Chapter 18

Olivia collapsed to the floor, wailing, her face contorted in hysterics like a madwoman.

Watching her, Evelyn shook her head, a mix of pain and frustration in her voice. "You were just too spoiled at home. They never disciplined you properly. And look at you now, this is what it's come to."

Olivia just kept crying and causing a scene.

I couldn't stand to hear any more. I didn't want to listen to them. I kept my focus fixed on the operating room door, hoping with every ounce of my being that Ethan would make it through.

Then the light above the door flickered out. My heart skipped. I turned to the two of them, my voice tight with urgency. "Shh, the surgery's over."

Evelyn immediately silenced herself, raising a hand to signal the bodyguards to drag Olivia away.

She glanced at me, but said nothing. We both understood without speaking.

We were from different worlds, completely. Our relationship as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was practically non-existent, at best, built on mutual respect.

The doctor came out. Evelyn and I both rushed forward. "How is he?"

The doctor sighed deeply, his expression grim. "The sutures are done. His recovery depends on his will to live..."

His words were careful, but both Evelyn and I understood the gravity of what he was saying.

After a long, tense silence, Ethan was moved to the VIP ward for observation. Evelyn and I followed him in. Neither of us spoke as we took our seats beside his bed.

Maybe we were both too exhausted to say anything.

Evelyn's eyes were red from crying. The fierceness she had shown when dealing with Olivia had vanished. Now, she was just a mother, deeply worried about her son.

I sat there, staring at Ethan's closed eyes, the words slipping out before I could stop them. "I'm sorry..."

My voice was hoarse, thick with emotion.

Evelyn didn't respond right away. After a while, she finally spoke. "It would be a lie to say I don't blame you. But I know this is Olivia's fault..."

"I understand, Mother," I whispered. "No matter what happens, I'll take care of Ethan."

Evelyn sighed, her shoulders sagging. "I know about your plans for a divorce... I didn't like you at first, but I never made things harder for you. I even defended you when others criticized you."

She paused, looking me in the eyes. "But Aria... confidence has to come from within. If you don't believe you're worthy, always second-guessing yourself, how can anyone else believe in you?"

I nodded, absorbing her words. Evelyn and her husband only had one child, and they respected his decisions, Ethan had asked them not to interfere with his marriage, and they'd agreed.

Evelyn had never spoken this openly to me before, and I felt a strange weight in her words. I didn't know how to respond, so I just nodded silently.

Ethan's father showed up soon after, his face stern but relieved as he assured Evelyn that everything had been handled. Now, we just had to wait for Ethan to wake up.

After staying up all night, Evelyn turned to me, her voice soft but insistent. "You must be exhausted. Go home and rest."

I shook my head. "I'm fine. I'm still young. You two should go home."

Evelyn frowned, about to protest, but suddenly my head spun. My vision blurred, and before I could react, everything went black.

When I woke up, I was lying in a hospital bed next to Ethan.

Evelyn was there, her face etched with concern. "How do you feel? Are you okay?"

I shook my head, trying to clear the fog from my mind. "I'm fine... How long was I out?"

"Not long," Evelyn said, her voice tight. "The doctor said you were overexerted and need rest."

I nodded, but then I saw something flicker in her eyes, a complex emotion. "What is it? Is there something else?"

Evelyn hesitated, then sighed. "Aria... you're pregnant. Did you know?"

The words hit me like a punch to the stomach. I pressed my lips together, unsure how to react. I hadn't wanted them to know.

If they found out I was carrying Ethan's child, they'd surely try to fight me for custody after the divorce. With their resources, I'd never stand a chance.

This family, I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't lose everything.

I stayed silent, but Evelyn seemed to understand. After a long pause, she spoke again, her voice softer. "I don't want to get involved in your business with Ethan, but... this child... if Ethan wakes up, I hope you'll at least talk to him about what you're going to do. If he doesn't wake up... then it's your choice. But please, consider keeping it."

She looked at me with pleading eyes. "I'll give you a generous amount of money. This isn't a threat, it's a plea."

I felt her sincerity, but I also knew that the real issue wasn't whether I would keep the child, it was whether I could trust her.

"No matter what happens, I want to raise this child on my own," I said firmly, meeting her gaze. "If you can accept that, then I'll keep it."

Her eyes lit up with relief. "As long as you're willing, we can work something out."

Before she left, she patted my shoulder gently. "Don't worry. The Sinclair family will protect you. That's what Ethan would want most."

I nodded, silently grateful for her support.

After she left, it was just me and Ethan in the quiet room. I stared at his motionless form, feeling a pang of longing. But my thoughts quickly turned bitter.

"Ethan," I whispered, my voice sharp. "I remember you said you didn't want this child. If you wake up and make me get an abortion, I swear, I hope you never wake up!"

Still, there was no response. No movement.

I couldn't help but laugh bitterly. "Weren't you going to change? Atone for your past? Look at you now, lying here like this. Is this your idea of redemption?"