No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

The baby was premature, arrived at just seven and a half months.

Almost translucent, lying there in the incubator, it was heart-wrenchingly fragile at first glance.

Fanny couldn't be sure if the little one would make it; it all depended on some kind of miracle now. Haley's attempt to jump off a building ended in failure, but the baby ended up suffering because of it.

Haley herself wasn't in good shape either. A ruptured uterus led to a heavy bleed and the eventual removal of her womb.

It was a miracle she survived.

As for her future, I couldn't bring myself to care anymore.

But I felt bad for the baby, devoid of a biological father, not recognized by the elderly Martins, and it was uncertain if Haley could ever love him.

If she did love this child, she wouldn't have put herself through so much turmoil.

When Ernest came to pick me up from the hospital, his face was stone-cold. Fanny nudged me with her shoulder, "Your man's not happy."

I could see that too.

"Mixing up with Conrad like this would upset anyone," Fanny reminded me.

I wanted to explain, but Ernest was already in front of me.

looked at me,

alone seemed to drop the temperature around

we've been together, he's never shown me this

was unharmed, but I knew today's events could have ended differently, and I might not have been here to

to him. "I'm okay, nothing

promise I

Fanny coughed lightly and

"Mr. Collins, your

enough, no need to keep that frown. You should give her a hug

hug me but asked Fanny, "Are you sure

was like a sister to me. Ernest stared at Fanny for a moment before turning to me, "This should not happen

replied cheekily and

my head, and in that moment, my eyes welled

a mix of vulnerability, relief, and

two," Fanny

she stopped and turned back, "There's something

still in each other's arms, looked at her. She had her

you do?"

"I'll be here,

two just started