A small whimper escaped her mouth, echoing through the silent room. She felt as though she were walking through a cold, dark forest. The chill spread throughout her body, and cold sweat formed on her forehead. Her body trembled.
She didn't know what to do. It was his child—the man she once hated with all her heart. But now, for reasons she couldn't explain, she found it impossible to hate him anymore. A strange, unfamiliar feeling stirred within her.
The Next Morning
Dicentra arrived to visit Taylah. As she opened the door to the ward, a horrifying sight awaited her. Taylah lay unconscious on the bed, a cut on her left wrist. Blood had soaked the blanket, and Taylah lay there, lifeless.
"Taylah..." Dicentra gasped, frozen by the sight. She rushed to Taylah's side, shaking her. "Wake up, girl... What happened?" Tears streamed down her face. "Doctor... Nurse... Somebody, please help me!" she screamed, her voice cracking.
A nurse entered the room and was equally horrified. She quickly ran out to get the doctor. Moments later, the doctor arrived and examined Taylah's wound carefully.
"Is she going to be alright, doctor? Please tell me..." Dicentra's voice trembled with fear.
"She's cut her radial artery. The blood loss is severe. I'll dress her wound, but we need blood immediately. I'll contact the blood bank," the doctor explained, trying to keep calm. Dicentra, though unable to grasp all the medical details, understood one thing clearly: Taylah's condition was critical.
Dicentra's legs trembled as she collapsed into a chair, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. She watched helplessly as the doctor stitched and dressed Taylah's wound.
Two hours later, blood finally arrived from the blood bank. Dicentra witnessed every moment—the needle piercing Taylah's soft, delicate skin, a tiny drop of blood oozing from the spot. It was the first time she had seen anything like this, and it shook her to the core.
"Is she okay? How is she?" Dicentra wanted to ask a thousand questions, but her voice failed her.
"Don't worry, miss. She's stable now. Just make sure to buy the medications on this prescription," the doctor said, handing her the paper. "I believe she's dealing with depression. I've prescribed some antidepressants as well. And please, don't leave her alone again."
Dicentra nodded, rushing to the pharmacy to get the medications the doctor had listed, her heart heavy with worry.
Dicentra was in a dazed, frantic state, but her only focus was taking care of Taylah. Anger quietly brewed inside her, though she still didn't know Taylah was pregnant. Louis hadn't explained everything to her. Dicentra stayed by Taylah's side for over four hours, watching her, her mind racing.
After those long hours, Taylah finally regained consciousness. She slowly opened her eyes, looking around with a sense of disappointment. Her eyes filled with tears, and an overwhelming pain gripped her heart. The bright lights irritated her, causing her pupils to constrict painfully. Dicentra noticed the change in her.
"Taylah... why on earth did you cut your wrists? Are you really that eager to die?" Dicentra snapped, unable to hold back her frustration.
"I'm pregnant…" Taylah whispered.
Dicentra froze. "What?" she asked, stunned.
"I'm pregnant with Arjan's child," Taylah repeated, pushing her hair behind her ears. The movement caused the needle in her skin to shift, and she winced in pain.
Taylah glanced at the IV beside her, watching the blood drip into her vein. "You mean Dia's fiancé, Arjan?" Dicentra asked in disbelief. Taylah nodded. Dicentra's eyes widened as she pulled a chair closer to Taylah.
"So, you wanted to kill yourself to get rid of his baby?" Dicentra asked sharply. Taylah looked down, ashamed. "The baby is innocent. Why are you hurting it? Are you really that cruel? You're acting just like your stepsister," Dicentra added, furious.
"Think before you do something like this again," Dicentra said, trying to calm herself. Taylah gripped the blanket tightly, her mind spinning.
Dicentra leaned closer, placing a hand over Taylah's. "You could use this as a chance for revenge on Dia. She's bullied you for so long. This is your opportunity. Use it," she urged.
"But... I don't think he'll accept this child. He hates me that much," Taylah said nervously.
"You won't be able to raise this child alone. Think carefully," Dicentra pressed, trying to convince her.
After a moment of hesitation, Taylah nodded. "That's my girl," Dicentra said, pulling her into a hug. Taylah hugged her back, finding some comfort in the embrace.
"Don't hurt yourself anymore. You need to stay strong. We're women, and we're stronger than men. Remember that, okay?" Dicentra encouraged. Taylah nodded, a gentle smile forming on her lips. Yet one thing was certain, she wasn't as strong as she wanted to be.
In the days that followed, Dicentra took care of Taylah, with Louis helping whenever he could. Dicentra even took medical leave to stay with her. Though Taylah repeatedly refused their help, they insisted she rest. Louis covered all the hospital bills, and after a week, Taylah was discharged.
At Dicentra's House
Louis helped them get home, placing the luggage in the hall. "Thank you, Louis. You've done so much for us," Dicentra said gratefully.
"Come on, we're friends—more like family. I couldn't let you two go through this alone," Louis replied, patting Dicentra's head. Taylah didn't say a word; she simply headed straight to her room, her silence making both of them worry.
"I'm really concerned about her. Will she ever be the same again? That man is the reason she's like this," Louis said, his voice heavy with concern.
"What do you mean, *that man*?" Dicentra asked, her tone suspicious.
"Arjan... He's the one who did this to her. Your customer. That night, you couldn't make it to work, so Taylah volunteered to go in your place. But she ended up being harassed by that jerk," Louis said angrily.
Dicentra's heart sank, guilt washing over her. "It's all because of me," she muttered, feeling responsible. "He's Taylah's brother-in-law, and…" Her voice trailed off, unable to reveal the full story.
"He's a bastard," Louis growled, his anger rising.
"Leave it, Louis. You should go and rest. You've stayed up all night—it must be exhausting," Dicentra said, trying to change the subject.
"You're changing the topic, but that's okay. Just take good care of her. I'll come visit you both when I get the chance," Louis said as he walked toward the door. "Bye, girl. Don't worry about work. I'll arrange someone to fill in for you." With that, he left the house. Dicentra sighed to herself and headed to the kitchen to prepare food for Taylah.
Meanwhile, Taylah went to take a shower. As she undressed, her clothes slid off her body and fell to the floor. She had grown so thin from her prolonged stay in the hospital. She turned on the shower and stood under the warm water as it flowed over her skin. Gently, she placed her hand on her belly and began to caress it.
"It all happened so fast. I never expected I'd get pregnant. And now... it's his child. But it's also my child," she whispered, her voice soft. "Will you hate me, baby? Because I once tried to end your life. I almost killed myself too... for being useless. I didn't even think."
Tears welled in her eyes as she continued speaking to the unborn child. "I don't think he'll ever accept you. But if he doesn't, we'll leave. We'll go far away from here, just you and me," she said, placing her palm protectively over her belly, feeling the weight of her decisions.
"Let's fight for our rights, baby. Will you be with me?" Taylah whispered, her heart aching.
The pain spread through her chest, making it hard to breathe. After twenty minutes, she finished her shower and stepped out, wrapping herself in a towel. She changed into clean clothes and lay down on the bed, feeling exhausted.
Though she hadn't eaten anything, sleep overtook her almost instantly. She was dizzy, something common in early pregnancy, but her situation was different. Her health was fragile, and she lacked the strength to carry the child. The toll of her recent struggles weighed heavily on her already weakened body.