No Second Chances Ex-husband (Lauren and Ethan) novel Chapter 34

ETHAN'S POV

I sped through the streets like a madman, my hand glued to the horn as if its blare could magically part the traffic in front of me. Every slow-moving car felt like a personal insult, every red light an enemy I had to conquer. My eyes kept moving from the road to the glowing numbers on my dashboard clock, each second that ticked by made me even angrier.

Come on. Move, damn it.

The hospital was only minutes away, yet it felt as if the city itself was conspiring to slow me down. My mind was racing even faster than the car, flooded with thoughts of Sofia and more than anything, the baby. What if something had happened? What if the message she sent was the last calm before the storm?

I dialed her number again, pressing the phone to my ear, silently begging her to pick up. But the robotic voice telling me the number was unreachable sliced through the car like a knife. I cursed under my breath, gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white. My heart hammered so loud in my chest, it was as if it was trying to escape.

At last, the hospital came into view. Relief flooded me, even if only for a second, before panic surged back stronger. I parked hastily, not caring if I had blocked someone in or parked straight. I leapt out, slammed the door, and pulled my phone out to check Sofia’s live location again. The blinking dot confirmed she was inside.

Ignoring the disapproving looks of a few pedestrians, I jogged up the hospital steps and pushed through the glass doors, my shoes squeaking on the polished floor. The air smelled sharply of antiseptic and something else, something that always made my stomach twist with unease.

“Sir, excuse me, you can’t go in there!” a nurse called out, hurrying after me.

But I barely heard her. My feet seemed to move on their own, driven by sheer desperation. I followed the blinking dot on the screen, each step pounding like a drumbeat of dread.

Finally, I reached the door. My hand hesitated on the handle, but only for a second. I pushed it open, heart in my throat.

And there she was.

Sofia lay on the hospital bed, pale against the white bedsheets. A hospital gown covered her, and an IV line snaked into her arm, dripping steadily. For a moment, I just stood there in the doorway, my chest heaving, running a hand through my hair as though I could physically smooth away the chaos in my mind.

Her eyes opened, and her gaze landed on me. “Ethan,” she breathed, her voice weak, hand lifting slightly though tethered by the IV.

“I’m here,” I said quickly, closing the distance between us. I took her hand gently in mine, careful not to disturb the needle taped to her skin. “Don’t move, don’t stress yourself, okay? Just relax.”

A small, weary smile curved her lips. “You came,” she whispered, and in that moment, she seemed so delicate, so fragile, that my anger dissolved, replaced by something like guilt.

“Of course I came,” I murmured, leaning down to press a kiss against her forehead. “I would travel across the world to be by your side, you know that.”

She let out a shaky sigh, her shoulders sinking deeper into the pillows. “It all happened so fast,” she began, her voice trembling as though she was reliving it. “I stopped to get some tacos, but when I was heading back to my car, this man came out of nowhere. He tried to take my purse… I held on, and then… then he hit me. In the stomach.”

Her hand reflexively moved to her belly. My heart nearly stopped at that gesture. My stomach turned cold, fury coursing through my veins. “And then?” I pressed, my voice low and tight.

“I fell… and then I felt this horrible pain. Then the blood…” Her voice cracked, tears pooling in her eyes. “Thank God a kind stranger brought me here. I was so scared, Ethan.”

My brow furrowed. What job? And who could possibly be texting her something like that? Instinctively, my hand twitched toward the phone, curiosity and unease gnawing at me. But before I could pick it up, the door swung open, and the doctor walked in, clipboard in hand, breaking my focus.

“Mr. Black,” the doctor greeted, nodding politely before turning to Sofia. “We’ve done all the checks. You and the baby are both stable. Just take it easy for the next few days, alright?”

I exhaled in relief, thanking the doctor quietly. After a few final words and signing some paperwork, Sofia was discharged from the hospital. I offered to drive her home, but she shook her head, insisting she felt fine enough to take a cab instead.

Reluctantly, I agreed, knowing I had another responsibility waiting for me at home. Elena. My chest tightened at the thought of her sitting alone, probably waiting for me, wondering why I always had to leave. I reminded myself silently that I would make it up to her.

Before heading home, I stopped by a big toy store and bought every doll she’d ever mentioned wanting. My back seat and passenger seat were filled to the brim with stuffed toys, dolls, and colorful bags. I hoped, maybe foolishly, that these gifts would make up for my absence even if only a little.

The drive back felt longer than ever. When I finally turned into my estate, I noticed how still and quiet everything was. No staff bustling around, no Rosa at the door waiting to greet me. Then I remembered her request to leave early today, and my heart sank. I really did leave Elena all alone, I thought, guilt burning in my chest.

At the front door, I paused, gripping the bags tighter, rehearsing the apology I was about to give. “Daddy’s so sorry, sweetheart. Daddy had something urgent, but now I’m back, and look what I got you.” The words sounded hollow even in my head, but it was all I had.

Slowly, I pushed open the door, expecting to see Elena on the couch or running toward me but what I saw stopped me cold.

My eyes widened in shock. The bags of dolls slipped from my fingers and crashed to the ground, toys spilling out onto the floor unnoticed. My chest felt like it caved in as my gaze locked onto the sight before me.