Chapter 3

Hailstones slammed against the car window with sharp, crackling sounds.

My heart clenched tighter with every curl of my fingertips.

The car door swung open. Edward was telling the driver to turn around while thrusting an umbrella into my hand.

Maybe because he was a bit too rough, I lost my balance. I stumbled and fell. Then my knee got scraped and started bleeding.

I instinctively looked back over my shoulder.

Edward's eyes flickered for a split second, but he just turned away like nothing was wrong.

I didn't think I'd feel that sad.

But for some reason, the tears started falling before I could even feel anything.

Suddenly, a wave of hot, wet sensation gushed between my legs.

My eyes filled with a bloody haze.

Suddenly, my head buzzed.

I struggled to get up, stumbling and desperately pounding on the car window. My voice raw as I screamed, "Edward, take me to the hospital. Hurry. Please. Save the baby."

But Edward barely glanced at me before turning his gaze straight ahead. "Let's go."

The headlights lit up, and the car sped away.

The sudden jolt from the car slammed me back, and more blood between my legs just kept pouring out.

Rain and snow came down in icy sheets, soaking my hair and face.

Choking back sobs, I dialed Wendy's number, tears blurring my vision.

By the time Wendy picked me up, I'd been standing out in the freezing rain and snow for a whole hour. My body was buried under a thick layer of snow.

She was frantic, rushing me to the hospital while calling Edward.

But the line was always busy.

With the last bit of strength I had left, I waved my hand weakly, lips trembling, and told Wendy, ''Just leave it. He's busy.''

Wendy's eyes were burning red with fury, tears streaming down as she spat out curses.

"Bullshit. You're about to lose the baby." She fought to keep her emotions in check, but her hands were shaking as she dialed Edward's number again.

At that moment, I just couldn't bring myself to say anything.

It was all because Edward had to go pick up Sophia. He left me behind for her, and now I was bleeding so badly.

The rest was all a jumble in my mind. I couldn't even remember which hospital I was taken to.

All I could see was Wendy, frantically shouting and sobbing, "Where is the doctor? Hurry, save her. She's a pregnant woman, bleeding out. She's about to lose the baby. Please, help her."

She was choking on her own sobs, barely able to get the words out.

I was so out of it that I couldn't even get the words out to say sorry.

Lately, I'd been feeling wiped out, but I just chalked it up to overdoing my workouts.

My cycle was never regular, and Edward and I always took precautions.

I never imagined I'd get pregnant.

But I'd been missing my period for forty days, so I guessed I must be pregnant.

Honestly, I couldn't tell if I should feel happy or sad.

Just as I snapped back to reality, someone's frantic voice broke in, shattering my train of thought. "Sorry, but the whole hospital's been reserved. We're not admitting any patients right now. Please go to another hospital, quickly."

The nurse stood firm with her arms outstretched, blocking Wendy at the entrance and refusing to let us through.

I barely managed to lift my head. My voice shaking as I tried to speak, "This hospital belongs to the Grant family. I'm Edward Grant's wife. Please, just give me a room—"

Before I could finish, a heavy, wrenching pain tore through my lower belly, and I let out a scream.

Blood splattered at my feet, mixing with cold sweat as crimson droplets pooled around me.

The nurse's eyes went wide as she realized who I was. Her face was full of awkward hesitation. "Ms. Grant, the one who reserved the whole hospital is actually Mr. Grant."

Just as the words left her mouth, a frantic voice rang out. "Doctor, Sophia's hand is hurt. Hurry, come check on her."

Edward burst in, stumbling as he carried Sophia in his arms, not even sparing me a glance as he rushed right past.

The panic and worry were full of his eyes. After five years together, over two thousand nights sharing a bed, not once had he ever looked at me that way.

I choked out a sob, grabbing his sleeve, pleading with him, "Edward."

Before I could even get the words out, he shoved me away with brutal force.

He shot me a look, cold as ice. "Autumn, you've got some nerve. I can't believe that you would mess with the chandelier in the auditorium."