A Billionaire Heiress From The Ashes

Jada Norman POV: Dr. Albright's face was ashen, mirroring the stark reality of my impending death. He knew. I was bleeding out, the venom coursing through my system, and he was helpless. He had to get me to a real hospital, a public one, where Deegan's commands wouldn't dictate life and death. He frantically dialed Deegan's private number again, his thumb hovering over the call button. I could see the desperate resolve in his eyes. "Sir, it's Dr. Albright again," he practically yelled into the phone, his voice strained. "Mrs. Manning's condition has worsened dramatically. She's bleeding heavily, and the venom is spreading. She needs immediate medical attention, or she will die. The baby will die." "Enough of this nonsense!" Deegan roared back, his voice thick with irritation and impatience. "Are you trying to bribe me, Doctor? Is Jada paying you to put on this show? I told you, she's fine. She's an actress, always has been. She's just trying to force her hand, to get ahead of Karmen." My heart sank. He truly believed it. He truly believed I would orchestrate my own near-death experience, sacrifice my child, just to win some twisted inheritance game. "She's not performing, sir! Her vitals are crashing! The baby's heart rate is dropping!" Dr. Albright pleaded, his voice cracking. "I said she's fine!" Deegan's voice was a cold, hard blow. "She's strong. She'll wait. My son will be born first. You underestimate her, Doctor. And there will be consequences if you disobey me." The line went dead again. Dr. Albright stared at the phone, then at me, lying limp and dying in his arms. His face crumpled. But then, a stubborn fire lit in his eyes. He tightened his grip on me. "I won't let you die here," he muttered, more to himself than to me. "I'll take you to a private clinic. It's a long shot, but it's all we have." He carried me out, rushing through the sterile corridors once more. The irony wasn't lost on me. I was being taken to Karmen's private clinic, the very place that held all the equipment that should have saved me. Through the glass doors, I could see it. The clinic was brightly lit, a hive of activity. Nurses moved with hurried efficiency. Doctors hovered, attending to Karmen, who was undoubtedly draped in silk sheets, sipping champagne, surrounded by every comfort imaginable. The air was thick with expectation, with the anticipation of a new, cherished life. And there, gleaming under the harsh fluorescent lights, were the rows of state-of-the-art medical machines. Incubators, monitors, surgical tools – all the things that could have saved me, that should have been used on me, laid out in pristine order. All for Karmen. All because of Deegan's twisted loyalty. Dr. Albright burst through the doors, shouting, "I need help! Immediate assistance! This woman is dying!" A stern-faced nurse, her gaze cold and unyielding, stepped forward. "I'm sorry, Doctor. Mr. Manning's orders are very clear. All resources are reserved exclusively for Mrs. Karmen Manning. No unauthorized personnel, no unauthorized usage." "She's dying!" Dr. Albright roared, his voice cracking with desperation. "And she's pregnant! The baby is dying!" The nurse merely shook her head. "That's not our concern." Not even a painkiller. Deegan's command was absolute. Then, a tall figure appeared in the doorway of Karmen's birthing suite. It was Angel Crane, Deegan's executive assistant, his face drawn with fatigue. He saw me, covered in blood, my face a deathly white. His eyes widened in shock. "Mr. Manning!" Angel yelled, rushing back into Karmen's room. "There's a woman out here, covered in blood! She looks just like... Mrs. Jada Manning!" Deegan frowned, pressing his fingers to his temples. "Don't be ridiculous, Angel. Jada's fine. She wouldn't be able to make it all the way here anyway. She's probably playing games. Send her away." "Sir, she's bleeding heavily," Angel insisted, his voice lower, more urgent. "You need to see her. The baby might be in danger." Deegan lost his temper. He shot a furious glare at Angel. "Are you deaf, Angel? I said she's fine! If it were Jada, she would be storming in here, demanding attention herself. She's too vain to let anyone see her in such a state. Use your head!" Angel, chastised, could only shake his head helplessly. He walked back to Dr. Albright, his face a mask of regret. "I'm sorry, Doctor. I can't help you." Dr. Albright, defeated, looked at the closed doors of Karmen's treatment room. His face was etched with guilt, but I knew he had tried. He had tried everything. I wanted to tell him not to blame himself, but I couldn't speak. My mouth was dry, my tongue heavy. The blood loss, the venom, the labor-suppressing drugs – each one was a relentless current, pulling me irrevocably towards death. I could hear the hushed whispers of the medical staff, their voices fading in and out. "Mrs. Manning's son is almost here," one said. "The other one... she's critical. She won't make it," another murmured. "The venom has spread to her organs. Fetal heartbeat is weakening rapidly." "Get the emergency tools ready, just in case." A searing, unfamiliar pain ripped through my abdomen. It wasn't a contraction. It was the pain of dying. My hand instinctively went to my belly. The once-full curve was now slack, empty. My baby was gone. "My baby," I screamed internally, a silent, guttural cry of pure anguish. "I'm so sorry, my child. Mama failed you." A single, hot tear escaped my eye, tracing a path through the grime and blood on my cheek. It was my last. Then, the world went dark.