Chapter 5

It was a written confession, requiring me to admit that I had deliberately misdiagnosed her and caused her to lose her baby.

"Aren't you going to the research center? Sign this, and I'll deliver it to your department head myself."

I didn't touch the pen. "Let me see my son first."

A few minutes later, the woman came back carrying him.

His arms hung limp, his lips had a purple tinge, and there was a new needle mark on his arm.

I snatched him into my arms. "What did you give him?"

The woman panicked. "You said it was only to keep him quiet for a while..."

Rosalind shoved her out the door. "Don't talk nonsense!"

I ran for the door with my son, but the bodyguard blocked it. "Mr. Blackwood's orders. You can't leave."

"Get a doctor! He's not breathing!"

Adrian rushed in, and Rosalind threw herself into his arms. "She wouldn't take the test, so she went after the baby!"

I had no time to explain. I laid my son on the bed and began trying to resuscitate him.

Adrian grabbed my arm and yanked me back. "Evelyn, have you lost your mind?"

"Let go! I'm saving him!"

As the bodyguard dragged me away, my son's tiny hand slid off the edge of the bed.

Only then did Adrian get a clear look at his face. "Doctor... get a doctor!"

The medical staff rushed into the room and pushed past everyone in their way.

The monitor suddenly blared an alarm. "His heart's stopped. Keep going!"

Adrian froze in the doorway.

I broke free of the guard, told the doctor my son's symptoms and what the woman had said, and ran alongside the bed toward the resuscitation room.

That was when Rosalind pressed a hand to her chest and crumpled. "Adrian, I can't breathe..."

He caught her on reflex.

I stopped and looked at his back. "Adrian, they're trying to save your son."

He turned around, his forehead slick with sweat.

"There are doctors in there! You studied medicine yourself. You know that! Look at Rosalind—I can't just leave her!"

He picked her up, turned, and walked away.

The door of the resuscitation room closed in front of me.

I didn't call out to him again.

Hours later, that door finally opened.

The doctor called my name.

I went in, steadying myself against the wall. When I came out again, all I held was the little quilt Mom had left.

Adrian came back just then.

Rosalind had her arm through his, her steps a lot steadier than before.

"Where's the baby?"

I looked down and tucked the edge of the clothing protruding from my bag back inside. "Gone."

Adrian seized my shoulders. "What do you mean, gone? Aren't you a doctor? Why didn't you save him?"

I raised my eyes to him. "When I tried to save him, you had me dragged away."

His hands went stiff, then slowly let go.

Rosalind said softly, "Adrian, the test results aren't back yet. He might not even be yours..."

I looked at her and suddenly laughed. "That's right. He isn't his. And from now on, he never will be."

I laid the divorce papers on top of the confession and took back my documents and the diaper bag.

Adrian moved to block the door without thinking. "Evelyn, where are you going?"

"Didn't you say I could leave, but the baby had to stay?"

I unfolded the empty quilt and held it out to him. "Are you still going to stop me?"

He stared at the quilt, then slowly stepped aside.

"My lawyer will contact you about the divorce."

I didn't look back.

At dawn, the transport vehicle the department head had arranged arrived.

A nurse placed a small swaddled bundle in my arms.

My son's eyes were closed, and his warm breath brushed lightly against the back of my hand.

My son was alive. Adrian didn't need to know.

I tucked in the corner embroidered with Stay safe, held my son close, and left the hospital.