#43 A close call

When I woke up, I was lying on top of a hospital bed inside a quiet, white room. The hospital's atmosphere wasn't anything new to me since I've spent so much time in a room like this when I was younger.
My hands moved to touch my baby bump as soon as I remembered why I was in the hospital this time. My belly had the same shape as before. However, I didn't feel any movement, and I wasn't in pain anymore. This could mean two things, either we were both good, or my daughter wasn't…
Tears streamed down my cheeks just thinking of the latter possibility. I couldn't afford to lose her... She was the only thing that mattered to me.
I didn't know how long I was in the hospital, and I had no idea where my parents or Nickolas were. I was afraid to move and press the button to call a nurse or a doctor. I was petrified to even speak to any of them and hear a truth that might really kill me this time.
The door of my room slowly opened, and a man with red hair walked inside my room. The sobs that escaped my lips made Owen run to my side.
"What's wrong, Evelyn? Are you in pain?" the red-haired doctor asked while he checked my vitals at the machine right next to me.
I shook my head, trying to muster my courage and form a few words. "No… I… Is the baby…" I only managed to stutter despite my best efforts.
"You're both fine, for now, Evelyn, but it was another close call…" Owen replied as he sat on the chair next to my bed.
I took a few deep breaths to calm myself. I still had to ask what caused the bleeding. "Can you please inform me more about what happened now that I'm calmer?"
"The bleeding was caused by a rapture of the placenta. We managed to control the blood loss and stabilize both of you. Your baby's vitals and yours are good now, so you're both out of danger," Owen told me.
I nodded absentmindedly, thinking about his words. Something worse could have happened if we weren't that lucky. But what if the bleeding caused any other complication to my baby during the following months?
"Could this affect her in the future?" I asked once again.
"Despite the blood you saw, the rapture didn't affect the baby's blood flow a lot. Her vitals were between the normal ranges when you arrived, and we're monitoring her, too, all the time. So, we want to believe that her brain wasn't affected by hypoxia, and no major damage was caused," the redheaded doctor explained to me.
I slightly shook my head, taking a moment to let his words register in my brain. She was okay; we were both fine for now...
"I must stay in the hospital, right?"
"That's correct, Evelyn. We must monitor you closely from now on. Without any signs of another bleeding or any other difficulty regarding the baby's development, you can return to your home in a few days."
An ironic smile formed on my lips. In which home would I return to? I wanted to run away from New York and Sebastian, but after the latest complication, it seemed impossible…
"I wouldn't have forgiven myself if anything had happened to her…" I whispered while a few stray tears ran down my cheeks.
Owen grabbed my hands, forcing me to look at him. "You need to stop crying, darling. It's not good for you two," he reprimanded me in a stern yet soft voice.
"I know, I'm sorry. These days have been true hell for me…"
"Well, your parents told us that you had some emotional stress before the bleeding."
A sigh escaped my lips, and I caressed my baby bump once again. "I had a fight with Sebastian. He said some things that hurt me badly. I didn't rest and paid attention to my blood pressure like you had advised me to. All this it's my fault, but I don't want to keep repeating my mistakes, Owen…" I blurted out, eyeing the man who was also my friend, not just my doctor.
"Sebastian came here earlier. He looked livid and scared at the same time. I can now understand why…"
"Owen, I need to talk to you about something. However, I want this conversation to be protected by the patient's confidentiality," I said, biting my lower lip.
"Of course, Evelyn. I can also keep a secret like a friend of yours would do, you know," the man said, and a kind smile appeared on his lips.
If only things were different, and I wasn't so madly in love with Sebastian, Owen would have been the perfect man for me…
"As you already know, I underwent a heart transplant about three years ago. That surgery saved my life, and I'm ecstatic about this second chance I was given," I said in a small voice.
"I can only imagine how blessed and grateful you feel each and every day," Owen said, caressing my hand softly.
A sad smile formed on my lips. If only Sebastian could also understand that easily how I felt…
I took a deep breath and picked the words I was going to use carefully. "I also told you about the death of Sebastian's fiancée, Olivia. Well, it proved that Olivia was an organ donor, and she died the very same day I had the transplant and at the same hospital, too. When I talked to Sebastian about my past, these two weird coincidences made him think that there might be another connection between Olivia and me. And he was right. He managed to verify that the donor who saved my life was indeed Olivia, his lost love," I told him.
Owen looked at me for a few long moments without saying anything. He must have thought I was crazy. "This is completely insane!" the man exclaimed at last.
"I have no idea how he managed to obtain such sensitive information, but I know he's telling me the truth…"
"And how is this related to your fight?"
"He accused me of killing Olivia. He said she died, so I can live. Olivia was already brain dead. That's why they moved on with her wish and donated her organs…"
"Oh, Evelyn, you have nothing to do with her death. Don't you dare accuse yourself of that!" Owen told me sternly.
"I know, but he doesn't… If he could pick one woman to live, it would have been Olivia," I told him in a bitter tone.
Owen shook his head, disappointed with what he heard. "What about your feelings, Evelyn?"
I bit my lower lip, thinking about his question for a few moments. "Right now, it seems so complicated to me. I know that I love him, but is my love enough for both of us? Can I forgive him again after everything he has done and said? And besides, how do I know that my feelings for him are real and belong to me…"
"What do you mean? To whom can your feelings belong?" the red-haired man asked with knitted brows.
I let a shaking breath escape my lips before replying, "I have Olivia's heart, Owen. She loved Sebastian so much. What if these feelings are hers and not mine?" I asked, eyeing him hopelessly.
Owen's eyes dilated, and a small gasp escaped his lips. "Well, that's something I would have never thought…"
"Is this possible? I mean, scientifically speaking, can something like this happen?" I asked, and my voice was barely audible.
A chuckle escaped his lips, and his brown eyes looked at me with amusement. "No, Evelyn. It's not possible because your heart is nothing more than a pump, supplying your body with blood. There are certain parts inside your brain responsible for your feelings and the reactions of your body," the doctor replied.
This seemed logical to me, but then again, it didn't explain that ache inside my chest. "Then why does it feel like my heart is shattered? Why is it so painful?"
"Why does your blood pressure rise when you're scared? Why does your heart beat quicker when you're angry? Why do you feel numb when you're sad? All these are physical reactions to different stimuli inside your brain. They are subconscious, but their result is a physical sensation that helps us realize what we feel," Owen explained.
"So, you're saying that my brain tells me not to leave Sebastian, right?" I asked as a frown formed between my eyebrows.
"Well, subconsciously, at least. But it's your brain, not your heart…"
I sighed in relief since I was proved wrong. These were indeed my feelings and my brain yearning for Sebastian. Or at least, a part of it because the other part told me to stay away from him…
"Then why does my brain also tell me to run away from him?"
"Sebastian hurt you repeatedly, Evelyn. You're trying to protect yourself from another disappointment, another heartbreak. Besides, now you also have your daughter to protect and care about. You're not just you anymore," Owen replied, caressing the back of my hand softly.
Some moments passed without any of us uttering a word. The beeping of the machines was the only sound that could be heard inside the room. However, my thoughts inside my head were deafening.
I had already made up my mind, yet it still seemed so hard...
"I don't want to be anywhere near him, Owen. It's like something has broken inside me. I feel betrayed…"
Owen leaned forward and pecked my hand softly. "You're a strong woman but know that you also have many people around you who care for you. And I'm one of them, Evelyn. Don't hesitate to ask for my help. I'm here for you, darling," he said in a soft voice.
I smiled weakly at him, but I was touched by his words. "Thank you, Owen. I shall inform you about my plans soon. Besides, I might need your medical consultation before I do anything reckless."
The red-haired man was about to answer something, but his lips remained parted as the door suddenly burst open.
Sebastian walked inside the room with a scowl plastered on his face. A sigh escaped my lips, remembering the last time this had happened. The two men ended up punching and kicking one another…
Sebastian's eyes traveled from my eyes to my belly and then to the doctor sitting close to my bed.
"I'm sorry for interrupting, but I want to have a few minutes with my girlfriend," Sebastian said coldly, eyeing the other man with his icy grey eyes.
He had the guts to call me his girlfriend after our last fight! My lips twitched, and I was about to retort something, but I decided against it. There was no need to argue with a mule. And after all, I had to maintain my calmness.
"Of course, Mr. Leclair. But please, keep in mind that Evelyn's condition is very critical. She must not be upset for any reason," Owen replied in his professional voice glaring at the billionaire.
"I was already informed by Dr. Hunt about their state. And I can assure you, Dr. McWaters, that their well-being is my top priority," Sebastian retorted.
The doctor seemed somewhat satisfied with the answer he got. "I'll check up on you later, Evelyn," he told me as a small smile formed on his lips.
Owen exited the room, leaving me alone with the ruthless billionaire who had changed my whole life completely…