Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 83

Chapter 83

Julian: POV

Her eyes opened.

Just for a second-barely a flutter-but enough to make my chest seize with desperate hope.

‘Elena!” I leaned over her, water dripping from my hair onto her face. “Stay with me. Come on, baby, stay-

Her hand moved. Slowly, shakily, it pressed against her stomach.

“Save…” The word came out as barely a whisper, hoarse and broken. “Save…the baby.”

The baby.

The confirmation, whispered from her own lips, drove the reality of it home like a physical blow. It wasn’t a mistake. She really was pregnant.

She’s really carrying my child. And she’s been hiding it because she was terrified of me.

Then her eyes rolled back. Her hand dropped.

No. No no no-

“Elena!” I grabbed her face, my hands shaking. “Don’t you fucking dare! Don’t-”

I fumbled for my phone, nearly dropping it before managing to dial 911. The operator’s voice was calm, professional, asking questions I could barely process.

*Connecticut estate-Sterling property-my wife-she’s not breathing-please, she’s pregnant-”

Pregnant.

This is my child. My wife. And I might lose them both.

“Sir, is she breathing now?”

“No-I mean, she was, but-fuck, I don’t know-” I pressed my fingers to her neck, feeling for a pulse. There. Weak, but there. “She has a pulse. Barely.”

‘Keep her warm. Don’t move her. Ambulance is three minutes out.”

I shrugged off my soaked jacket, covering her with it. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

The rage came then-hot and immediate and directed at the figure still standing by the pool.

Catherine.

I looked and she was frozen there, her face pale, eyes wide.

“You.” The word came out like a growl. “What the fuck did you do?”

“I didn’t she just-it was an accident-

‘Accident?’ I was on my feet, advancing toward her. “You pushed her into the pool! I fucking saw you!*

“Julian, I-

Grandfather moved closer. When he saw Elena-really saw her, pale and unconscious on the ground-his face went gray.

“My God.” His voice cracked. “What happened to her?”

‘Catherine pushed her into the pool.” Each word felt like glass in my throat. “She can’t swim.”

“Where is she?”

‘I sent her away.” I kept my eyes on Elena’s face. “And she’s never setting foot on this property again.”

Josephine came rushing out then-Elena’s mother, the head housekeeper. She took one look at her daughter and let out a sound I’d never forget pure anguish.

“My baby!” She fell to her knees beside Elena. “What did they do to you?”

Maan-I started:

“Don’t! She turned on me, eyes blazing with tears and fury. This is your fault! All of this!”

The accusation hit like a physical blow

“She loved you!” Josephine’s voice broke. “For sixteen years, she loved you. And when your grandfather forced you to marry her-she thought it was a miracle.

Sixteen years.

“But you didn’t love her, did you?” Josephine’s hands shook as she stroked Elena’s wet hair. “You just used her. Kept her hidden like some dirty secret.”