Chapter 2 - The Breaking Point

Isabel’s POV

When I woke up, the room was dimly lit. The low hum of medical machines noticed that I was in the hospital bed again. The difference was that I had a throbbing headache and intense stomach cramps that were worse than the last time. Where was I? What had happened?

The soft hum of medical machines surrounded me. I had a throbbing headache and intense stomach cramps. Where was I? What happened?

I suddenly remembered Lilith’s evil smile and hard push, then the painful fall down the staircase. I had ended up on the floor, flat on my belly with Lilith’s weight on top of me. 

Oh no… I gasped and jolted upright, causing another contraction in my womb. “My baby!”

The doctor noticed I was awake and walked over to me. He stood by my bedside, his expression somber. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Williams," he said gently. "Your baby didn't survive the fall."

His words pierced my heart like a dagger. I felt an overwhelming wave of grief wash over me. My hand instinctively moved to my now empty belly. Tears streamed down my cheeks. My baby, the little life I had been so excited to welcome, was gone.

“My little girl… It can’t be!” I sobbed. The doctor placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’m so sorry, ma’am. There was nothing we could do.”

“You may experience some after-pains and bleeding over the next few days,” He continued. “We will keep you here so you can rest and we can monitor your recovery.”

I looked around the room, hoping to see Emerson. He should be here, comforting me, sharing in this pain. But he wasn't.

“My husband… W-Where’s my husband?” I mumbled in shock.

“I believe I saw him in the maternity ward, ma'am,” The doctor replied. I was confused. What was he doing there?

“That other lady who fell down the stairs with you?” The doctor continued. “She went into early labor after the accident.”

Accident? Her push had been very intentional. I nodded and the doctor left the room. My entire body was sore and weak, but I had to find my husband. 

After a while, I gathered enough strength to leave the room. I needed to find Emerson. As I walked down the hospital corridors, I felt like a ghost, hollow and broken. I finally found the maternity ward. I looked into a few rooms through the glass windows. Suddenly, my heart stopped. 

I saw Emerson sitting beside Lilith's hospital bed. He was cradling a tiny baby in his arms. Lilith lay in bed, looking tired but triumphant.

My heart shattered anew at the sight. Emerson was doting on Lilith and her baby. Meanwhile our child was lifeless, because of her.

I had every right to storm in and demand answers. As his legal wife, I deserved an explanation for this betrayal. But as I stood outside the door, my courage faltered. I pressed my forehead against the cold glass and watched them. My heart ached with a profound sense of loss and rejection.

Why did he choose her? What did I do wrong? My mind raced with questions, but deep down, I knew their answers wouldn't change anything. I was the outsider in their perfect little world.

I whispered softly to myself, "I'm just a fifth wheel in this relationship. No matter how much I hurt, no one will care."

I stood there for what felt like an eternity, my eyes glued to the scene inside. Emerson's face was filled with a tenderness he had once shown me. Now, it was all for Lilith. He didn't even glance in my direction.

Twenty minutes passed, and not once did anyone notice me. I was invisible. A shadow in their happiness. The realization hit me hard. I turned away, my heart heavy with sorrow.

I walked away from Lilith's room. A sudden sharp pain shot through my head. I stumbled, feeling dizzy and disoriented.

The world around me blurred, and I felt my legs give way. The pain in my head intensified, a throbbing agony that made it hard to think. I collapsed to the floor. The last thing I saw was the cold, white tiles of the hospital hallway.

When I woke up again, surprise, surprise—I was back in a hospital bed. Seriously, was this my new vacation home? What had landed me here this time? Was it the aftermath of the miscarriage that had knocked me out? Or had I managed to find some new, creative way to faint?

A nurse gave me some water and a snack. She ran some tests, shining a flashlight in my eyes. Her worried frown made me feel anxious. After I'd been awake for half an hour, slowly adjusting to my surroundings, the doctor arrived.

He was looking even graver than before. "Isabel," he began, his voice gentle yet firm. "You’ve been in a coma for 3 days. We ran several tests and scans, and found something concerning.” He paused. What could be worse than losing my baby? I wondered.

“I'm sorry to inform you… You have a tumor in your head. It's likely causing these symptoms - dizziness, headaches, fainting. If it continues to grow, you might not have more than a year."

His words hung in the air, heavy and foreboding. I stared at him, unable to process the full impact of what he was saying. My baby was gone, I lost Emerson, and now my life was at risk. The weight of it all threatened to crush me.

I closed my eyes, tears streaming down my cheeks. How had everything gone so horribly wrong? What was I supposed to do now? I felt completely and utterly alone, in a sea of pain and confusion.