Chapter 19
Scritch-
Amelia’s fingernails scraped against the railing as she fell, leaving scratch marks in the metal before tumbling down the stairs.
She managed to cover her stomach with her hands.[]
Everything happened in seconds.
On the stairwell landing, Vivian and Harper’s heads had collided, both women falling to the ground.[]
In the chaos, Nathan felt his hand push against something, then watched Amelia tumble down the stairs.]
He reached out to catch her but grasped only air.[]
The stairwell lights were dim. The motion sensors shut off after the commotion stopped, leaving only the eerie green glow of the “Emergency Exit” sign.[]
Amelia struggled to sit up at the bottom of the stairs. Looking up, she saw Nathan’s hand still extended–not yet pulled back.
He had pushed her.
“Mia!” Harper’s voice was shaking.
Her scream triggered the motion lights back on.]
She shoved Vivian aside and rushed down to the landing where Amelia had fallen.[]
“Mia, how are you…”
Harper’s voice was thick with tears as she carefully helped support Amelia.[]
Cold sweat covered Amelia’s face. Everything hurt–her arms, legs, head–all bruised from the impact.]
But nothing compared to the pain in her abdomen. It was so severe she nearly passed out.[]
“Mia…”
Harper was genuinely panicking because she knew exactly what Amelia’s condition was.]
“Head trauma from the car accident, some scrapes and a concussion.“[]
“Some bleeding below, baby’s still there but extremely high–risk. If you want to keep it, you’ll probably need bed rest…”
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The doctors had told Harper all this when Amelia was first brought in. Her colleagues had also mentioned that during treatment, Amelia had begged them to save the baby.
But now falling down a whole flight of stairs… and it was all because of Harper!
Guilt overwhelmed her as tears streamed down her face.
Harper immediately pulled out her phone, her hands shaking as she dialed.[]
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“Mia, I’m calling for help right now. Just hang on.”
on.“0
Amelia was in too much pain to speak. She could feel something vital draining away, something leaving her
Fighting through the agony, she looked up to see Nathan helping Vivian to her feet, pulling her into his arms.]
Gentle. Careful Precious.[]
The motion sensors shut off again, leaving only the light from outside
lettes standing together.[]
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Chapter 19
Tears slid down Amelia’s cheeks. Her heart still ached uncontrollably.[]
“Nathan…”
As Nathan was about to leave the stairwell with Vivian, Amelia called his name.
Nathan stopped.
He didn’t turn around. Just stared straight ahead at the cold white hallway outside the emergency exit.]
It was late now. Few people were around. Everything was quiet.[]
But Nathan’s heart wasn’t quiet at all.
Everything had happened so fast in the chaos. When he’d processed what was happening, Amelia was already tumbling down the stairs, and he was looking at his own hand still reaching out.
His fingernails dug into his palms as his clenched fists trembled.]
“Nathan,” Vivian said beside him.[]
He looked down at her swollen, reddened cheek and the small bump on her forehead from the fight.]
He closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, his voice was calm: “Take care of yourself, Amelia.”
Then he walked out of the stairwell with Vivian.]
“Nathan Harrison!” Harper’s anguished scream echoed from behind them.
This time, he didn’t stop.
Inside the stairwell, Amelia watched Nathan leave.[]
As they walked away, Vivian looked back at her with eyes full of mockery, provocation, and triumph.]
The victor’s gaze.
Amelia closed her eyes as tears continued falling.
Yes, she’d lost completely long ago. Why had she called out to him again?
Hadn’t she expected this outcome?
Was she unwilling to accept it? Or was it because this child also carried his blood?]
She’d warned herself to guard her heart. Why had she broken that promise?]
Tears kept falling. Her stomach hurt so badly. She felt so heartbroken she wanted to die.
“Harper…”
She didn’t know what to do, just unconsciously called Harper’s name]
Harper was crying uncontrollably now, wiping tears from Amelia’s face, but they kept coming faster than she could clear them.]
“Mia, this is all my fault.”
Harper held Amelia tightly, sobbing: “I’m sorry, Mia, I’m so sorry…”
Amelia was fading from consciousness due to the pain. The vision from her dream appeared again–her parents dancing, her mother’s red dress swirling, young Nathan’s innocent face watching from afar.[]
Chapter 19
The pain… she hurt so much.
Dad, Mom, what should I do?
Amelia cried until she had no strength left, her sobs growing weaker.
Before losing consciousness, she reached toward empty air as if trying to grasp something.
But ultimately, she couldn’t hold onto anything.
“Mia!” Harper screamed as Amelia’s hand fell limp.
The motion lights came on again. Harper saw the large pool of blood spreading beneath Amelia, staining her clothes and Harper’s white coat red.]]
She didn’t know what to do except keep urging the medical team to hurry.
The doctors arrived quickly, lifting Amelia onto a stretcher and rushing toward the trauma bay.
“Don’t worry, we’ll save her,” a colleague patted Harper’s shoulder reassuringly before hurrying away.
Harper stood staring at the large pool of Amelia’s blood on the floor until the janitor came to clean it up. Only then did she wipe her tears and follow to the trauma bay.
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Meanwhile, Nathan had gotten into his car with Vivian.[]
The doors were closed, seatbelts fastened, but he hadn’t started the engine.]]
He kept seeing Amelia’s eyes as she looked up at him from the floor.[]
“Nathan,” Vivian said from the passenger seat. “If you’re worried about her, go back. We’re still in the hospital parking lot. You could see her in minutes. I can get home on my own.”
Nathan didn’t respond, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel.[]
Vivian looked down, taking wet wipes from her purse to clean her lips. There was lipstick and traces of blood from Harper’s slap.
She placed the bloodied wipe where Nathan could see it, feigning guilt: “I was too impulsive, fighting with Dr. Lovez in the hospital. Even though I didn’t push Amelia, still…“[]
She set down the wipe and leaned over to take Nathan’s hand, looking at him with teary eyes.[]
“I’m sorry, Nathan. I just wanted… to protect you.“[]
J
Nathan looked down at Vivian’s hand holding his.[]
For some reason, his mind flashed to years ago when he’d been agonizing over his grandfather’s illness, and Amelia had held his hand.
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