Chapter 5 - Two Heartbeats
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The sterile white ceiling of the underground clinic was blinding.
Chloe blinked against the harsh light, a dull, throbbing pain radiating from her lower abdomen. The steady, rhythmic beep-beep-beep of a fetal heart monitor filled the quiet room.
She turned her head slowly.
Arthur was sitting in a plastic chair beside her bed. He had stripped off his wet tuxedo jacket and tie. His white dress shirt was ruined, stained heavily with her blood. His head was bowed, resting in his hands, his broad shoulders shaking with a silent, consuming agony.
“Arthur,” Chloe whispered, her throat dry and raspy.
His head snapped up. His gray eyes were bloodshot, rimmed with red, looking entirely wrecked. He lunged out of the chair, carefully hovering over her as if she were made of fragile glass.
“I’m here,” he breathed, gently taking her hand in both of his. “I am right here.”
“The baby?” she asked, panic spiking her heart rate.
“The baby is fine,” Arthur said quickly, his thumb stroking her knuckles. “Dr. Evans said it was placental abruption caused by extreme stress and physical exertion. They stopped the bleeding. You are both stable. We have a strong heartbeat.”
Chloe closed her eyes, letting out a ragged sigh of profound relief.
“Seven months,” Arthur whispered, the reality of the timeline finally sinking in. He pressed his lips to her knuckles, his voice breaking. “You were carrying my child when I left you in that diner. Why didn't you tell me, Chloe? Why did you let me walk away?”
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“You told me I was just a distraction,” Chloe replied softly, tears leaking from the corners of her eyes. “You were going to marry another woman to stop a war. What was I supposed to do? Beg a mob boss to play house?”
Arthur squeezed his eyes shut, a tear escaping to run down his cheek. “I was a coward. I thought breaking your heart was the only way to keep you safe from my enemies. I was so wrong.”
