CHAPTER 2 — THE HEARTBEAT THAT SURVIVED
The emergency room exploded into chaos.
“Prepare emergency C-section!”
“Fetal distress!”
“Charge again!”
Victor pushed through the doors.
No one stopped him this time.
“Save her,” he said.
His voice was sharp, broken, unfamiliar.
The doctors hesitated—but the authority in his presence left no room for argument.
Inside the operating room, Elena lay between life and death.
She opened her eyes for a moment.
Saw him.
And something in her expression shattered.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Just exhaustion.
As if she had waited too long for him to understand.
Victor leaned closer.
“Elena…”
Her fingers twitched.
The monitor screamed again.
“Baby’s heart rate is dropping!”
Victor’s chest tightened.
“Save the child,” he said instantly.
Brenda appeared in the doorway, furious.
“You’re making a mistake! She manipulated you—”
Victor turned slowly.
And this time, Brenda stopped talking.
Because she saw it.
He no longer believed her.
Not even a little.
Minutes later—
A cry filled the room.
A newborn boy.
Alive.
Small.
Fragile.
Victor didn’t move.
He was still looking at Elena.
Still waiting for her to wake up.
But she didn’t.
“Time of death…” a doctor whispered.
The words didn’t feel real.
But they ended everything.
Brenda exhaled softly.
“Finally,” she whispered.
Victor turned to her.
Slowly.
Too slowly.
“What did you say?”
She froze.
And for the first time, fear entered her eyes.
