Tangled Temptations

Chapter 215

A jolt of intense shock sent Eloise reeling. Once she recovered, she felt a pain so intense that it seemed to consume her.

The baby stirred within her incessantly, as if sensing the impending danger. Eloise could feel the sensation of her baby dropping. The child was coming prematurely! "Mom!... Vera!" Eloise called out, mustering all the strength she could.

"Eloise!"

Michelle and Vera were both injured to varying degrees, their bodies smeared with blood. Vera had fallen unconscious. Michelle had a deep, 8-inch gash on her leg that wouldn't stop bleeding. Pinned under a heavy plank, she couldn't move. She lay on the ground, helplessly looking at Eloise. Her voice was hoarse as she called out for help, "Anyone... anyone... help save my child!"

But no one heard her pleas. An explosion had hit the entire area. Everyone was trapped and out of contact.

Despair began to consume Eloise. She knew that if she couldn't get to a hospital in time, she wouldn't be able to save her baby.

Her phone, where was it? Despite her excruciating pain, she started to fumble around, hoping to call Harvey, whose flight hadn't taken off yet.

Her phone was five steps away. Those few steps seemed to separate life from death. The pain intensified with every movement. Eloise couldn't stand. She was forced to crawl, supporting herself on her palms, inching towards her phone.

As she descended the steps, the sharp edges grazed her belly, causing immense pain.

Eloise was drenched in sweat, dust clinging to her wet hair and face. She was unrecognizable, but she continued crawling towards her phone. Finally, when she reached it, she was out of breath, turning herself so that the baby was facing upwards.

With her trembling hands, Eloise dialed the emergency number. The first number was Harvey's.

The robotic, dispassionate voice of the automated service answered, "Sorry, the number you have dialed is switched off!"

All Eloise could hear was the incessant voice echoing around her.

"Sorry, switched off..."

She hung up mechanically.

she wanted her baby to survive. There was nothing more

contact was Brett, her uncle.

a meeting, oblivious

mustered all her strength to

for a moment. Then he replied, his voice filled with worry,

mind starting to unravel, whispered, "Explosion... uncle..." Her phone slipped from

find out what had happened. He whispered, "There's been a gas explosion in a high-end residential area in Peterborough. All the roads are sealed off. The

a helicopter to enter the residential area. I need this done as

Louise was already gone. The Noland

the conference room, his eyes red and watery. No one had ever seen him this

in Peterborough, his team had already joined forces with Parker's team to get Eloise to the hospital as quickly

a C-section was not an option. It had to be a natural birth. The doctors were uncertain about the baby's chances. They warned that even

words suggested that if they decided not to go ahead with the birt Eloise would suffer less. Given her injuries, the

to prioritize Eloise's life. They loved the unborn child, but Eloise was alive! They couldn't allow her to make such a huge sacrifice for

as he surveyed the room. "Where's Harvey? His wife is in the hospital giving birth. Where

aware of the situation until Denise had informed him. He wished he could atone for his ignorance with

He had a hunch about what had happened. He didn't dwell on who to prioritize. He went straight into the delivery room, against hospital protocol. He had to

pains. Her clothes were soaked through. She

comfort he offered was something no one else could provide. Tears rolled down

his emotions, softly relayed the doctors' words

on her belly. The child she had carried

want her!" She wanted to

like Louise. Brett, usually composed, sounded shaky. "I'll be right

room. He was confident

in the delivery room. The person who should have been there with her wasn't. When she was eight centimeters dilated, the pain became unbearable. She thought she saw Harvey's face appear