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002 The Viper’s Voice
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2025-04-21 13:38:03(Ava)
I push myself up in bed. “I’m going to see my baby.” I start to rip off patches.
The doctor puts his hand on my arm. “Ava… Your mental health is in question. Legally, you aren’t allowed to see her.”
His words cut through me like a sword.
How can they think I would ever hurt my baby?
“I am her mother. I will never hurt her! She needs me right now, I have to see her!”
The doctor offers a subdued nod. “Ms. Lancaster, I’m sorry. I truly am. But I could lose my job if I take you.”
I whisper, voice hard. “I’m going to see Lila, now. Even if I have to crawl there and end up in jail.”
“I’ll take you.” The male nurse fixing my IV says with a smile, “Nico, nice to meet you.”
He looks like he should be on a most wanted poster with that neck tattoo. But he is my only choice.
The doctor holds up his hands. “Okay. I never heard anything,” and leaves the room.
***
Nico pulls the door open and pulls my wheelchair backwards into the room. He turns the chair to face the bed.
And my heart shatters.
Lila looks… so small. So pale.
Tubes and IVs snake from her tiny body. Machines beep in quiet, rhythmic intervals.
Her favorite stuffed bunny is next to her, the same one she’s had since she was a baby.
Tears blur my vision. I can barely breathe past the ache in my chest.
Nico pushes me closer, and I lean over taking her tiny hand in mine. Tears pour down my face.
“Oh God. Lila. Mommy’s here. Lila, don’t give up. I love you, baby. I love you so much.”
Without her, my life is meaningless.
I sat stiffly in the chair beside Lila’s bed, my fingers curled around her tiny hand, tracing the soft skin, memorizing every inch of her.
My chest feels hollow, as though someone has punched through my ribcage and ripped everything out.
She’s dying. My baby is dying.
“Call her father. I want to talk to him,” I demand.
“We left messages,” the nurse says, hesitant. “We spoke with Mrs. Lorne. She knows the gravity.”
Sienna won’t tell Zach. I know she won’t. Why did I ever trust her?
All that time she was acting the dedicated friend, how we could all exist as a blended family. Lies, all lies. Like a viper, she was waiting to strike.
Zach and I were so happy. So happy.
I try again with the nurse, she has kind eyes. “Our daughter is at the end of her life. Have a heart…I’m begging you…”
The nurse hesitates and then her shoulders slump. “I’ll go get the phone.”
It rings. And rings. Then—
“Hello?”
Sienna’s voice.
I clench my teeth. “Where’s Zach?”
She sighs dramatically. “Oh, it’s you. I heard you’d woken up.”
My grip tightens. “Where. Is. Zach.”
“He’s busy,” she drawls. “It’s Kai’s eighth birthday, you know. We’re throwing a huge party. We all need a rest from hospitals.”
My blood boils. I hate her so much. She has ruined my life. Taken my daughter’s life from me. “Lila is not going to make it. Zach should be here.”
Sienna yawns. “We’ll visit tomorrow.”
“Put him on the phone.”
“Patience darling. Be thankful I let you wake up in time to see Lila again,” her voice is lowered. The words shock me.
What?! Did she just admit that she is responsible for my coma?
“It was you. It was all you.” It was Sienna. She drugged me somehow.
“No one will believe you. You’re crazy. Everyone knows that.” I hear her laugh and the line goes dead. She hung up.
I want to hurl the phone at the wall, but I know if I do, they’ll stop me from seeing Lila.
I’m not going to stop calling until I get Zach. I hit the redial button and it rings out over and over. I try again.
Zach finally picks up.
“Zach.” I say, not able to get anything else out. I’m so angry, so sad.
“Ava,” he sighs. “Sienna told me you’re awake. She said you’re spiraling. I’d hoped you were over these manic, paranoid episodes.”
My hands shake with fury. “Lila has sepsis. She’s dying, Zach.”
A pause. Then— “Are you hallucinating again? I’ve just talked to a nurse, and they said Lila is stable. I hear you’re refusing medication.”
“Stable? She’s dying, Zach!”
He sighs. “You’re hallucinating. Take your meds. We’ll visit Lila tomorrow.”
“You used her for spare parts,” I spit, tears pooling in my eyes. “And now you’ve abandoned her. I told you she was yours.”
“Yes, she’s mine but you’re mentally unstable. You’re a drug addict. I can’t have that in my life, in my kids lives.”
“I love Lila more than anything in this world.”
He chuckles bitterly. “You tried to jump off a bridge with her… what loving mother does that?”
Tears form in my eyes as I have flashbacks of Lila screaming and me holding her on the edge of a bridge. My body collapses again. What have I done?
“You’re a joke, Ava. I’m done feeding into your delusions. I wish I’d never chose you.”
My blood turns icy while he hangs up on me.
I’ve never hated anyone as much as I hate Zach right now. He doesn’t deserve Lila. He doesn’t deserve her love, or mine.
I knew what his reputation was. I knew he was a feared and ruthless businessman. I knew he was a player who discarded women when he was done. But I wouldn’t listen. I thought he’d change, for me. He did.
No affairs. No temper. He was the most patient and loving husband and father.
Deep down I know I still love him and maybe a part of me always will. That young, hopeful, starry-eyed virgin part of me.
I’m so far removed from who I was, it really just a stupid dream. It always was.
Sometimes, this time, love is just not enough.
I’m done with him.
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