1|Painful Loss

[Darcy]

A baby's cry greeted my return from work. I rushed to the nursery and was touched to see the tear-stained baby. I went over and hugged him. Briefly, he stopped crying and sobbed.

“Do you miss Mommy? You know Mommy is coming home, but greet her with your loud voice. Why aren't you laughing? Aren't you tired of crying like this?” I asked.

The six-month-old baby just rested his head on my chest. He sobbed because he had cried too much. I went back to work when he turned three months old. That was the only time I could give him my full attention.

Keane was like any other baby when his mother was away, but he had a new habit. After he remembered the time I returned home, my son cried. My little one knew when I was coming home. If I were late, he would keep crying until I got home.

“You can't go on like this, dear. I have meetings after working hours. I can't come home at the same time every day,” I cooed.

My phone in the bag rang. The babysitter took my baby so that I could answer the call. Reading my mother-in-law's name, I frowned. Why was she calling me? We didn't have any appointments at night.

“Hi, Mom,” I greeted her.

“Come to the hospital right away. Cullen had an accident,” she sobbed.

I was stunned to hear the news. My husband was in an accident? I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. There was no need to panic. He would be fine. The car's safety system was excellent. His injuries must not be severe. That was it. I didn't need to panic.

I left the house with a heavy heart. The hospital wasn't a friendly place for children. Therefore, I left my son in the babysitter's care. I took a taxi to the hospital because I couldn't drive.

Arriving at the hospital, the nurse directed me to the ICU. I frowned. What happened? Why did they place him in that room? Why didn't they treat him in the ER or save him in the operating room?

“Darcy!” my mother-in-law called.

I rushed over to her. “How is Cullen? Is he okay?” I glanced nervously at the door behind her.

“He's calling your name. You'd better hurry up and get in,” she said, half pushing me.

“Okay,” I said obediently.

Her attitude was strange. She loved her son so much. Why did she allow me to enter without protest? Even though she approved of my marriage to Cullen and was happy with her first grandson, Bridget Channing hated me.

However, I ignored her demeanor. My focus was on Cullen. I entered the room, and a nurse asked me to wash my hands and wear specific clothes before seeing the patient.

I was shocked to see Cullen's condition. Many tubes and needles were on his body. Complete medical equipment surrounded his bed. His head was bandaged, his face was pale, and his body was covered in wounds. What kind of accident did he have?

“Cu-cullen?” I stammered. I cleared my throat and took a deep breath to calm myself. “Cullen, it's me. Darcy. Can you hear me?”

Of course, he didn't answer. I swallowed heavily, then turned to the nurse standing across from me. She was checking his heartbeat. “What happened to him?”

The woman smiled sadly. “Cullen Channing had a massive bleed on the head. The doctor did everything he could to help. Everything depends on the patient's endurance. Also, he had a fractured skull and ribs. Therefore, his lungs are severely injured.”

My legs went weak. “W-what are his chances of survival?” I muttered.

“Miracles happen every day,” she replied diplomatically.

“When was he brought here?” I added.

“This afternoon,” she replied. “Sorry, I have to check on another patient.”

“Okay. Thank you,” I said.

I placed my hand over Cullen's. He'd been in the hospital since the afternoon. Why did Mom contact me this evening? He must have gone through a long surgery process. I should have been in the hospital when he was battling between life and death.

“Honey, can you hear me?” I didn't dare touch the rest of his body, worried that my touch would hurt him. “Keane was acting up again tonight. He greeted my return with his cry. He was imitating his attention-seeking father.

“Get well soon. So we can go home, and you play with him. I can't bring him because the hospital is not a good place for him. The nanny looks after our son at home. I hope he doesn't cry because I'm gone,” I muttered.

A long, shrill sound interrupted my sentence. I looked at the monitor and saw a single horizontal line. I widened my eyes. My heart skipped a beat. Was that...?

Several people entered the room, and a nurse asked me to leave. I shook my head because I wanted to stay beside my husband. But the woman forced me out and closed the door before me. Oh, God. Save Cullen. Please.

My legs were weak as I walked out of the room. I looked around me but didn't find Mom or her bodyguards. Where had she gone? I dialed her phone. Unfortunately, she didn't answer my two calls. Strange. Why didn't she pick up the phone?

The ICU door opened, and a nurse approached me. Looking at the look on her face, I could guess what she was going to say. “Cullen Channing passed away.”

I was stunned. Cullen died? No way. He was strong and healthy. We parted ways in the morning, and he was fine. I passed the nurse and entered the ICU room. The medics were removing tube after tube from his body.

“What are you doing? Don't remove the tubes. Wait until my husband wakes up!” I held the woman's hand, who removed the needle from Cullen's wrist.

“Be strong, ma'am. The patient is gone.” She looked at me sympathetically.

“No. Cullen won't leave me! Save him! Cullen can't be dead!” I felt my chest tighten. Cullen couldn't be dead. “He loves me and won't leave me alone.”

My bodyguards held me to prevent me from interfering with the medics' work. I struggled to get free as they removed the life support from Cullen's body. My voice was hoarse from calling his name, but he didn't answer or open his eyes.

No. That couldn't have happened. Cullen was everything to me. How could I live without him? I had no one else in the world but him. I must be dreaming. That was it. It was just a dream. I would wake up, and everything would be fine. Cullen, Keane, and I were going on vacation for the weekend.

Except it was real. Cullen didn't open his eyes even though I shook his body and screamed his name. His beautiful eyes used to look at me lovingly. His lips never stopped calling me with affection. Oh, God. My husband was gone.

I followed my husband's body back to his parents' house. Cars filled the curb and the front yard when we arrived. A servant asked me to follow her and helped me change. I sat by my husband's coffin because I didn't want to be away from him.

We held his funeral service at the church and drove him to the cemetery. I saw his coffin go into the hole and be covered with dirt. But I still couldn't believe he was gone.

“I'm so sorry, Darcy,” Heather said.

I chuckled. “Why did you come? You should have said you were happy about my misfortune,” I quipped.

“Cullen was my brother-in-law despite our complicated relationship. I feel your loss,” my sister muttered sincerely.

I hated her and her theatrics. “Liar. You and your husband must have laughed when you came here.”

“I am not you, Darcy. We are not the same. I don't laugh over others' suffering, much less over my own family. You can believe it or not.” Heather caressed my arm. “I'm leaving. Stay strong for Keane's sake. You're all he has after his father is gone.”

My eyes heated up. I bit my lip to keep from crying before her. Heather turned around, and a handsome man approached her. Her husband wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her head, the man who should have been mine.

My tears welled up. I lowered my head, unwanting anyone to notice. Cullen left me alone. The person my life and my son depended on was gone. How did I live and face people who hated me without him?

Returning home, I walked sluggishly to Keane's room. I didn't hear him cry. Didn't he miss his mommy? I opened the door to his room, but the sight in front of me shocked me.