Chapter 3 | Isn't Mine

Walter Sinclair

I rush inside the hospital after parking our car. I push through paparazzi as I hurry to get inside and I’m grateful for the security that won’t allow those vultures inside.

When I walk in, I notice my wife, Lilith screaming and I see Marinette on the stretcher, unconscious as she gets pushed behind a set of doors.

I rush over and see a paramedic blocking Lilith as he tells her, “Ma’am, you are not allowed past this point.”

I listen as she scoffs, “Do you know who I am?”

Spoiled bitch, I can’t believe the way she is behaving.

The paramedic is exhausted already from dealing with her and says sternly, “It doesn’t matter who you are. You are not allowed past these doors.”

I hurry my steps; I need to see Marinette. But the man blocks me and says, “I’m sorry, sir, no one is allowed past this point.”

I clench my teeth together in frustration and glare at Lilith as I yell at her, “You didn’t take good enough care of my daughter! How dare you? You are blessed to be able to call yourself her stepmother and you can’t even take care of her!”

Lilith stutters, “G-Walter, I love Marinette as if she was my own daughter. I am heartbroken that I can’t be back there to support her while she gives birth. That poor girl needs her mother by her, but since her mother isn’t around, I’m the next best thing.”

I huff and roll my eyes at her excuses. I should’ve divorced her a long time ago, but I thought she and Marinette would get closer eventually.

Lilith turns towards the paramedic, “Please, we need to be with her. We’re all she has.”

The paramedic eyes us suspiciously and responds, “You may wait in the waiting room. We’ll let you know when we know something.”

I step back slowly, but I can’t stop staring at the doors that my daughter disappeared behind. She is all I have left of my late wife, Marianna. I… I can’t picture life without my little girl.

Lilith tugs on my arm as she leads me to a chair. I stare at the door, unable to take my eyes off of them. Every second that passes causes me to feel more nauseous. I can’t lose her.

I’ve built this life to provide the best thing I can for her. But in this moment, I feel helpless, my money, my status, it means nothing here. She could still be taken from me… just like her mother was.

After half an hour Lilith begins to whine about how uncomfortable these chairs are. I want to yell at her for complaining about something so insignificant. But I choose to ignore her, yelling won’t solve anything.

I focus on the door as I will for someone to walk through and give us good news about my girl.

The door slams open, and I stand up and rush to meet a nurse who came out. She tries to move past me, but I block her way and say, “My daughter has been in there for almost an hour! I need to know how she is!”

The nurse looks me up and down and asks, “Mr. Sinclair?”

“How is she?” I demand desperately, “I need to know how she is.”

“The baby is fine, but the mother-” He interrupts her, “I don’t care about the damn baby! How is my daughter?!”

“She’s bleeding out, sir. I need you to move out of my way so I can go get the blood that she needs. We’re suffering from a blood shortage in the hospital, so prayerfully we’ll have enough.”

“I’ll donate! Take as much as you need, please just save her!” I offer as tears begin to prick my eyes. They could take everything if it meant her getting to live.

The nurse nods as she says, “Follow me.”

I breathe a breath of relief, finally I can do something more than just twiddling my thumbs. They tell me they have to test my blood to make sure it’s the right kind and it should be because I’m her father, but I don’t snap at the nurse. I know she’s just doing what she’s told.

Lilith stands next to me as we wait for the nurse. She huffs impatiently and looks at her watch as if she has somewhere else to be. I clench my eyes shut and force myself not to backhand her.

I’ve never been a violent man, but the way Lilith is behaving is unacceptable.

The nurse comes back in and says, “Mr. Sinclair, I’m not sure how to tell you this, but… your blood type doesn’t match Marinette’s… sir, we would have to do some other tests, but signs point to…” She clears her throught nervously and says, “Sir, you might not be her biological father.”

My mouth drops open in shock. Marianna… she never would’ve cheated on me. How could this be possible?

The nurse dismisses herself, “I’ll leave you to process. But I really need to go find some blood for her.”

I breathe out slowly as I run a hand through my hair. They said they would have to do some other tests… I just don’t understand how it would even be possible.

Suddenly, Lilith begins to laugh hysterically. I look at her in shock and ask in a deadly tone, “You think this is funny?”

She scoffs, “She was always ‘daddy’s little girl’ and got all of your attention! How does it feel, Walter? She’s not even your real daughter!”

She continues to laugh and my lower lip quivers. I slowly stand up and stalk over to her, causing her to back into a corner. I say in a low tone, “You need to leave.”

Her eyebrows furrow as she looks at me confused and asks, “Honey, what are you talking about?”

I huff, “I’m sick of you and the way you’ve behaved tonight. Find a hotel for the next couple of days. I don’t want to see you.”

Her mouth opens and shuts like a goldfish, and I pound my fist against the wall beside her head as I demand, “GO!”

She ducks beneath my arm and hurries out the door. Once she is gone, I fall to my knees at I sob. I sob for everything I’ve lost. Marianna, my one true love, how could you do this to me?

What am I supposed to do with Marinette? She’s still like my daughter but I can’t look at her knowing that she probably isn’t mine.