Chapter Thirty-Eight: Unseen Shadows

Nicholas's POV

The ticking clock on the wall felt like a reminder of how much time had passed since everything went to hell. I still struggled to accept Lena’s pregnancy, a dark cloud hanging over the brief moments of clarity I managed to grasp. And the gnawing doubt—was the baby even mine? The question lingered, refusing to be silenced. But the worst thing of all was how much my heart craved to be close to Emma again.

“Good morning, Mr. Blackwood,” the new nurse greeted me with an overtly cheerful voice as she wheeled in a cart loaded with medical paraphernalia. I didn't catch her name; I didn't care to. Emma’s absence was a gaping wound in my daily routine, one no amount of words could patch up.

"Morning," I muttered back, my voice husked with exhaustion rather than morning grogginess.

The nurse began setting up, her movements efficient if not overly clinical. "Let's start with your exercises," she chimed, attempting to infuse some optimism into the air. It fell flat, like a joke t