Chapter 719

With those words, he glanced at the treatment room and left without another word. Alicia stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep. She had waited so long for Caden, but he still hadn't returned. Yet, she hesitated to contact him.

When her IV drip finished, she quietly went to the obstetrics department for a fetal examination. The specialist, sensing Alicia's distress, spoke gently. "The baby is less than two months old. There's no need for such frequent checkups. Continue your medication, and we'll monitor again soon."

Alicia sat up slowly, trying to regain her composure. "I was recently in an accident. Will it affect the baby?"

The specialist offered a reassuring smile. "No, it shouldn't have. The IV was primarily for nutrition. Your baby is strong; a heartbeat and a developing fetal bud are already present. However, carrying to term will still be very risky."

The unspoken warning hung heavy, but the specialist couldn't bring herself to say more. She chose to offer Alicia a moment of hope, however fragile.

Alicia sat on the edge of the bed, applying an ice pack to her bruised cheek. "There's really no hope, is there?" she whispered, her voice breaking.

The specialist sighed deeply, her compassion evident. "Have you told your husband everything?" she asked softly.

Alicia's chest tightened, pain spreading through her heart. Caden had already endured so much—Gareth's betrayal, the loss of years of his work to Dorian, and now, the haunting image of her with another man, the details unclear but deeply painful. The prospect of becoming a father, only to have that hope shattered, was almost unbearable. Could he handle the truth?

Her heart ached. She couldn't bear to hurt him further, yet this was too serious to keep secret. She had to tell Caden.

"Not yet," she whispered, clinging to a sliver of hope. "I'll keep taking the medication until the very last moment before I tell him." What if, against all odds, a miracle occurred?

The specialist provided her usual prescription and gave her an injection before leaving. Alicia bit her lip, enduring the sting silently.

Returning to the apartment, the ultrasound results clutched in her hand, she paused at the door, gathering her courage. Taking a deep breath, she entered.

She expected Caden to be asleep, but light spilled from the study into the hallway. He was in a meeting. She would never interrupt him at such times. His bed was unmade, and he was still in his pajamas—signs of an urgent situation. He hadn't even eaten.

Too exhausted to cook, Alicia ordered food from his favorite restaurant, hoping it would offer some solace.