Second Vows Adored by the Billionaire novel Chapter 39

"The embryo has no heartbeat, no fetal pole, and no cardiac activity. It's... a missed miscarriage."

In that instant, Eloise felt like she'd been plunged into ice water. Tears slid down her cheeks without a sound. She bit down hard on her lip and clutched the sheets with both hands. "What... what caused it? Was it what I told you about?"

The doctor let out a long sigh. "Most likely, yes. Arsenic is incredibly toxic."

Eloise's fingernails dug into the fabric so hard they nearly tore through it. She fought to keep from breaking down completely. "So there's... there's no hope at all? Nothing we can do?"

The doctor's voice was somber. "No. I need to contact your family to sign the consent forms. We need to schedule a D&C procedure as soon as possible. This can't wait. Carrying a nonviable pregnancy is too dangerous for your body, especially given your overall health isn't great to begin with."

Eloise's voice cracked. "You mean... I have to have surgery right now?"

The doctor nodded. "Yes. Every second we delay puts you at risk."

Eloise took a deep breath and forced down the wave of emotions threatening to drown her. "Okay. Let me make a phone call first."

Chris helped her out of the ultrasound room and into the hallway. Eloise's hands shook as she pulled out her phone and dialed Victor's number.

The phone rang and rang. She had to call four times before he finally picked up, and she could hear a lot of noise in the background.

"Ellie? I'm kind of in the middle of something right now. How'd the checkup go?"

"Victor, the doctor said I—"

Before she could finish, a child's crying voice cut through the line, loud and panicked.

"Ellie, I've got an emergency here! I'll call you back!" Victor's rushed voice came through, and then the line went dead.

Eloise stood there holding her phone, and something in her eyes went dark and hollow.

"That bastard!" Chris was furious. "You're going through this and he's still got his head stuck up their asses. I'm going to go find him right now and drag him here myself!"

Eloise grabbed her wrist and slowly shook her head. "Don't. I'll sign the consent forms myself. After all... he was never really my husband anyway."

The last traces of warmth drained from her eyes, leaving nothing but cold emptiness behind. That final tiny spark of hope she'd been holding onto flickered out completely.

Eloise didn't hesitate anymore. She signed her name on the forms, and they wheeled her into the operating room shortly after.

The pregnancy was less than two months along, so the procedure under anesthesia went quickly.

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