Chapter 67

Leo’s POV
When I got home, I found Zara sitting on the sofa, looking restless while rubbing her stomach. Her gaze immediately fell on me, but when she saw me with my scratched and battered face, her expression changed to one of worry.
"Leo!" she shouted, jumping up from her seat. "What happened to you?!" Her voice was shaking, and I could see the weakness in her worried gaze.
“Zara, I’m fine. Just had a little fight with Letto,” I replied, trying to calm her down and dispel her anxiety. However, I couldn’t ignore the worry and affection that was pouring down on me.
“But… you look so bad! Why did you have to fight? I’m already worried enough about our health and your condition! Why did you do this?!” She approached, with trembling hands, reaching for my face, noticing the wounds on my skin.
“Zara, it has nothing to do with you or our baby,” I said, trying to defuse the situation. “It was just—just an argument about interests and rights. I don’t want to put you or our baby in danger.”
Zara shook her head, struggling between anxiety and anger. “But you’re at risk! Don’t you think about the consequences of your actions? We can’t keep getting caught up in this argument. It could affect all of us, especially your baby.”
I moved closer, gently taking her hand. “Zara, I understand how you feel. I only want to protect us and shouldn’t get involved in a fight, but there are things I can’t tolerate. I won’t let anyone hurt us or our baby.”
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. “But we have to find a more peaceful way to resolve this, Leo. If we keep confronting each other, we’ll only make things worse.”
“I know,” I replied, getting over my emotions. “But right now, we have to be prepared. I have to protect us and make the right decisions—and that means standing up to the injustices around us.”
Zara looked at me, doubt in her eyes. “Leo, we can do this better. We don’t have to follow the path of violence. Focus on what is right and good,” she said, her voice soft but reassuring.
I knew she was right, but my feelings about protecting her and our baby made me want to be more assertive. We had to find a way to communicate more effectively, and I had to talk to Letto again, but without violence.
“But I promise not to let it happen this way again. We have to find a better way without sacrificing our health,” I said, trying to show how much I wanted to take responsibility.
We talked long into the night, reflecting on the challenges we faced, and committing to continue to go through this together. With each step we took, one thing was for sure—I would love and cherish Zara and our child every second of this journey.
After that conversation, I took Zara to rest. As she lay beside me, I tried to provide the reassurance she needed while wondering what the next steps would be to ensure our safety. With renewed vigor and a promise to protect each other, we prepared to face the challenges ahead, together.
The next day, I decided to go back to the obstetrician and check on the condition of the fetus in Zara’s womb. When I entered the examination room, the doctor greeted me warmly and showed me an understanding attitude. “Welcome, Leo. How are you and Zara?” she asked, knowing that we had been through a difficult time.
“I wanted to check on the development of the fetus in Zara’s womb. We heard about the loss of a fetus yesterday, and I wanted to get a more detailed explanation of the cause,” I replied, trying to stay calm even as worry crept into my heart.
The doctor nodded in understanding. “Okay, let’s see the results and discuss further,” she replied. She led us to where the ultrasound was done earlier and showed Zara’s belly on the screen.
As the doctor began to explain, she looked serious and attentive. “Losing one fetus in a twin pregnancy can be caused by a condition known as vanishing twin syndrome. This occurs when one fetus fails to develop properly and is eventually absorbed by the mother’s body or lost naturally.”
Listening to her explanation, I became curious. “Is this normal? Does this happen to many women pregnant with twins?”
“Every pregnancy is unique, and while vanishing twin syndrome is quite common, sometimes it occurs without any obvious symptoms. Usually, the number of fetuses will be checked during the initial examination, and in rare cases, one fetus stops developing early in the pregnancy. However, if the remaining baby is healthy, this usually won’t cause any further problems,” the doctor explained, trying to reassure me.
Hearing that, I felt a little relieved, but my worries still remained. “But Zara always hoped to have twins. How can we keep the remaining fetus healthy?” I asked seriously, reflecting on my feelings.
“The most important thing now is to take care of Zara’s health,” the doctor replied. “Make sure she gets good nutrition, gets plenty of rest, and has regular check-ups. Also, monitor for any unusual signs such as bleeding or severe pain. If all goes well, we’ll continue to monitor the fetuses in the coming weeks.”
After the doctor’s explanation was over, I felt calmer, but I could also feel sadness welling up inside me—especially from Zara. She had been so excited about the twin pregnancy, and when I returned home, I knew she was struggling with her feelings.
When I arrived home, I found Zara sitting there with a gloomy face. “How did the test go?” she asked, looking straight at me, hope clear in her eyes.
“The doctor said that you only have one fetus in your womb now,” I explained softly, trying to keep my tone understanding. “But, this is something that can happen, and the remaining baby is healthy.”