What did the doctor say?
We’ll find a way out of this,” Sienna said, her voice firm but comforting. When Austin oveFionard her words, he couldn’t help but barge into the room. Seeing Dora holding Douglas’s hand and hiding behind him only fueled his determination. He decided then and there to prepare the legal documents as soon as possible. He knew Ronan, his lawyer, would be useful in this situation. When he had told Douglas he would take care of Dora, he had meant it sincerely. But deep down, he was terrified that Dora would find a way to escape him.
He knew what he was doing was wrong, but he also believed everyone deserved a second chance. After all, he too had been a victim of his mother’s schemes. He needed Dora’s trust just once, and he swore to himself he would do anything to protect her and their unborn child.
Austin waited patiently for Dora to settle on the bed. Once she was comfortable, he dragged the adjustable table over and placed her food on it. He then sat on the couch with his own plate, trying to give her space. Last night, he had almost done something unforgivable, and the least he could do now was make her feel safe in his presence.
He could feel her eyes on him the entire time, though he pretended to focus on his food. Those twenty minutes felt like an eternity, her gaze like a laser probing his every move. The thought that she trusted Douglas more than him made it hard to swallow his food, but he kept eating, trying to make the awkward moment feel normal.
He ignored her until a nurse came in with Dora’s medication. As stubborn as ever, Dora refused to sleep while he was in the room, afraid he might try something. After much persuasion from the nurse, Austin had to leave so she could rest.
Since it was still early evening and Dora clearly wasn’t comfortable around him, Austin decided to visit his mother at Lifeline Hospital. As he drove, memories of the past flooded his mind, memories of his mother, his wife, and the night that had changed everything.
“Ma, she and Daniel? I can’t believe it. She’s my wife, and he’s my best friend.”
“I always warned you not to trust her blindly.”
“They didn’t even think about Paulina and me.”
The memory of Paulina brought him back to the present. Should I call her? he wondered. After some thought, he decided against it and continued driving.
When he arrived at the hospital, he found his father, Noah, reading Ruby’s favorite book aloud to her.
“I thought you hated reading,” Austin said, trying to lighten the mood.
“And I thought you had a life. Why do I see you skipping work to visit us?” Noah replied, putting the book down and raising an eyebrow.
“What did the doctor say?” Austin asked, changing the subject.
“He’s hopeful. Her body is responding to treatment, but when she’ll wake up is uncertain,” Noah replied. Austin sat on the edge of the bed, his mind racing.
“How long will you keep living like this? How will you pay the medical bills now that you’ve left your job?” Austin asked. It had been over two weeks since Ruby fell into a coma, and every day, Noah stayed by her side.
“We’ve lived our life, son. What about you? What have you decided about your marriage? I never interfere, but I still think about Dora,” Noah said.
Austin cut him off. “I’m not leaving Dora. We’ve decided to work on our marriage.”
“Really?” Noah’s face lit up with a smile, surprising Austin.
Feeling the need to confide in someone, Austin told his father about meeting Dora at the office, leaving out the more intimate details. He couldn’t bring himself to tell Noah the whole truth. Earlier, he had considered telling his father about Ruby’s actions and why he had left Dora and moved to the U.S., but seeing how exhausted Noah looked, he decided it was better to keep him in the dark.
It was midnight by the time Austin returned to Dora’s hospital room. He found her curled into a ball, whimpering in her sleep. Overcome by the need to be close to her, he climbed into the tiny bed and wrapped his arms around her. He gently rubbed her back, trying to soothe her. After a while, he heard her whisper in her sleep, “Please don’t hurt my baby.”
“I won’t hurt our baby. I love you both,” Austin whispered back, kissing her forehead. Her body relaxed, and she fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, the hospital room felt like a war zone. Sienna glared at Austin, throwing sharp comments whenever she got the chance, while Austin shot Douglas looks that clearly said, Control your woman.
To Austin’s relief, Dora was discharged that day. Her gynecologist gave him a long list of precautions and a stern look that made him uncomfortable. Sienna, on the other hand, smirked at him as if to say, Yeah, she doesn’t trust you either.
Dora was lost in thought, trying to figure out her next steps. She couldn’t divorce Austin, at least not for the next few months, and she had to protect her baby. Although Austin had promised not to hurt her, she couldn’t forget how quickly he had turned on her before.
She still hadn’t told her parents about her situation, about staying with Austin or her pregnancy. She knew if she told them, they would rush to her side, but that would only hurt Fiona, her sister.
As they left the hospital, Dora felt a mix of fear and determination. She didn’t know what the future held, but she was resolved to protect her child, no matter what. Austin, for his part, was determined to prove he could be the man she needed.
The road ahead was uncertain, but both of them knew one thing: they couldn’t go back to the way things were. They had to find a way forward, even if it meant facing their deepest fears and insecurities.
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