Chapter 55
Emma’s breath hitched, her hand pressing more firmly against her abdomen as she tried to focus on the movement. The twins usually responded to her emotions, their flutters strong and reassuring. But now, the sensations were faint, weaker than she had felt before.
Panic surged through her, cutting through the numbness. “Please,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Please, be okay.”
She fumbled with her keys, her hands still shaking from the emotional storm that had consumed her since leaving the parking garage. Tears clung to her lashes, her cheeks streaked with evidence of her heartbreak.
Finally, the door of her apartment unlocked with a soft click, and she pushed it open, the familiar scent of her home offering a brief flicker of comfort. But as she stepped inside, she froze.
Thomas was standing in the middle of her living room. His jacket was gone, his tie hung loosely around his neck, and in his hands was a small bouquet of wildflowers, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the turmoil swirling inside her.
“Emma,” he said softly, his voice filled with concern as his eyes scanned her tear-streaked face and trembling frame. The anticipation in his expression quickly shifted to alarm. “What happened? Are you alright?”
She stood there, staring at him, her mind struggling to process his presence. The sight of him—his steady, familiar presence—felt both comforting and overwhelming. For a moment, she couldn’t speak. The warmth in his eyes, the kindness in his tone, threatened to undo what little composure she had left.
“Why are you here?” she finally asked, her voice barely audible, cracking under the weight of the evening.
Thomas stepped forward cautiously, his gaze never leaving hers. “I wanted to check on you,” he said gently. “After everything we talked about, I thought you might need… something to brighten your day.” He held up the wildflowers, a faint, uncertain smile playing on his lips.
Her chest tightened painfully at the gesture. She wanted to feel grateful, to let his thoughtfulness warm the cold void inside her. But the image of Sophia stepping out of Alex’s car, her smug, knowing smirk, was burned into her mind. The betrayal, the heartbreak—it was too much.
“Thomas,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I can’t… I don’t even know how to…” Her words faltered as tears spilled over again, streaking down her face.
“Emma, talk to me,” Thomas urged, stepping closer, his voice laced with concern. “What happened? Whatever it is, we’ll handle it. Together.”
Before she could answer, a sharp, searing pain tore through her abdomen, sudden and unforgiving. Emma gasped, her hand flying to her belly as her knees gave out beneath her.
“Emma!” Thomas shouted, dropping the flowers to the floor as he lunged forward, catching her just before she collapsed. His arms wrapped around her, steadying her as her breaths came in shallow, ragged bursts.
“It hurts,” she managed, her voice barely a whisper, her face contorted in pain. “The twins… something’s wrong.”
Thomas’s heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to stay calm. He eased her onto the couch, his hands steady as he supported her trembling frame.
“Stay with me, Emma,” he said firmly, his voice laced with urgency. “I’m getting you to the hospital.”
She nodded weakly, tears streaming down her face as another wave of pain wracked her body.
He carefully lifted her into his arms, cradling her as though she might break. Emma clung to him, her hand gripping his shirt as another wave of pain rippled through her. Tears streamed down her face, her mind racing with fear for the twins, the betrayal she couldn’t shake, and the uncertainty of everything that lay ahead.
Thomas carried her to the car, his movements swift and deliberate. “Stay with me, Emma,” he said, his tone firm but soothing as he placed her gently into the passenger seat. “I’m not letting anything happen to you or the twins.”
As the car roared to life and they sped toward the hospital, Emma closed her eyes, her breaths shallow and uneven. The pain was relentless, but through it all, she felt the unwavering presence of Thomas beside her—the strength in his voice, the determination in his actions.
The ride down felt agonizingly slow, the soft chime of each floor only heightening the tension in the air. Emma whimpered softly, her hand clutching his shirt as another contraction hit, each one closer together than the last.
“This is not right…” she murmured, her voice thick with fear. “It is not even eight months. It’s too soon.”
“I know,” Thomas said, his voice steady despite the panic clawing at him. “But you’re not doing this alone. I’m going to get you there, Emma. Just hold on.”
Emma shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “It’s too early,” she gasped, her voice raw with panic. “They’re not ready, Thomas. They’re not supposed to be here yet.”
“They’re fighters,” he said, glancing at her for a brief second before focusing back on the road. “And so are you. You’ve got this, Emma.”
A sob escaped her lips as she clutched his arm, her nails digging into his sleeve. “I’m scared,” she whispered. “What if something happens to them? What if—”
“Stop,” Thomas cut in, his voice sharp but not unkind. He reached over, gripping her hand tightly. “Nothing is going to happen to them, Emma. I won’t let it. I promise you.”
The intensity in his words silenced her, but only for a moment. A fresh wave of pain surged through her, and she cried out, her body curling forward. Thomas’s heart clenched at the sound, his foot pressing harder on the accelerator as he weaved through traffic, his mind racing with every worst-case scenario.
The hospital’s glowing sign came into view, and Thomas let out a breath of relief. “Almost there,” he said, though the tension in his voice betrayed him. “Just a few more minutes.”
Emma nodded weakly, her grip on his arm slackening. Her face was pale, her breaths shallow. “Thomas… if anything happens to them…”
“Don’t,” he interrupted, his voice breaking slightly. “Don’t say that. Nothing’s going to happen. You and the twins are going to be okay. You have to believe that.”
The car screeched to a halt in front of the emergency entrance. Thomas was out in an instant, running around to her side and carefully helping her out. She leaned heavily on him, her legs trembling as he wrapped an arm around her waist to support her weight.
“Talk to me,” Thomas said, glancing at Emma as she clutched her belly. “How’s the pain?”
“It’s bad,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “It feels like… like they’re coming, Thomas. I don’t think I can stop it.”
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