldly.

There was a brief silence on the other end before the officer responded, "Understood, sir. We’ll proceed with the evidence currently available and apply for an arrest warrant for Lucas Summer first."

"If there’s anything else," I said flatly, "contact my lawyer directly."

"Understood."

I ended the call slowly.

For several seconds, I stood there silently outside the ward, my grip tightening around the phone.

I knew Lucas wouldn’t let go of things easily, especially after what happened with Jason.

But even I hadn’t expected him to go this far.

Kidnapping Alicia.

Hurting her.

Almost causing her to lose the baby.

The thought alone made a dangerous rage rise inside me.

Last time, I had chosen to let Lucas off for the sake of old ties and past favors.

But this time...

He had crossed the line completely.

And no matter what it cost—

I would make him pay.

I lowered my gaze before dialing Maria’s number.

The call connected quickly.

"Hello, Maria."

"Sir?" Maria sounded surprised. "It’s already so late. Why haven’t you and Mrs. Alicia returned home yet?"

I glanced through the glass window toward the hospital ward before speaking quietly.

"Alicia was involved in an incident tonight. She’ll need to stay in the hospital for a few days."

Maria immediately sounded alarmed.

"What happened? Is Mrs. Alicia alright?"

"She’s resting for now," I replied. "Tomorrow, bring some of her clothes from home. And make something nourishing for her too."

Maria fell silent briefly before asking softly, "Is the baby okay?"

My fingers tightened around the phone instantly.

"...You knew she was pregnant?"

There was a brief pause on the other end.

"I’ve known for a while," Maria admitted carefully. "I wanted to tell you, but Mrs. Alicia didn’t want me to say anything."

For a moment, I said nothing at all.

So Alicia had known.

She really had known about the pregnancy this entire time.

Yet she still insisted on divorcing me.

She still wanted to leave.

My chest tightened painfully at the thought.

Maria’s gentle voice broke the silence again.

"Sir... please don’t blame her."

"She’s been having a very difficult time these past few months."

I slowly lowered my eyes.

"...I know."

At some point, Alicia must have become completely disappointed in me.

Disappointed enough that even carrying our child hadn’t made her willing to stay.

How had she endured all of this alone for four months?

The pregnancy.

The pressure.

The constant misunderstandings.

And through all of it... I knew nothing.

A bitter ache spread slowly through my chest.

I had never truly been a good husband to her.

And now, realizing everything so late...

I already felt like a failure as a father too.

After ending the call, I returned quietly to the ward.

The room was silent except for the steady sound of the medical equipment nearby.

Alicia was still asleep.

The bandages on her face looked painfully harsh beneath the dim hospital lighting.

I sat down beside her bed again and gently held her hand.

Then I leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss against her forehead.

This time...

I wouldn’t let her face everything alone anymore.

No matter what happened—

I would protect both her and our child properly.

Alicia’s POV

I slowly opened my eyes.

The first thing I saw was a white ceiling.

For a moment, my mind felt blank. Then the memories from before I lost consciousness came rushing back all at once.

The abandoned building.

The blood.

Lucas.

My breathing turned uneven instantly.

I closed my eyes again and slowly lifted a hand toward my cheek, only to feel thick bandages wrapped around my face.

" Alicia, you’re awake."

Hearing Alexander’s voice, I turned slightly.

He immediately walked over and sat beside the bed, his expression visibly tense.

"How do you feel?"

His lips moved, but my ears buzzed strangely, making his voice sound distant and unclear.

I frowned slightly.

"What did you say?"

The moment I spoke, a sharp pain scraped through my throat. My voice sounded dry and horribly hoarse.

Alexander quickly poured a glass of water before carefully supporting my head and helping me take a few sips.

Only then did the discomfort ease slightly.

"I asked if there’s anywhere hurting," he repeated softly after setting the glass aside.

I looked at him in confusion.

"Why are you speaking so close?"

A trace of worry flashed through his eyes.

"The doctor said your eardrum was injured. There’s temporary hearing loss in both ears, but it should recover gradually."

"...I see."

I fell silent briefly before asking quietly,

"Is there a mirror?"

Alexander immediately understood what I meant.

He gently brushed aside the hair sticking to my cheek.

"The doctor said the wounds won’t leave noticeable scars."

"I want to see." I insisted firmly.....