Chapter 6 - The Doctor's Revelation
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"But what, Dr. Caldwell?" Marcus demanded, his voice tight with renewed panic.
"The impact against the table, combined with the subsequent trauma, caused a partial placental separation," Dr. Caldwell explained, his tone clinical but grave. "The baby's heartbeat is still present, and it is relatively strong, but Mrs. Thorne will need constant, round-the-clock monitoring in the ICU. Any additional stress or physical exertion could become extremely dangerous, potentially fatal for the pregnancy."
Marcus closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead with his free hand.
"Can I see her?" he asked, his voice raw. "Is she conscious?"
"Yes, she is awake and asking for you," Dr. Caldwell confirmed. "But there's something else we need to discuss before you go in."
Marcus frowned, opening his eyes and looking at David, who was watching him intently.
"What is it?"
A long, heavy silence followed on the other end of the line.
Then came the words that shifted the entire foundation of the evening, changing the narrative from a simple act of jealousy to something far more sinister.
"Mr. Thorne..." Dr. Caldwell hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with what he was about to say. "...when we examined Mrs. Thorne, she asked us not to tell you something until she could speak to you herself. But given the circumstances, I believe you need to be prepared."
Marcus felt the blood drain entirely from his face. "What are you talking about, Doctor? Is she sicker than you're letting on?"
"It isn't a medical issue, Mr. Thorne, and it isn't an affair. It isn't about the fidelity of your marriage."
Dr. Caldwell lowered his voice, as if afraid someone might overhear him even in the secure emergency room.
"It's about why someone may have wanted your wife—and your unborn child—permanently gone. She has been hiding something from you for nearly three months, Marcus. Something incredibly dangerous."
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Marcus stared at the floor, his mind racing, entirely unable to speak. The image of Isabella's violent attack replayed in his head, but now it felt different. It didn't look like a crime of passion anymore. It looked like a hit.
Whatever waited for him upstairs in the intensive care unit... was far bigger, and far more lethal, than a jealous corporate rival.
