The Maybach screeched to a halt outside the emergency room entrance.
Cedric Clarke rushed over and flung open the back door.
Stewart climbed out, cradling Briony in his arms. “She’s bleeding–she’s unconscious!”
“Lay her on the gurney, hurry! We need to get her to the trauma room–now!”
Stewart placed Briony onto the waiting gurney, and the medical team whisked her away toward the emergency bay.
Director Grant and Stella hurried after them, but Cedric caught Stewart by the arm before he could follow. “You need to calm down. Let’s get you cleaned up first–there’s blood all over you. Come to my office, I have fresh clothes for you.”
“No. I need to know–is she pregnant or not?” Stewart’s voice was hoarse, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he struggled to speak. “If she is… I need to know if the baby is still alive.”
He shook off Cedric’s hand and strode toward the trauma room.
“Wait, just–hold on. I already spoke to Dr. Joyner,” Cedric called, running to catch up. He took a deep breath, bracing himself. “All right, I’ll tell you the truth. Briony was pregnant.”
Stewart froze mid–stride.
He turned, his dark eyes boring into Cedric. “She really was? When did you find out?”
“I heard it just now from Dr. Joyner.” Cedric’s expression was grave. “Remember after the earthquake a while back?”
Stewart’s brow furrowed. “That time she lied to me, didn’t she?”
“She did.” Cedric looked away, lowering his voice. “She was actually here for a D&C procedure.”
Stewart stared at him, stunned.
“A D&C?” He clenched his jaw. “Cedric, you’d better not be lying to me.”
“Why would I lie?” Cedric’s tone was deadly serious. “Dr. Joyner explained–Briony has a congenital condition, it’s always been hard for her to conceive, and her pregnancies are fragile. You know what she went through–the stress, Ms. Hudson’s sudden death, your situation with Rosita…”
“No, that can’t be…” Stewart shook his head. “If she was pregnant, why would she keep it from me? She…”
The words died in his throat.
He suddenly remembered that day, their bitter argument in the snowstorm.
The way Briony had looked at him–so cold, so resolute.
Now, everything made sense.
She’d already decided to keep the pregnancy a secret. Was she planning to have the baby on her own?
But that was his child too–how could she make that choice without him?
“The baby’s development was complicated from the start,” Cedric said heavily. “She tried everything to save it, but… she lost the baby. And when she miscarried, not everything passed naturally. That day after the earthquake, she came to the hospital for the procedure.”
“I don’t believe you.” Stewart’s voice was low and steady. “If she really miscarried, why would she hide it from me? You checked her records, didn’t you? Falsifying medical records is a crime.”
Cold sweat broke out across Cedric’s back.
1/2
19:41
Chapter 209
Leave it to Stewart–the man had never lost a case in court. Even now, he was calm, his mind razor–sharp.
But they’d been friends too long for Cedric not to know how to handle him.
He averted his eyes, feigning guilt. “Honestly, when I looked into it, the records seemed off. But you and Briony were at each other’s throats, and I figured you two were finished. I guessed Dr. Joyner must’ve altered the file. I’m sorry, Stewart–I should’ve come clean. But please, don’t blame Dr. Joyner.”
“You’re lying.” Stewart’s expression darkened, his gaze cutting. “Why would Briony conceal even a miscarriage from me?”
Cedric let out a weary sigh. “Maybe she’d just lost faith in you. Maybe she thought you didn’t deserve to know she’d been pregnant. Stewart, can’t you see? Briony was so done with you that–even after losing the baby–she still didn’t want you to know. She truly wanted nothing more to do with you.”
