Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101101 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 404(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101101 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 404(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Dr. Moore won’t survive the day.
I hate that Brielle was forced to see the piece of shit who had ripped her baby out of her womb without her permission, but I’m glad that I now know who he is so I can take care of him.
“Kane, no,” Brielle says, shaking her head.
“No what?” I lean back, hoping she isn’t saying what I think she’s saying.
“I don’t want to kill him,” she admits. “There’s been so much bloodshed in my life. All I wanted was to move forward, find a man to spend my life with, and have a family. Killing him won’t right the wrong.”
“It will end his fucking life,” I hiss.
“And the blood will be on my hands. How does that make me any better of a person than him?”
Fuck, this woman. She’s too good for this damn life.
I could kill him behind her back, but if she ever found out, she would know I went against her wishes.
“Fine. But we can’t just let him get away with this. Who knows who else he’s done that shit to?”
“I agree,” she says. “I don’t want to kill him, but … I do want to make sure he can never do to anyone else what he did to me.”
“Say the word, and I’ll make sure he never practices medicine again,” I promise her.
She swallows thickly and then nods. “Not by killing him though.”
“He’ll still be alive,” I assure her.
“Thank you.” She presses a soft kiss to my lips. “I’d better get into this ugly gown.”
She jumps off the medical table and proceeds to take her clothes off right in front of me. When I glance at her, her eyes widen, as if realizing what she’s doing.
“Sorry,” she mumbles. “It’s habit.”
“A habit I’m one hundred percent okay with.”
She laughs, finishes getting into the gown, and hops back onto the medical bed just as there’s a knock on the door.
“Come in,” Brielle calls out.
An older woman with a kind smile walks in. “Hello. I’m Dr. Drescher, and you must be Brielle.”
“I am,” she says, “and this is my husband, Kane.”
Husband.
I know it’s just a formality, but the thought that the title could be revoked doesn’t sit well with me at all.
“I’m going to do a quick exam. Based on your last period, you’re estimated to be around eight weeks, so we should be good to do an abdominal ultrasound. And once we’re finished, your lab work should be done, so we can look at everything. But before we get started, do you have any questions or concerns?”
“Just one,” Brielle says softly. “When I was younger, I had an abortion. I looked it up, and it said that, generally, it shouldn’t affect future pregnancies, but it was, um …”
She takes a deep breath, and I step next to her, threading my fingers through hers for moral support.
Another exhale.
“It was forced and possibly not done in sterile conditions. So, um …”
Dr. Drescher reaches out and gently pats Brielle’s knee. “We will double- and triple-check everything, I promise.”
“Thank you,” Brielle chokes out. “I’ve just wanted to be a mom for so long, and I don’t want anything to go wrong.”
The doctor does a quick exam, confirming everything looks normal, and then she grabs the machine and wheels it over.
“Go ahead and drape this over your legs so we can lift your gown,” the doctor says, handing her what looks like a plastic towel.
When Brielle lifts her gown, exposing her belly, it’s no longer flat.
“What?” she asks.
“Your belly’s grown.” I grin.
She glances down and smiles. “Yeah, I didn’t think I would show so soon, but I read everyone’s different. Dani didn’t show until she was in her third trimester!”
Dr. Drescher chuckles. “I forgot you’re related to Daniella. How is she, Matteo, and the baby doing?”
“Good,” Brielle tells her. “Alba is growing so fast. I was gone for a month, and I swear she gained five pounds and grew four inches.”
The doctor laughs. “They grow too quickly. Now, let’s see what we’re working with.”
She squirts some blue shit on Brielle’s belly and clicks the mouse a few times. The screen is grainy, and since I’ve never been in this situation, I have no clue what we’re looking at.
After a few moments, the doctor reaches for the screen and turns a knob, and a loud whooshing sound fills the otherwise quiet room.
“This is your baby’s heartbeat.”
Brielle sniffles. “There’s really a baby in there?” she whispers.
“Oh, yes.” The doctor smiles. “You see this little flutter?” She points at the screen. “That’s your baby. And based on my calculations, you’re nine weeks along and due on November 8.”
“And … does everything look okay?” Brielle asks, squeezing my hand tighter.
“You’re still in the first trimester, so anything is possible. But your baby has a strong heartbeat, and everything looks good. I’m going to look at the blood work, and then we’ll know more.”