Gone Like It Was Never Here

"Sophie!" Zeke called out.

Lily stretched her hand blindly into the dark, toward him. "Zeke… please… help me… save our baby…"

But Sophie's screams rose, drowning out Lucy's. "Zeke, I'm so scared! It hurts so much! Please help me!"

Soon, Zeke was sprinting toward them.

Lily hoped he'd come to her first, if only for the baby's sake. But instead, he stepped past her and lifted Sophie into his arms.

"Don't be afraid, Sophie. I'm getting you to the hospital right now!"

Lily clung to his pant leg. Her voice was a faint and fragile whisper. "I'm bleeding, Zeke. My belly hurts so much…"

Compared to Lily, Sophie seemed steadier. Her condition was nowhere near as critical.

Zeke shrugged off Lily's hold and yelled, "Look at what you've done! You've let me down, Lily! I thought you'd accept Sophie, but instead, you've done everything possible to harm her and the baby she's carrying.

"Do you realize how much pain she suffered abroad? If anything happens to either of them, I swear, I will never forgive you!"

Lily ground her teeth against the pain. "I didn't push her. She fell on her own and pulled me down with her. Zeke, I'm begging you. Please, save our child..."

For eight months, she'd struggled to keep the pregnancy going. The very idea of losing their child was unbearable.

"This is on you! If the baby's truly gone, it's because of what you did!"

Without hesitation, he walked off, carrying Sophie in his arms.

Lily's eyes followed him into the darkness. She shut them tight, and tears of despair slipped down her cheeks. Her body was awash with pain, and blood poured out beneath her in unending waves.

She crawled on all fours, fighting to reach Rhonda's room.

"Help… Rhonda… please help me…"

By the time she reached the room at the far end, her strength gave out, and she fainted.

When Rhonda opened the door, she saw Lily lying outside, unconscious and soaked in blood. The shock nearly knocked her off her feet.

"Mrs. Connolly! What happened? Mrs. Connolly?" she called urgently.

She switched on the light, and the sight chilled her to the bone. A long line of blood ran from the living room down the hallway. The sight filled her with dread.

She didn't hesitate to call Zeke. "Mr. Connolly, Mrs. Connolly—"

Zeke cut her off sharply. "Don't mention her unless she's dead! I don't want to hear a word about her!"

Before Rhonda could respond, the call ended abruptly. Overwhelmed with panic, she quickly dialed for an ambulance.

…

Carrying Sophie, Zeke stormed into the hospital like a man possessed.

"Doctor, please save her!" he shouted.

The medical staff responded immediately. "The mother is about to deliver any minute! Hurry, get her to the delivery room!"

Once Sophie was whisked away, Zeke began pacing outside.

Half an hour later, Lily was brought in. After examining her, doctors found her condition critical and immediately took her into surgery.

After five grueling hours, Sophie finally gave birth to a son. Born premature at eight months, the baby was immediately placed in an incubator.

Zeke gently offered her water in the hospital room.

"You've been through so much, Sophie."

A blissful smile spread across Sophie's face. "Zeke, have you seen our baby? He's a boy—tiny, wrinkled, and kind of ugly!"

"You're being silly. All babies look like that when they're born."

Taking her hand in his, he spoke with a heavy heart. "I'm sorry, Sophie. Please accept my apology for what Lily did. She's been spoiled her whole life. I hope you can forgive her."

"What are you saying? How could I ever blame her?"

Sophie hadn't imagined Zeke would speak up for Lily at a time like this. Yet, since he had chosen her over Lily, she decided to let it go.

"That's good to hear. You should get some rest. I'm going to check on her."