Chapter 2: The Child’s Heartbeat
Chapter 2: The Child’s Heartbeat
The hotel physician arrived within minutes.
Elena regained consciousness on a sofa inside a private executive lounge, but her face remained drained of color.
Julian knelt beside her while the doctor checked her pulse.
“You need to lie still,” the doctor warned. “Your blood pressure is dangerously high.”
“I’m fine,” Elena whispered.
“You collapsed while thirty-four weeks pregnant. You are not fine.”
Julian’s eyes snapped toward her.
“Thirty-four weeks?”
Elena closed her eyes.
The timeline struck him immediately.
Thirty-four weeks meant she had already been pregnant when she vanished.
The doctor pressed a portable monitor against her abdomen.
A rapid heartbeat filled the room.
Julian froze.
It was the first time he had heard his child.
His expression broke apart.
Elena turned her face away from him.
The doctor continued the examination.
“The heartbeat is strong, but stress could trigger early labor. She needs proper nutrition and rest. No heavy lifting. No prolonged standing.”
Julian looked toward the housekeeping cart visible through the open door.
“How long has she been working here?”
Malcolm cleared his throat.
“Approximately five months.”
“Doing what?”
“Housekeeping duties.”
“She is carrying a child and moving furniture?”
“She provided medical clearance when she was hired.”
Elena opened her eyes.
“I needed the job.”
“You needed nothing,” Julian said. “You had access to every account I owned.”
“No, I didn’t.”
He stared at her.
“My cards stopped working the night I left. My name was removed from our joint accounts. My passport was flagged. Every time I tried to contact someone, I received another threat.”
“What threats?”
Elena looked toward Adrian, who stood near the window.
Adrian’s face remained composed.
“Elena,” Julian said, “tell me who did this.”
She shook her head.
“I can’t.”
Julian reached for her hand, but she pulled away.
“You don’t understand what they can do.”
“Then make me understand.”
Camila stood near the door with her arms crossed.
“This is absurd. She disappears without explanation, turns up pregnant, and immediately starts blaming mysterious enemies?”
Elena’s gaze moved to Camila.
Her expression shifted.
“You.”
Camila stiffened.
“What?”
“I’ve seen you before.”
Camila laughed.
“That’s impossible.”
“No.” Elena struggled to sit up. “You were outside our house the night I disappeared.”
Julian slowly turned toward Camila.
“You told me we met four months ago.”
“We did.”
Elena’s voice became firmer.
“She was wearing a black coat. She stood beside the eastern gate and spoke to someone on the phone.”
Camila’s confidence faltered.
Adrian stepped forward.
“Elena is exhausted and confused. We should let the doctor—”
“Stop talking,” Julian said.
Adrian went still.
Julian looked between his best friend and his girlfriend.
For the first time, he noticed the way they avoided looking at each other.
It was subtle.
Practiced.
Familiar.
The doctor removed the monitor.
“She should be taken to a hospital.”
“I’ll arrange a private ambulance,” Adrian offered.
“No,” Elena said immediately.
Terror returned to her eyes.
“Not one arranged by him.”
The room fell silent.
Julian rose slowly.
“Why not?”
May you like
Elena stared directly at Adrian.
“Because the last doctor he arranged tried to sedate me and take my baby.”
