Chapter 13 - Waking Up to Sunshine
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I woke up two days later in a bright, sunlit private room on the top floor of Walter Reed. The soft, rhythmic beep of the heart monitor was the sweetest sound I had ever heard.
I slowly placed my hand onto my belly.
It was still round. Still firm.
A gentle movement fluttered beneath my palm—a strong, reassuring kick from my baby boy. Tears of pure joy leaked silently down my cheeks as I let out a long breath I felt like I had been holding for two years.
The door to my room creaked open, and my father walked in quietly, carrying a fresh cup of coffee. When he saw that my eyes were open, his stern face softened into a warm, gentle smile.
“Hey there, sweetheart,” he said softy, sitting down on the chair beside my bed and taking my hand. “How are you feeling?”
“He’s okay, Dad,” I sobbed softly. “My baby is okay.”
“I know,” Dad said, squeezing my hand tightly. “The doctors said the surgery was a complete success. The internal bleeding has stopped, and your little boy is as resilient as his mother.”
I looked at my father, seeing the uniform he had hidden from my husband for so long.
“I’m sorry, Dad,” I whispered, looking down. “I spent two years trying to prove I could make it on my own, trying to hide who you were so Carter wouldn't just use you for his career… and I almost lost everything.”
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My father reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from my face.
“You have nothing to apologize for, Sarah,” he said firmly. “You tried to give love to people who didn't know how to value it. But that mistake is over now. From this moment on, nobody touches my family.”
