Chapter 2 Who's the Other Man?
968 Words
"You're talking nonsense!" Isabelle shot back.
Ellie leaned back, her gaze falling on Isabelle's stomach before a sly smile curved her lips. "Name your price. As long as it's not too outrageous, I'll convince Jayden to meet your demands."
She stood, walking a few steps closer, and her smile grew more pronounced. "Don't worry. I'll treat the child you're carrying as my own. After all, he is Jayden's flesh and blood."
That was the final straw. Isabelle had been struggling to keep her emotions in check, but Ellie's words ignited her fury like a spark to dry tinder.
"Ellie! What gives you the right to say any of this? Why should I believe you?" Isabelle snapped, her voice trembling. "Jayden is right next door. I'll go to him now, and we'll settle this face-to-face!"
Ellie moved to block the doorway. "He doesn't want to see you, so he sent me to talk on his behalf."
Isabelle's eyes narrowed. She wasn't buying it. Refusing to engage further, she pushed past Ellie, but Ellie grabbed her arm, pulling her back. Isabelle opened her mouth to yell, but before she could, Ellie shoved her forcefully to the ground.
The sudden, sharp pain in Isabelle's stomach was excruciating.
Ellie, however, wasted no time. She threw open the door and screamed dramatically, "Help! Jayden, please! She's attacking me!"
Panic washed over Isabelle as she struggled to get up. She had barely made it to her feet when Jayden appeared at the door.
Ellie threw herself into Jayden's arms, sobbing. "I shouldn't have come to see her behind your back. It's my fault. I provoked her. I couldn't even protect our child."
"She's lying!" Isabelle yelled, clutching her stomach. "Jayden, she pushed me! I'm in so much pain—"
Before she could finish, Ellie screamed.
"Ah! I'm bleeding! Jayden, help me!"
Bright red blood streamed down Ellie's legs, pooling on the floor. The metallic scent of blood filled the air.
Jayden didn't hesitate. He scooped Ellie into his arms. "I'll take you to the doctor right away."
Just as he was about to leave, Jayden glanced back at Isabelle, her face pale as a sheet. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but Ellie suddenly went limp in his arms.
"Jayden, please…" Isabelle pleaded, grabbing the hem of his suit jacket. "She's lying to you. I didn't do anything."
Jayden's jaw tightened. "I'll deal with this later. Right now, she needs a doctor." He yanked his arm away from Isabelle's grip and carried Ellie out the door without looking back.
Left alone, Isabelle wanted to follow, to explain herself. But suddenly, a hot, wet sensation trickled down her legs.
She was about to born the baby.
Thankfully, a nurse was passing by and quickly rushed Isabelle into the delivery room.
*****
Inside the delivery room, the doctor ran a quick examination and gave her a grave look.
"Your amniotic fluid is gone, but your cervix hasn't dilated. We need to perform an emergency C-section, or the baby won't survive."
Isabelle's heart sank. "Where's Dr. Jones?" she asked weakly.
"Dr. Jones is assisting with another delivery next door and can't step away right now," the doctor explained.
The pain was unbearable, and Isabelle didn't want to risk her baby's life. She nodded reluctantly.
The procedure lasted half an hour, and then the room filled with the sound of a healthy baby's cry.
"Is my baby okay?" Isabelle asked weakly.
The nurse briefly showed her the newborn wrapped in a blanket. "A boy, six pounds and seven ounces. We'll take him to the neonatal unit for vaccinations."
Isabelle instinctively reached out, but her arms were strapped down. She could only watch helplessly as the nurse left with her child.
After her stitches were done, Isabelle was moved to a recovery room. She wasn't expecting to see Jayden there, waiting for her.
But the look in his eyes wasn't one of concern—it was rage.
He stormed to her bedside, his voice low and venomous. "Who's the father?"
Isabelle blinked, her exhaustion clouding her understanding. "What are you talking about?"
Jayden's glare could have cut steel. "Don't play dumb, Isabelle. I've given you everything, and this is how you repay me? Who's the other man?"
Her blood ran cold. "Jayden, I swear I don't know what you mean. Where's our baby?"
"Our baby?" Jayden scoffed. His hand shot out, gripping her jaw with bruising force. "You dare call that bastard my child? We're both blood type B, Isabelle. He's type A. Explain that!"
Her world tilted. "That's impossible… Ellie must have bribed the doctor! She—"
Jayden cut her off, his voice like a whip. "Ellie was on the operating table too. How could she have tampered with anything? Stop making excuses!"
"She pushed me! That's why I went into labor early! She planned this whole thing!" Isabelle cried.
Jayden's laugh was cold and bitter. "You think I'll believe that? You've already betrayed me, and now you're blaming her? I was blind to ever trust you. My lawyer will draft the divorce papers immediately."
Her chest constricted. "You're divorcing me?" she whispered.
"I'd be a fool not to."
Desperate, Isabelle clung to his arm, tears streaming down her face. "I didn't betray you, Jayden. That child is yours. Ellie's setting me up because she's your first love! She wants you to leave me!"
Jayden's tone was icy. "This has nothing to do with her. The truth is, I can't stand the sight of you anymore. Take your bastard child and leave. If I see you again, I won't be so kind."
"Jayden, please…" Isabelle sobbed, but he ripped his arm away, discarding her as if she were diseased.
"Don't mention that bastard to me again. Unless you want to see him dead."
- Writer
