Chapter_243
Linda stood silently beside Tyler, her hands clenched as she watched the doctor deliver the news. When he said the baby was safe for now, she finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
At least for the moment, everything was okay.
Tyler was silent for a beat, then turned to the doctor. “We need to admit her. Keep her here and make sure nothing else happens. I want the baby safe. No matter what.”
“We’ll do everything we can,” the doctor assured him. “She needs rest, emotional stability, and constant monitoring.”
Tyler gave a small nod, his expression unreadable. Cold, focused.
Linda glanced at him, unsure what was going through his mind. Was he so anxious because the child was his? Or was he thinking about Naomi—how this pregnancy might impact her life?
Before she could ponder further, the sound of wheels turning on the tile floor caught their attention.
A nurse was pushing Olivia out of the emergency room, her face pale, body weak, lying motionless on the hospital bed. Tyler rushed to her side and took her hand gently in his.
“Does it still hurt?” he asked softly, leaning close.
But Olivia’s first words weren’t about herself. “How’s the baby?” she whispered, barely audible.
Tyler’s chest tightened. “The baby’s okay. You just had some bleeding. But the doctors are taking care of everything.”
Olivia looked deeply unsettled. “I… I felt like the baby was trying to come out,” she admitted shakily, her eyes wet with fear.
“It won’t. You’re in the hospital now. Everything’s under control,” he said, trying to comfort her even as worry gnawed at him from the inside.
Olivia said nothing else, but the panic hadn’t left her eyes. She wasn’t scared because of what people would think. She wasn’t thinking about Naomi. She just wanted to protect her baby. That instinct, raw and overpowering, had left her feeling completely vulnerable.
Tyler gently brushed a damp strand of hair from her forehead. “You don’t need to be afraid anymore. I’m here.”
His voice, steady and low, calmed her more than anything else had that night.
Soon, the medical staff came to transfer Olivia to a private room. For now, strict bed rest in the hospital was the safest option.
By the time the clock struck 2 a.m., the hallway outside her room was silent. Tyler sat beside her bed, still wide awake. Olivia had finally fallen asleep, but even then, she didn’t look peaceful. Her brows were furrowed. Every so often, she would unconsciously reach for her belly, as if to make sure the baby was still there.
Tyler leaned forward, watching her with deep concern. Her lips were pale, her cheeks colorless. He reached out and gently touched her face. It felt small, fragile, under his hand.
He hadn’t realized how much she’d endured until now.
Suddenly, Olivia stirred.
Her eyes flew open, filled with fear. “Tyler—” she gasped.
Before he could respond, she sat up and flung her arms around him, trembling. Her skin was clammy with sweat. She held onto him as if she’d just escaped a nightmare.
“It’s okay. I’m here,” Tyler whispered, wrapping his arms tightly around her.
She clung to him, unable to speak, still trapped in the terror of her dream. Her eyes remained wide, breathing uneven.
Tyler gently rubbed her back, trying to calm her. “It was just a nightmare. The baby’s okay. You’re okay.”
Olivia didn’t answer right away. She just buried herself deeper into his chest, needing the comfort of his presence to remind her that she wasn’t alone.
And for the first time that night, Tyler realized—this wasn’t just about responsibility or consequences anymore.
He wanted to protect her. He needed her and their child to be safe. Not because of the past.
But because they mattered now.