Chapter 3
Sienna's POV
The family doctor is kneeling in the pool of blood, fingers pressed against my neck. The color drains from his face.
"No, she's not going to make it." He jumps to his feet, pulling out his phone with shaking hands. "Mr. Harrington, you need to get back here right now! Your wife has lost too much blood, the baby's heartbeat is weak, she could—"
Blake's voice cuts through the speaker, cold as ice. "You're my doctor. I can't believe she got to you too. How much is she paying you?"
"Sir, I'm a doctor. I don't gamble with patients' lives—"
"Enough!" Blake cuts him off, his tone dripping with mockery. "You have no idea what a good actress she is. I've lived with her long enough to know exactly what she's capable of. This woman will do anything for money! Stop wasting my time."
The doctor stares at his phone, then turns to Marcus standing nearby.
Marcus looks just as pale. He walks over and takes the phone from the doctor's hand.
"Listen to me," Marcus says, trying to keep his voice steady. "I saw this with my own eyes. This isn't an act. There's blood everywhere, the way she looks—"
Blake lets out a cold laugh. "Marcus, didn't I tell you to stay out of it? I thought you were smarter than this. She's been playing all of us! You really think I'm going to fall for it?"
"I really—"
"I said, leave her alone!" Blake's voice suddenly gets louder. "You better get out of there right now. Grab the files and go. Don't let her drag you into her mess!"
The call ends.
Marcus stands there frozen, phone still in his hand. He turns and looks at me lying in the blood.
My breathing is getting shallower.
"Damn it." The doctor swears under his breath, crouching down to keep pressure on my wounds. "Get the medical kit from my car! Now!"
Marcus runs out.
The doctor's hands keep working, but I can feel his movements getting more desperate. There's nothing in this house. Everything he's doing is pointless.
My consciousness drifts in and out of darkness.
I use every bit of strength I have left to place my hand on my belly, but I feel nothing. No movement. No life.
Marcus runs back in. He tears open the medical kit, supplies spilling across the floor. The doctor fumbles through them, injecting me with a coagulant, wrapping gauze around the wounds in layers.
But the bleeding won't stop.
"This isn't working..." The doctor's voice starts to shake. "She's lost too much blood. She needs a transfusion, she needs surgery—I don't have anything here—"
Marcus pulls out his phone and takes pictures of the scene.
He sends them to Blake. "Are you really sure she's faking this?"
The response comes back almost instantly.
"She really went all out this time. Guess all that money I gave her is finally being put to use. Just drop it and come back. Vanessa's about to deliver. I don't have time for her shit. Let her keep up the act."
Marcus looks up at the doctor.
The doctor is checking my pupils. When he slowly straightens up, he looks like he's aged ten years in an instant.
"Her pulse is fading." His voice sounds hollow and terrifying. "I've... I've done everything I can."
I hear those words.
But I can't speak, can't move, can't even cry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, my baby.
Mommy couldn't protect you.
My hand slides off my belly, falling limp against the floor.
Darkness closes in. Everything fades.
The delivery room doors swing open.
Blake rushes in first. A nurse carefully hands him the bundle.
The newborn scrunches up its tiny face, letting out soft whimpers. Blake looks down at that red little face, and a smile tugs at his lips without him realizing it.
"Very healthy," the nurse says quietly. "Mother and baby are both fine."
Blake hands the baby back to the nurse, relief washing over him.
Vanessa finally delivered safely. Now he just needs to keep his old promise, transfer the shares and the property to her, let her leave with the kid. She's someone he used to care about. It's the least he can do.
He can't understand why Sienna always had to go after Vanessa. But it's over now.
When he gets back, he'll smooth things over with her. They can finally settle down and have a normal life together. She's crazy about him anyway.
Blake drives back to the estate, thinking about how to explain things to her. Maybe he should buy her something. She's been pretty emotional lately.
The car pulls into the driveway. He sees someone sitting on the steps.
It's Marcus.
Blake frowns and gets out of the car. As he gets closer, he notices Marcus is sitting there hollow-eyed and motionless, his clothes and hands covered in dark red bloodstains.
"Why are you still here?" Blake sounds irritated. "I told you to leave her alone."
He glances toward the house. "Where's Sienna? Sulking somewhere? Tell her to come out. Enough with the drama."
Marcus slowly lifts his head. His eyes are bloodshot, his face ghost-white.
Unease stirs in Blake's chest. His voice softens a little. "What's going on? What game is she playing now?"
Marcus's lips tremble. His voice comes out hoarse, barely audible.
"Sienna... she didn't make it."
