CHAPTER 7 — "The Birth That Stopped Everyone's Heart"
The ambulance siren echoed through the quiet neighborhood.
Inside, Ethan held Diana's trembling hand as another contraction ripped through her body.
"Stay with me," he whispered, his voice shaking.
"I'm here."
Diana tried to smile.
"I promised our baby..."
"...that we'd make it."
The paramedic glanced at the monitor.
"Blood pressure is dangerously high."
"We need to move."
Within minutes, the emergency room doors burst open.
Doctors and nurses rushed Diana toward the operating theater.
Ethan tried to follow.
A nurse gently stopped him.
"We'll do everything we can."
The doors slammed shut.
Then...
Silence.
For the first time in years, Ethan felt completely helpless.
He looked down at the bouquet of crushed white lilies he had unknowingly carried all the way to the hospital.
One flower had survived.
He held it tightly.
"I should have been home."
"I should have seen it sooner."
William Ashcroft quietly sat beside him.
"This wasn't your fault."
Ethan shook his head.
"I asked her every night if she was okay."
"And every night..."
"...she protected everyone except herself."
Hours passed.
No one spoke.
Then the operating room doors opened.
A surgeon removed his mask.
"Mr. Carter?"
Ethan stood so quickly his chair fell over.
"Your wife is safe."
He nearly collapsed with relief.
"And your baby..."
The doctor smiled for the first time that night.
"...is healthy."
A tiny cry echoed from the nursery.
Ethan covered his face with both hands.
He had never cried like that before.
Minutes later, a nurse wheeled in a tiny bassinet.
Inside lay a beautiful baby girl with dark hair and tightly closed eyes.
"Would you like to hold your daughter?"
His hands trembled.
"I've never held someone so precious."
As he gently lifted her, the baby wrapped her tiny fingers around one of his.
The entire room fell silent.
William smiled through tears.
"She already trusts her father."
When Diana awoke, she found Ethan sitting beside her bed.
Their daughter slept peacefully in his arms.
"I'm sorry," Diana whispered.
Ethan immediately shook his head.
"No."
"You never have to apologize again."
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
"I failed to protect you."
She touched his cheek.
"You came home."
"You believed me."
"That's all I ever wanted."
Outside the room...
Detective Harris received an urgent phone call.
His expression changed instantly.
He walked toward Ethan.
"I need to tell you something."
"The investigation isn't over."
"We've arrested the man who supplied the poison."
"He agreed to cooperate."
Ethan frowned.
"What does he know?"
The detective answered quietly.
"He claims..."
"...Vanessa wasn't the one who planned everything."
The hallway seemed to grow colder.
"What are you talking about?"
The detective took a slow breath.
May you like
"According to his statement..."
"...someone else paid him first."
