Walking Away While Pregnant: Dear Ex-Husband, I Don't Love You Anymore novel Chapter 188

Chapter 188: Chapter 188

After those final, fragile words, the hand holding Elise’s lost every trace of strength.

Dylan coughed up a mouthful of blood as his tall, battered frame collapsed onto the floor.

"Dylan!" Aaron caught him just in time, shouting in panic, "Dylan?!"

Dylan had already slipped into total unconsciousness.

Aaron roared toward the open doorway, "Sam! James!"

Within seconds, two burly figures bolted into the room. The three men combined their strength to lift Dylan’s limp body and rush him out. After a flurry of chaotic footsteps, silence swept over the bedroom once more.

Elise sat frozen on the sofa, numb and staring into nothingness.

Jessica stayed by her side, carefully coaxing her breathing into a calm rhythm. As the agonizing throb in her temples slowly subsided, Elise’s body gave way to exhaustion, and she slouched into a deep, heavy slumber.

Checking Elise’s pulse, Dr. Sanders confirmed that she had simply passed out from emotional strain and that her unborn baby was completely safe. Relieved, she laid Elise down gently on the sofa before calling Mrs. Lander into the room.

"Mrs. Lander, I’m writing a prescription," Dr. Sanders said quietly. "Please head to the nearest pharmacy to grab these meds, and pick up an IV and a few syringes."

"Of course," Mrs. Lander replied, gazing anxiously at Elise’s pale face. "Is the mistress going to be alright?"

"She’s out of danger for now. This prescription is completely safe for pregnant mothers, so don’t worry."

"Understood, Dr. Sanders." Mrs. Lander nodded and hurried downstairs.

Dr. Sanders fetched a light blanket from the inner bedroom, draped it over Elise, and took a seat nearby—intent on staying by her side without taking her eyes off her for even a moment.

Over at the hospital, Dylan was rushed directly into the emergency operating room.

The lead surgeon performed a rapid assessment before stepping out to brief the waiting party with a deep scowl. "It’s a splenic hemorrhage. When exactly did the trauma occur?"

"Two days ago," Aaron answered instantly.

"Two days ago?!" The surgeon’s tone grew sharp and stern. "A ruptured spleen causes excruciating pain! Did he feel nothing at all?!"

"He was taking heavy painkillers," Aaron explained solemnly. "The circumstances were extreme—we had to rush back to the country, so there was no time to seek medical treatment abroad."

"Utter recklessness!" the surgeon scolded. "If you had arrived any later, he would have bled to death. A large portion of the spleen has suffered tissue necrosis, so we have no choice but to perform a complete splenectomy. Are you a family member? We need a signature on the surgical consent forms."

Aaron’s brows furrowed. "His direct family can’t make it here right now. I’ll sign on his behalf."

The surgeon let out a heavy sigh, turning to the nurse behind him. "Nurse, handle the paperwork with him."

The splenectomy lasted four full hours. While removing a damaged spleen was a straightforward procedure, Dylan’s delay in seeking medical care had triggered internal infections, complicating the surgery.

Fortunately, his athletic constitution pulled him through. The surgery light finally clicked off, and the lead surgeon stepped out, pulling down his surgical mask.

"The operation was a success," the surgeon reported as Aaron stepped forward. "Thanks to his strong baseline physical condition, he made it. But mark my words—if he recklessly abuses his body like this again, even the healthiest frame will shatter. Furthermore, during surgery, I noticed an old knife scar near his chest. Judging by the depth, that previous injury was nearly fatal as well. As his friend, urge him to take care of himself before it’s too late."

"Thank you, Doctor. I’ll make sure he listens," Aaron promised solemnly.

An hour later, once Dylan’s vital signs stabilized, he was transferred to a private VIP ward. Sam remained at the hospital to guard him, while Aaron and James sped straight back to the villa.

By the time they arrived back at Elise’s house, it was already noon.

In the dining room, Madeline was sitting with the two young children, trying to coax them through lunch. In the kitchen, Mrs. Lander was carefully monitoring the herbal brew on the stove, while Mrs. Clark stirred a pot of fresh porridge.

Unaware of the turmoil, the two toddlers kept tilting their heads, asking why their mother and Dr. Sanders hadn’t come down to eat.

Though her heart was heavy, Madeline put on a bright smile. "They stayed up way too late watching TV dramas last night, so they’re sleeping in! We’ll eat first, and they can eat when they wake up."

"Deal!" Madeline stopped crying instantly, wiping her cheeks with her sleeve. Her tear-filled eyes locked onto him. "Spill it right now! If you try to fool me again, I’ll bite you!"

Aaron let out a long, heavy sigh, pulling her up from the ground. "I swear I’m terrified of you... but you have to promise me—not a single word of this leaves your lips, especially around Elise."

"I swear!" She raised three fingers. "My lips are sealed!"

Aaron gestured for her to come closer. Madeline took two steps forward, tilting her ear toward him.

Lowering his head, Aaron whispered the buried truth into her ear.

Within seconds, Madeline’s eyes widened in sheer, horrified disbelief as she whipped her head up to look at him. "You’re saying... five years ago in that warehouse, Elise actually—mmph!"

Aaron’s broad hand instantly clamped over her mouth, his brow furrowing as he scolded in a hushed voice, "Are you trying to broadcast it to the whole world?!"

Warm tears gushed from Madeline’s eyes, soaking into his palm.

Feeling the heat of her tears, Aaron instinctively pulled his hand back, his voice softening. "I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to snap at you. I was just worried someone might hear."

"I know..." Madeline sobbed, her voice trembling violently. "I’m crying because... because my heart breaks for Elise... sob... Aaron, why has Elise had to suffer so much? She’s such a sweet, gentle person—why would God treat her so cruelly..."

She clutched the lapels of Aaron’s jacket, burying her face against his chest as tears poured down uncontrollably.

Aaron reached out, his broad palm gently cupping the back of her head, drawing her closer as her forehead rested against his chest.

"Now do you understand?" Aaron murmured softly. "Do you see why Dylan would rather let her erase those memories, rather than let her carry that unbearable truth for the rest of her life?"

"Hearing all this... makes me feel so pitiful for Dylan too..." Madeline cried even harder. "What am I supposed to do now? Now that I know everything, I feel so much sympathy for him too... sob... I wish I never asked..."

Aaron let out a quiet sigh. "I told you not to ask, but you forced it out of me. Now... you’ll just have to help her carry through this one day at a time."