HER WOMB, HIS HEART

PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL

"Soraya!" Tyson called out.

Soraya turned toward the sound of his voice.

Thud.

Tyson stumbled and fell onto the edge of the pier.

"Are you okay, honey?" Soraya asked anxiously.

"I'm fine, sweetheart," Tyson replied with a smile.

Soraya's eyes immediately fell on the blood running down Tyson's knee.

"You're bleeding?"

"Sir, Ma'am, please board the ship! It's about to depart!" one of the crew members called.

"Honey, we have to go to the hospital! Your wound needs to be treated right away." Soraya grabbed Tyson's arm.

"There's no time, sweetheart. We have to board now. Don't worry. I'm a doctor who's always prepared. I brought my own medical kit." Tyson took Soraya's hand and led her onto the ship.

Once aboard, Tyson pulled a first-aid kit from his bag. Without hesitation, he cleaned the wound and stitched the cut on his knee himself.

"Honey, why are you crying?" Tyson asked as he gently wiped the tears from Soraya's cheeks.

"Why do you always make me worry? Do you know how many terrible things went through my mind while I was waiting? I was even jealous of Nurse Dolla!"

Tyson burst into laughter.

"You're impossible!" Soraya exclaimed, smacking him lightly on the shoulder.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I just think that's hilarious. You're jealous of Dolla? She's my sister. How could you even think something like that?"

"Your adoptive sister? The closeness between the two of you could turn into love. You're together almost every day. Isn't it natural for me to be jealous?"

Tyson wrapped his arms around Soraya.

"I swear, you're the only one for me. I belong to you, sweetheart," he whispered.

Soraya gazed into Tyson's eyes before leaning in and kissing him.

**

Oh, God... Why is my heart beating so fast? I can barely breathe, as if all the air has been stolen from my lungs.

Emily buried her face against Alan's chest.

Oh, God... Why does this feel so comforting?

Alan tightened his embrace around her.

The two of them savored the warmth of the moment in Alan's bedroom until a tiny kick from the baby inside Emily's womb broke the spell.

"The baby's moving, Sir," Emily said, taking Alan's hand and gently placing it on her belly.

Alan couldn't help smiling at the tiny movements of the baby inside Emily's womb. He gently caressed her rounded belly, and the two of them laughed together, completely unaware that someone was eavesdropping outside the door.

"I can't wait for our baby to be born. Who do you think she'll look like? You or me?" Alan asked.

Crash.

Mrs. Noldi accidentally knocked over a flower vase.

"What was that, Sir?" Emily whispered.

Alan pressed his index finger gently against her lips.

"I think Mrs. Noldi is listening outside," he whispered back.

"You'd better leave through the back garden," Alan said as he took Emily's hand and opened the glass door hidden behind the curtains.

"Be careful," he whispered.

Emily quietly slipped out of Alan's room and made her way into the garden. She sat on a bench so Mrs. Noldi wouldn't become suspicious.

"What was that?" Alan called out as he opened the bedroom door, his eyes unfocused as he resumed pretending to be blind.

"I'm sorry, Young Master. I accidentally bumped into the flower vase. I'll clean it up right away," Mrs. Noldi said as she gathered the shattered pieces from the floor. At the same time, her eyes discreetly wandered into Alan's room.

"So Young Master Alan was talking to Miss Soraya on the phone? Then why did I think I heard Emily's voice?"

"So I was right. Mrs. Noldi really was listening outside the door."

Emily remained seated on the garden bench, admiring the beautiful flower garden stretching before her.

"My little one, time passes so quickly. In just a few more months, you'll enter this world. We'll truly have to part ways then. Believe me, sweetheart, I'm doing this for you. I want you to grow up as everyone's beloved little princess."

Emily gently stroked her growing belly.

Alan parted the curtains in his room and quietly watched Emily smiling warmly as she lovingly caressed her stomach.

"That poor girl has to carry all of this on her own. I'm the one who added to her burdens. I'm sure she wants to raise this baby herself."

Alan found himself imagining a future with Emily.

"Sweetheart, eat first. Open your mouth. Ahhh."

Alan fed Emily while she cradled their baby and nursed her.

"Thank you, sweetheart," Emily said with a smile.

"How does my cooking taste?" Alan asked.

"Everything you make is always delicious, my husband," Emily replied with a bright smile.

Alan found her sweet smile irresistible. He leaned in and kissed his wife gently.

**

Soraya and Tyson arrived at a psychiatric hospital.

"Mrs. Samantha, your daughter is here," Nurse Olif whispered.

Mrs. Samantha didn't respond. She simply stared at an old photograph of herself with the man she had once loved, Billy Horison.

"I love you, Billy. I love you so much, my darling. We promised we'd get married and live happily together," Mrs. Samantha murmured with a faint smile.

Those were the same words she repeated whenever her mental condition deteriorated.

"Mom, it's me. Soraya, your daughter."

Soraya wrapped her arms around her mother.

The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over. She sobbed in her mother's embrace.

"Mom, I promise I'll take everything away from that man! I promise, Mom."

Without warning, Mrs. Samantha flew into a rage.

"My child? You're that cursed child's daughter!"

She grabbed Soraya's long hair and yanked it violently, leaving it in disarray.

"Mom, please wake up! I'm the only one who truly cares about you, not that evil man! I'm your daughter, Mom!"

Soraya cried hysterically.

Tyson and Nurse Olif quickly intervened, pulling them apart. Tyson gently led Soraya away.

"Your cheek is swollen."

He took a cooling gel from his medical kit and carefully pressed it against the swollen side of Soraya's face.

Soraya burst into tears once more.

"I'm sorry. Is it too cold?" Tyson asked with concern.

Soraya shook her head.

"I'm so tired. How much longer will my mother keep fighting her fate? How much longer will she keep hating me? I love my mother so much. I've never hated her, even though she abandoned me at an orphanage when I was just a child."

Tyson pulled Soraya into his arms.

He chose to remain silent, allowing her to pour out all of her sorrow.

"Cry as much as you need until you feel better, sweetheart. I'm here with you."

**

"Emily, let me feed Mr. Alan instead. Eat your soup while it's still warm. It tastes much better that way," Mrs. Noldi urged.

Alan glanced briefly at Emily.

I hope Emily can finish her meal without me feeding her.

Emily slowly stirred the chicken soup, trying to convince herself to swallow it.

Sweetheart, please help Mommy. Your father can't feed Mommy right now. Please, let Mommy finish this soup.

Emily began eating the chicken soup one spoonful at a time. Before long, a wave of nausea washed over her. She hurried to the sink and threw everything up.

"Emily! Are you alright?" Mrs. Noldi asked anxiously.

Emily can't eat unless I feed her.

"I'm alright, Mrs. Noldi," Emily replied.

"Mrs. Noldi, may I ask you a favor?" Alan said.

"Of course, Sir. What can I do for you?"

"Please go to the convenience store and buy some ointment for my allergy. It's flaring up," Alan requested.

"What about your meal?" Mrs. Noldi asked.

"I'll be fine on my own, Mrs. Noldi. Don't worry about me," Alan replied with a smile.

Mrs. Noldi hurried off to the convenience store.

"Emily, would you like me to pick up anything for you?"

"Please buy her some red apples. Emily loves them," Alan answered.

Why does Mr. Alan seem to care so much about Emily?

**