Chapter 7
Soon, he let out a cold laugh, almost sneering through the phone. “Officer, don’t say things you can’t prove. My wife? How could she have driven off a bridge? She’s still in the hospital–injured, unable to drive.”
Ever since the accident, he had been glued to Cynthia’s side, not leaving her for a second. He had completely forgotten that Gabriella had also been in the car, that she was still here in this very hospital.
And he remembered the nurse mentioning Gabriella was pregnant too- their baby. What had become of it?
He had made the snap decision to have the doctors operate on Cynthia first. How would Gabriella feel about that?
There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Then the voice spoke again, grave and low. “Mr. Durke, our traffic cameras confirm it. Gabriella was the driver. She–and the car–went into the river. It’s a fact…”
Daniel’s throat tightened. His fingers clenched the phone so hard it nearly cracked. Then, in a flash, he hung up.
He noticed the old doctor in front of him hesitating.
“Gabriella… she lost the baby. She didn’t cry, and she didn’t make a scene. I let her rest, and somehow, she left the hospital on her own… and then got into a car accident.
“You said the baby is gone?”
Chapter 7
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Daniel’s heart pounded so violently it felt ready to burst. His mind spun into a dizzying whirl.
The doctor nodded grimly. “Without immediate intervention, we couldn’t save the little one.”
Daniel froze for a heartbeat, then forced a shallow, bitter smile from the corner of his mouth. “Gabriella… she’s probably sulking at home. That’s it. I’ll go find her.”
He staggered to his feet, but Cynthia’s sobs from the next room stopped him cold. He walked toward her.
At her bedside, Cynthia clutched his waist, sobbing into his chest. “Danny, thank God the baby and I are okay. I thought… I thought I was going to die. You saved me. If you hadn’t let the doctors operate on me first, it would have ended badly.”
Daniel’s expression went almost blank. He patted her back, the gesture mechanical this time, far less heartfelt than before.
His mind was on Gabriella. How was she doing at home?
She had lost the baby. She must be terrified. Someone who cried at every injection… how strong could she really be?
Through her sobs, Cynthia asked softly, almost casually, “What about Gabriella? Is she okay?”
Jerome frowned and piped up, “Dad, shouldn’t we call her to help take care of Mom Thia? The nurse said Mom Thia needs rest, so she could come stay in the room.”
It was clear he wasn’t concerned for his own mother–he only wanted Cynthia to be okay.
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Daniel suddenly realized something. Since when had he and his son become so dismissive of Gabriella?
Ever since Cynthia returned, Gabriella had been pushed to the background of their lives.
He released Cynthia’s hand, stepping back. Calmly, he said, “Gabriella is probably mad at me. She just lost a baby. She’s at home now. I’ll go check on her.”
Cynthia’s face shifted. Something about Daniel felt off today, like he was hiding a serious matter.
She couldn’t possibly let him go to Gabriella.
Curling up on the hospital bed, clutching her stomach, she feigned. agony. “Danny, my stomach… it hurts so bad. Am I going to die?”
“Thia, you were fine just a moment ago-”
Daniel crouched beside her, panicked, unsure what to do.
Jerome interjected, “Dad, don’t go home. Mom Thia needs you. Stay here with her, okay?”
He knew Cynthia was probably playing games again, vying for Daniel’s
attention.
Daniel couldn’t leave Cynthia alone. He gripped her hand tightly. “Don’t be scared, Thia. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.
“Go check on Mom yourself, Jerry. Try to cheer her up.”
“I don’t want to! Why do I have to care about her? Dad, what’s wrong with you today? Why are you worried about that woman?”
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Chapter 7
Jerome pouted, clearly annoyed with his father’s insistence.
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Daniel’s tone hardened. “Jerome, what is that attitude? She’s your mother! Have you forgotten how much she’s loved and spoiled you?”
It hit him all at once–what he had done, how he had let a child grow sharp–tongued and unloving toward his own mother.
“Dad, what’s wrong? You weren’t like this before,” Jerome whispered, shivering, hiding in Cynthia’s arms.
Cynthia noticed Daniel’s unusual behavior too. She softened her voice. “Danny, don’t pressure Jerry. If he doesn’t want to go home, then he won’t. Gabriella is fine. She’s taking care of herself just fine, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, Dad. There are so many people at home. Mom will be okay.”
Daniel’s gaze flickered. He let go of Cynthia’s hand and gave up on the idea of going home for now.
“Cynthia, once you’re discharged, we’ll go back together.”
He didn’t know that even if he went home now, all that would be waiting for him was emptiness.
