Her lips twitched even as she stared at the food, and one of the men held the food just beside her lips. “Why push yourself so hard? You can have it right now.”
Abigail’s lips curled up-she was having double vision now. But her lips curled up. No one really suffered from hunger in this day and age, did they? But she had, and the first time was because of Diarmuid, who denied her food and drink for three days. “You’d be fine, but what about your kid?” Abigail curled into herself, feeling as if something was dropping inside her belly. Her fingers clenched. Having given birth before, she knew what that meant. “Let… Me.. Go…” Her voice was hoarse, and the tugging at her vocal chords hurt terribly. “Admit to your crime, and we will.” They could sense that she was relenting-and she certainly was.
Dirk Hertz, Sammy’s maternal grandfather, led the people rushing into the room.
Their rivaling parties had always been at odds as they competed for profit, and this was no different.
Even so, Dirk had the advantage in authority, even as the two factions now stood off against each other in a silent confrontation.
“We have everything we need to build a case against Zidonia. Why are you releasing her?’
“What, with false charges against a heavily pregnant woman? Zidonians are already accusing US of illegal detainment, and it’s already causing quite a stir. Are you really going to push this to a point of no return?”
“They are all talking. Once we get proof from her, no one would believe a word they say-”
“She’d be dead before you do.”
In fact, even as Abigail started to lose consciousness, she was bleeding profusely from beneath her waist, dyeing her skirt red.
Knowing that they would be breaking a promise if they lose her now-and possibly the chance to solidify Sammy Raideen’s claim to leadership over the Raideens-Dirk understood that Abigail must stay alive.
With that, he did not say another word and directed his men to take Abigail away.
While conflict was commonplace between his party’s and theirs, they would not actually resort to physical brawls-though their rivalries would only get more heated now.
Sammy was waiting outside, standing by his car and checking his watch from time to time. He hurried to Dirk when he saw him step out.
“Gramps…”
That was when he saw Abigail in the arms of the man standing behind Dirk, and she was bleeding all over the floor. His face fell. “Put her in the car. I’ll take her to the hospital.”
With Dirk’s approval, the man quickly did as Sammy told. “The rest is up to you, Sam,” Dirk told him. “Don’t worry, Gramps,” Sammy said as he jumped in his car and sped off, calling Diarmuid along the way. ‘I have her. We’re heading to the hospital right now.”
Diarmuid dashed out of his room as soon as he received the call. “Which one?” “Let me see… Flanley Hospital. It’s the closest.” “How is she? Let me talk to her.”
Diarmuid was working hard to stay calm, but he could already tell that something must have happened to Abigail. Otherwise, Sammy would have taken her to him and not straight to a hospital.
Diarmuid felt like he must do something just then to quell his suffocating unease.
At the same time, Sammy tried to assure him, “She’s probably going to be fine.”
Diarmuid raised a hand to ask for his silence.
Right now, he needed peace and quiet, not pompous assurances.
Eventually, he looked up at Sammy and said, “She’s my wife.”
Sammy pursed his lips. “I’m sorry. We should have gotten her out earlier-“
“Is the patient’s family here?”
Anurse had stepped out of the room.
“I am,” Diarmuid said, striding forward.
He then hesitated, fearing the worst. “Is she-“
“She’s last too much blood-it’s either the baby or the patient…”
“The patient.”
Diarmuid made up his mind even before the nurse finished-his choice was undoubtedly Abigail between the two.
“Then I’m going to need you to sign this,” the nurse said, handing him a consent form.
Diarmuid put pen to paper.His signature would be a blade he wielded with his own hand, denying his own child life.
But there was no other choice-he had to do it!
His fingers flinched a little even as he signed it, but he forced himself to finish it.
Nothing in his life was more difficult than this.
He stumbled and almost lost his balance, which he would have if he had not quickly raised a hand to lean against the wall.
His heart felt so heavy it was bending his spine.
Still, he soon mustered his spirit.
Right now, Abigail was suffering more than he was.
At the backdoors of Flanley Hospital, a nurse handed over a newborn to a man.
She looked around, and once she ensured that no one was around, said,’ You need to be careful-at eight months, this child could die easily.”
The man was wearing a surgical mask, while his black cap covered his brows. Only his eyes were visible as he took the child and told the nurse,’ Tell your boss that I’ve wired the money.”
The nurse nodded before returning inside, while the man left with the baby without anyone knowing.
Sammy entered the ward where Abigail was admitted and told Diarmuid, “You can call me anytime if you need help.”
“Thanks. May I have some time alone?” Diarmuid said, eager for him to leave, and Sammy did so tactfully.
With that, Diarmuid sat down beside Abigail’s bed, watching her.
Her eyes were sunken and there were dark circles under her eyes, while her lips were dried and cracked.
Diarmuid wetted a cotton bud to moisturize them.
Then, he brought in a pail of warm water, rubbing her face, hands and neck … but it was not until noon the next day that she finally woke up.
Her vision seemed to blur slightly before she focused on the person before her.
Working hard to keep himself calm, Diarmuid smiled at her. “Sorry it took me so long.”
Abigail quickly touched her belly and found it flabby.
She had gone into labor?
Her lips trembled as she rasped, “Where’s our child? Was it a boy or a girl?”
Diarmuid almost lost his composure right then and his fingers clenched over his lap.
His heart was pounding, and he felt like he was suffocating as if crushed under a boulder.
He did not even know where to start.
Eventually he spoke quietly. *…Abigail. Our child is-“
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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