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I pushedot a dreadful glih, it literally could not get any worse I puffed out a breath of disgust and began to make my way to the bedroom door

But no sooner had I taken hony I cried out as I sla my head on it as I did

“Ahhhhh!!!!!” I screamed

The pain was indescribable It felt like I’d been stabbed with a thousand knives and they were all being twisted and tugged in my belly

“Maddie?” Katy called out fro room

“Ahhhh! Katy! Help!”

I heard her race down the hallway

“Maddie, oh ? What happened?”

“Uunnnhhh…” Imy belly

Katy leaned away fro her hands in confusion she said, “What? What’s wrong? What can I do?”

“My… stomach” I squealed “The baby!”

“Oh Maddie, honey, I…” Katy stopped, her words sputtered to an end with a horrifying tone

My eyes widened as I looked at the expression on her face It wrinkled in shock as she pointed a shaky finger in my direction

“Oh sweetie,” she began “Oh no”

My hands treit Not wanting to see, I pinched my eyes shut with one last hope it would all work out But as I turned hs, an evil crimson stain confirmed my worst fears

MADDIE

“No, Katy! Don’t call him”

“Maddie, don’t be ridiculous” Katy stood next to me with her arms folded across her chest and a scowl etched into her brow “Grey needs to knohat is going on! I know you’re angry with hiht now, but it’s his child too”

I’d been at the hospital for hours They’d run a ivenwith the baby All aroundconsistency Frustrated, I wanted to rip the tubes froet away I exhaled and leaned my head back into the uncomfortable foam rubber pillohich held the heavy aro, like a thousand ti me crazy

“I know it’s Grey’s baby Katy, uh, I’ht now”

Wordless, Katy dropped her ar one hand to ertips felt cool against my perspiration-coated skin I rolledup into her eyes Until now, Katy had showed strength when it calassiness flashed across her irises, it became apparent she’d reached hers

“Oh honey,” she gasped as she raised her free hand to her mouth “Oh sweetie”

Tears dribbled down, cascading across her fingers and dropping with an audible pat, pat, pat onto the bed sheet I had no tears left to cry The emotions that spawned theency room twelve hours earlier

Instead, a sobering, hollow numbness took their place

During the weeks I’d lived in denial at Katy’s place,a pri would work out That once Grey knew the truth about nancy, he’d realize how much he cared If not for me, then at least for the baby No one was that callous, cold or self-centered That’s what I told myself

But that was before I wound up here, flat on rim truth of my situation

Nohere pleasant distraction once occupied my mind, real life, practical considerations intruded every waking o on? I would have to work and survive But, I’d have to start over with nothing Everything I worked to build with Grey was destroyed; I could never go back

If the baby lived, it was a far worse scenario I didn’t worry too ations but as far as ever seeing his child? Hah! Not likely Anything short of a healthy, beautiful baby would fall far short of Grey Sinclair’s standards Add to the fact that I was hardly billionaire eto be optimistic about in that situation

Katy continued to sob, leaning over and huggingher back My entire body ached It was far easier to remain limp and still

“M-Maddie,” she gulped “I-I’ll be here for you N-No matter hat”

“I know, Katy Thank you”

I suth I had to return her affection As I reached up for her, the tubes in my arms restrained me but I returned Katy’s embrace as best I could and rubbed her back as she wept I felt terrible for her, but I didn’t even have the energy to tell her to stop