"My baby."
Cyndi jerked awake with a startle on the hospital bed. A sharp gasp tore through her lips.
Her body snapped upright before the pain in her abdomen forced her back against the mattress.
The sudden movement sent a sharp wave of dizziness crashing through her skull that she swiftly buried her head in her palms.
Moments later, she lifted her head up and for a few seconds she simply stared, her gaze trailed around the room.
The ceiling above her was unfamiliar—white, flat, and glowing under the cold glare of hospital lights.
A total contrast to the soft blue light in her bedroom, and the bed… it was too narrow. A simple light blue curtain hung at the window shielding it from the morning rays.
Yes, the morning rays of the next day.
She drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes, letting her breath grow steady as she gathered her thoughts.
Hopeful that she would recall the memories of what had actually transpired.
A faint smell of antiseptic lingered in the air. Her breathing came shallow and uneven.
Where…?
Her eyes moved slowly around the room again.
A metal IV stand stood beside the bed, the clear tube leading directly into the needle still embedded in the back of her hand.
A tray table and a simple couch were carefully arranged towards the wall.
"Hospital ward," she muttered hoarsely.
But her mind was strangely blank.
No matter how hard she searched, she couldn't immediately recall the last thing she had done before ending up here.
It was as though someone had reached into her brain and deliberately ripped those memories away.
Or perhaps…
They had simply been thrown into chaos.
"Cyndi," she whispered to herself weakly. "Get yourself together… you aren't too old to remember what happened."
She exhaled deeply.
But the moment her mind relaxed, her heart lurched violently as memories flooded back all at once.
Kelvin's calm voice as he stood beside the doctor suggesting getting a psychiatrist for her. The doctor insisted on evacuation. The needle sliding into her thigh.
Her hand flew to her stomach. For one terrible moment she felt nothing. Then panic erupted inside her chest.
"My baby!" The shrill cry tore out of her throat as her fingers pressed frantically against her abdomen.
"My baby…!" Her breathing became wild and ragged while she shook her head frantically as though she was denying the possibility.
"No… no… no!"
It wasn't supposed to be this way.
It had only been a prank, a diversion she had planned to lure Alex away from home, but it had all gone wrong and the culprit… Kelvin.
He had insisted on having her child killed.
Cyndi couldn't accept such an outcome.
A heart-wrenching wail escaped her as panic swallowed her completely. The door suddenly pushed open. Alex Horton rushed in.
"Cyndi!" He called out while he crossed the room in seconds, stopping beside her bed.
"What…" His words died in his throat. His eyes widened at the sight before him.
Cyndi sat trembling violently on the bed, her hair disheveled, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face as she muttered incoherently.
"What's wrong?" he asked urgently as he climbed onto the bed beside her.
His arms stretched out, wanting to pull her into his arms, but Cyndi's hand shot forward to push him away.
But Alex was faster. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, pulling her against his chest.
"Hey… hey… calm down," he said urgently, his voice hoarse and gentle.
But Cyndi grabbed his shirt desperately.
"My baby!" she cried. "Alex, where is my baby?!"
Alex froze for a split second. Then his arms tightened around her.
"Cyndi," he said softly.
His hand gently cupped the back of her head, pressing her against his shoulder. "Listen to me."
Cyndi shook her head. Her body trembled violently in his arms. "My baby," she whispered again, her voice breaking.
Alex inhaled deeply after a moment. "The baby is alive."
The words were quiet but firm. Cyndi's entire body froze. For a moment she didn't breathe. Her fingers slowly loosened around his shirt.
"What…?" she whispered.
Alex leaned back slightly so she could see his face. "The baby survived," he repeated gently.
Her pupils trembled. For several seconds she simply stared at him as though she had misheard.
"You're… not lying?" she asked hoarsely.
Alex shook his head. "No."
His hand slid down to cover hers on her stomach. "The bleeding was heavy, but the doctors managed to stabilize both of you."
Her lips parted. Her eyes flickered with emotions… shock, disbelief. And the relief was so sharp it almost hurt.
She inhaled deeply. The air seemed to rush back into her lungs all at once. A weak sob escaped her throat. "My baby…"
Her fingers pressed against her abdomen again, this time it was softer, almost reverent.
Inside her chest, her heart pounded violently at the impossibility.
Kelvin had threatened her, and she was certain the doctor also acted on his instructions.
Why didn't he finish it up?
Her thoughts raced as a flurry of questions tugged at her mind. Her head throbbed. Her brow furrowed slightly.
Why wasn't the baby terminated?
Kelvin had been there.
She remembered clearly.
He had stood right beside the doctor.
He had even threatened her at the hospital entrance.
And Kelvin…
Kelvin understood everything was a plot orchestrated by her.
So why didn't he go through with it?
"God, what is he planning?" She whispered inaudibly.
Her mind spun.
For a brief second, suspicion flashed across her eyes before she quickly lowered them.
Alex was more concerned with calming her and never noticed the confusion etched across her face while still holding her.
His attention entirely focused on her fragile condition. "You scared me to death," he murmured, his voice heavy with lingering fear. His fingers brushed gently through her hair.
"When I saw you lying there in all that blood… I thought…" His voice broke.
Cyndi slowly looked up at him. His eyes were red. He hadn't slept.
"I thought I was going to lose you," he continued quietly. "And the baby."
His hand tightened around hers. "I signed the consent earlier because they told me your life was in danger." He swallowed hard. "But Kelvin had assisted the doctor, and they managed to stop the bleeding before the procedure became necessary."
Cyndi stared at him silently, unsure of what to say. Inside her mind, the pieces refused to settle.
"Did Kelvin tell you anything?" She asked softly.
Alex shook his head. "No, why do you ask?"
Cyndi hurriedly shook her head. Her head burrowed deeper into his chest just to avoid his question. She doesn't dare believe it all because if there's anyone that wanted her dead… it was Kelvin.
Did Kelvin change his mind? Or… was there something else he discovered?
Alex mistook her silence for lingering shock. "You are safe now," he whispered. "You and the baby."
Cyndi slowly nodded. Her eyes remained distant and determined. She had to get to the root of this.
Kelvin seemed to know more than he is letting on and is definitely a threat.
She made a mental note to add his name among the threats around her.