The doctor said her blood pressure was high. She needed plenty of bedrest and to avoid anything that could cause her to be stressed or anxious. Van almost lost the baby today.
Their baby.
Jake thought as he tried to swallow the lump which had lodged in his throat, he never would've been able to forgive himself if anything had happened to her or the baby. And God he and Ash had behaved like animals throwing punches like barbarians and not listening when she'd yelled at them to stop. She was still at risk but she was stable now, a load had been lifted off his shoulders. The doctor said she was sedated and stable so she was greenlighted to be transferred back to the house with a promise that a doctor would be on hand should any emergency occurred.
"I'll tell her you dropped by." Ash said and Jake wanted to punch him again but restrained himself. Like hell he would.
"I'll wait for her to wake up and let her decide whether she wants me here or not."
Ash pursed his lips, he looked like he was about to say something but didn't he simply turned and left the room.
And aaJake prayed she wouldn't kick him out once she regains consciousness.
Van woke up hours later. It took her a few seconds to shake off the grogginess from the drugs and when she did she realised she was back in her bedroom. The curtains were pulled back to allow the morning sun stream in. Recalling what had happened the night before her hands quickly went to her stomach as her eyes connected with Jake's who looked like he just woke up himself and the emotion she saw in his eyes stabbed at her heart.
"Please tell me I didn't lose my baby."
He smiled blinking back tears. "No." He said and she sagged with relief it was all she wanted to hear as she said a silent thanks to God. "She's still strong and kicking I think she takes after her mother." He added.
"She?" Van raised delicate brows.
"Yes. I want a little girl who takes after her mother's fighting spirit, her beautiful dark eyes and her lovely smile. Don't you want that?"
Van had never actually stopped to think about whether she was going to have a boy or a girl she was simply happy to become a mom.
"I don't particularly care as long as the baby is healthy."
‘’You have no idea how scared I was seeing you like that.’’ he choked out hoarsely taking her hand in his.
‘’Jake are you crying?’’
‘’Yes I am and that’s because you are my life and I love you so much.’’ Van's breath hitched.
She swallowed. ‘’Are you saying that because of the baby?’’
Jake was shaking his head. ‘’God Van haven’t you realised yet just how much you mean to me?"
Van knew that she just didn't know if she could trust him anymore.
Rella waited the entire night and then cried herself to sleep when she realised Stefan wasn't coming back. She woke up the next morning with sunlight streaming through the parted curtains. Her head was pounding and her throat was raw and aching from all that crying. Reaching for the glass of water on the night stand she took tentative sips to soothe her aching throat next she checked her phone to see if he tried calling but he didn't, it was Christian instead who left several missed calls for her and that could only mean one thing…
Rella called him back too frantic she almost dropped the phone. He picked on the first ring. "Thank God you scared me to death."
"How is he?" She asked quietly.
"Passed out but he'll be fine."
Rella loosed a shaky breath of relief at least she knows where he is and that he's fine and not in an alley somewhere outside a bar.
" How are you doing?" Christian asked a second later.
"What do you think?"
"If he said anything to you at all… whatever he said I hope you don't take it to heart he's just angry it's normal when one feels betrayed but I know how much he loves you."
Rella smiled wryly at Christian's attempt to reassure her as best as he could but it wasn't what Stefan had said, no, it was what he didn't say because after she'd finished telling him the whole impersonation story he simply turned and left without a word but the storm in his eyes was what Rella could not forget. He'd trusted her, bared his heart and soul to her, wore his heart on his sleeve for her and yet she'd betrayed him in the worst possible way–she wasn't the woman he thought he married.
Rella swallowed hard trying to rein in her tears but it leaked down her face as she sniffled .
"I know." She replied to Christian, her voice hoarse. " Please take care of him Christian."
"You make sure to take care of yourself as well."
Rella forced herself to have breakfast even though she had no appetite at all. And for the next two days she refused to leave her bed or her room, Henry tried to convince her that it'd be good for her and the baby to get some fresh air but Rella could not muster the strength she felt like an empty shell, alive but not quite living. The old butler made sure she had breakfast, lunch and dinner even if she could only stomach morsels of each meal.
It was on the third day that her mother came to visit.
‘’Why am I not surprised that you know what has happened?’’
Evie Cortes didn't have the decency to be remorseful, her mother looked like she’d rather be somewhere else.
‘’Honey, you have every right to be mad.’’ she said sombrely.
‘’Oh I am mad alright. You have no right to toy with my life the way you did. You have no right to keep my sister away as if she were some outsider. Do you have any idea what Cindy must've felt during those times she thought she was alone? How could you?’’
Her mother's shoulders sagged then and she had the decency to look remorseful. "I admit that I'm not the best mother out there and that I've made so many mistakes while trying to do things I thought were the right things to do. I am sorry Rella that your life became affected because of my blind decisions."
"You lied to me," Rella said her voice dripping venom. "you said you couldn't find Cindy and that she'd been to the French Riviera but the truth is my sister was in a goddamned hospital fighting for her life!"
"I didn't want anything to come between you and Stefan…"
" I should've been the one to decide that mom. " Rella threw her hands up in frustration. "
‘’Please calm down darling’’ her mother said. ‘’You look like you’re about to pass out I think you should get some rest.’’
A wretched sob tore from her throat. She couldn’t stop the tears from falling so she let it out sobbing her heart out until only soft whimpers escaped her all the whole her mom held her cooing softly to her and then she fell into a deep sleep.
When she woke up the next day the room was bathed in the glow of golden sunlight the clock on the night stand indicated that it was a quarter past eleven in the morning her stomach shift uncomfortably even with the slight movement and she felt queasy all over again. She rubbed her belly and stilled until the feeling passed. She figured nothing much would come out now as she’d spent the better part of the morning heaving yesterday’s meal.
Not long after, Evie Cortés came into the room, bearing a tray with orange juice and crackers and set it on the bed.
‘’How are you feeling?’’ she probably came to see if Rella's calmed down enough to talk her into forgiving her.
Silence.
Her mother sighed. "You shouldn’t starve yourself it’s not good for your health especially now that you’re expecting.’’
Rella’s jaw almost dropped at that. How did she…it’s really not surprising that she knew she must’ve heard her retching her guts out this morning. Rella made a point of ignoring her as she reached for the crackers and took bite.