What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 487

"What?" Elaine and Josephine staggered simultaneously, their knees buckling. Agnes rushed forward to keep the older woman from collapsing.

Finnian quickly reached out to steady his mother, locking eyes with the doctor. "Are you sure there are no other options?"

Dr. Evans looked at Finnian, assuming he was the father. "I'm sorry. Your wife's physical condition is severely compromised. She's suffering from malnutrition, and intense emotional distress has caused fatal fetal hypoxia. Right now, a Fetal Reduction Surgery is the only way to safeguard the surviving fetus. There is no alternative. You need to discuss this immediately and give us your consent."

"She's not my wife. She's my sister," Finnian corrected firmly once the doctor finished.

Dr. Evans offered a brief, apologetic nod. "Well, your sister's health is precarious. The surgery itself carries low risk, provided she receives strict bed rest afterward. However, delaying it risks infecting the surviving fetus. Please decide quickly. We have to operate today."

Finnian looked at his mother and grandmother. Both of their faces were drained of color.

Knowing they were completely paralyzed by the devastating news, Finnian stepped up as the decision-maker. He nodded. "Do it. Where do I sign?"

Inside, Noelle had just been informed that one of her babies had no heartbeat. Lying on the hospital bed, she shook uncontrollably with terror. She desperately begged the staff to let her see her family. After Dr. Evans relayed her request, Finnian escorted Elaine into the room.

"Noelle, what happened? Everything was fine! How could there be no heartbeat? What is going on?" Elaine sobbed the moment she saw her.

Finnian stood by, his brow furrowed as he stared at Noelle's ghostly pale face.

Noelle reached a trembling hand out, desperate for someone to hold it. "Finnian... I don't know why this happened. I'm so scared. If I lose these babies, I won't be able to live with myself. I'm terrified."

As the tears streamed down Noelle's face, Elaine lunged forward to grasp her hand, offering desperate encouragement. "Noelle, listen to me. Stop crying. You have to be strong. Even if there's only one baby left, it's still your last remaining connection to Rafael. You have to stay calm, please. I am begging you."

Biting her lip, Noelle gave a fragile, brave nod, yet her tear-filled eyes remained fixed entirely on Finnian.

When she had reached her hand out, it was with the desperate hope that he would take it. But he hadn't moved an inch. He simply stood there, his voice cold and commanding. "Noelle, no matter what happens, you need to pull yourself together. I'm having Mom sign the paperwork for the Fetal Reduction Surgery immediately to protect the other baby."

She had raised Noelle like her own flesh and blood. From the moment the girl joined the Sanders family, Elaine had never let her suffer an ounce of pain or mistreatment. She remembered how brave Noelle had been when she was sick as a child, never shedding a tear during her shots, simply resting quietly against Elaine's chest.

How could God be so cruel as to torture such a sweet, obedient, and sensible child?

"Doctor, what about the... the baby..." Elaine choked on her words, the tears flowing harder.

Josephine stepped in with a blunt question. "Doctor, the child without a heartbeat... was it a boy or a girl? Can you tell us?"

Dr. Evans glanced at the chart handed to him by a nurse. "It was a boy."

Those words hit Josephine like a physical blow, and she swayed dangerously. Agnes scrambled to steady her.

Elaine's vision went entirely black, her knees buckling completely as she braced herself against the wall. Finnian rushed up from behind and caught her by the arm.