CHAPTER 503: THE LIGHT WE WAITED FOR (2)

She sat in silence, both hands now pressed protectively over the small swell beneath her ribs, the fluttering within gradually easing as if the life inside recognized safety at last.

Tears pooled in her eyes, though she didn’t feel them fall. It was so sudden, as if she had no control of her emotions. Her mind was still reeling. Her body trembled, but it wasn’t from cold.

Shelby looked at the Ian again ... his steady grey eyes, the set of his jaw....

"Did you know this," she asked, both scared and marvelling.

Ian drew her close and then ,reaching for a towel from another compartment, her started wiping the sweat off.

"Let’s make sure that you don’t get a cold...."

Shelby waited patiently as he wiped her down completely, then reached out and took the new dress, helping her slip it over her head.

"I suspected. But there are things even I couldn’t be sure of .... not with these two worlds."

The tears had quieted, but her breath still came in uneven waves, like the sea after a long, punishing storm.

"Why did you cry about something as wonderful as this?"

"It’s s-ca-ry... I -"

Ian placed Shelby back on the seat and then slipped down the car seat. The car was spacious enough to accommodate him kneeling in front of her, hands resting on his thighs, unsure if he dared touch her again.

The freak accident and its ripple effects had robbed them of a lot ... So much had been stolen—time, memories with the kids and their family, choices....

Though, despite all these, Ian could understand how Shelby was feeling after having crossed two worlds and experienced the worst of them in the span of what felt like a few days and also getting told and re-experiencing the supposed months in a few seconds. It was right to feel as though they stood at the edge of something fragile and sacred.

"This here... is ours ... we created this...." Ian caressed the tummy.

"The baby is telling us of his presence... He or she is the fruit of our love.... I know you are scared but trust your husband on this one...."

Her hand reached out slowly, hesitantly. He didn’t move until her fingers brushed the edge of his jaw. Then he leaned into it, eyes fluttering shut.

"I needed to hear that," she whispered.

He caught her hand in both of his, pressing it to his lips like a vow. "And I’ll say it a thousand times more, until it settles into every part of you that was made to doubt."

"I love you... and everything that is you, of you... With you, and even remotely related to you. Ian Thornston’s family will never be complete without you."

The wind picked up slightly, brushing through the leaves of the trees lining the highway like a sigh of relief. Somewhere in the trees, birds sang in soft tones and other living things hummed along in their own way.

Shelby leaned forward, letting her forehead rest against his. "I don’t know what comes next," she admitted.

"We’ll find out together," he replied.

She nodded, letting the tears fall freely again, letting out the hope, terror, and joy. All tangled into one surreal truth. That new life and their bond were greater than could ever be. And as his arms wrapped gently around her, anchoring her to the here and now, she didn’t flinch or pull away. Instead, she let herself be held.

"You know? .... I didn’t even know..." she breathed. "I didn’t know I was—"

"Shhhh.... That is all past... now let’s get you checked up..."

He slid in beside her, and the engine hummed to life, as the vehicle pulled smoothly into motion, disappearing into the fog, leaving behind only the echo of wet tires on stone and the scent of seawater on the wind. Shelby was unsure of when Currey had slipped behind the steering wheel... but she let herself relax and only concentrate on the new sensations that she was feeling. Shelby only vaguely registered his words, and not until they pulled up at the hospital did, she understand.

In fact, though Murray had wanted to keep her in the dark, he had ended up telling her of all the things that had happened in the media regarding Aliya and herself, as well as the supposed elopement. Shelby still remembered when Murray had said it and the fact that he looked like he wanted to kill himself just from being associated sexually with his mistress. Thinking of it brought a smile to her lips.

However, with her reputation in the gutter, why was Ian bringing her to the hospital? Shelby knew perfectly well, that they could invite the doctor to visit them so, what was Ian planning to do?

Ian wanted to make a bold statement: He only had one wife, and that was never going to change! They didn’t sneak in through any side door or shadowed entrance.

No, Currey pulled up at the main and busiest entrance, and they walked through the front doors of the hospital, hand in hand, followed closely by Currey.

He held her hand like it was made of spun glass, and she leaned into him with a gentle, almost bashful smile. To the world, they looked like any couple in love .... reunited after time apart, glowing with something unspoken yet unmistakable.

Security guards blinked, and receptionists froze mid-sentence. A nurse dropped the chart she was holding. Who did not know of this Thornston couple and the fact that Ian was labelled as pitiful... but what were they seeing?

No one called out. No one rushed them. But everyone stared, including patients, janitors, and anyone with eyes.

The rumours had been wildfire ... her vanishing after that accident, as well as what now seemed like conspiracy theories, his disappearance from his ward and the speculations that had followed that. Some thought that after Shelby had supposedly run off with her assistant, he had drowned himself in madness and grief—the more superstitious whispered of darker things like curses, abduction and the like.

But now they were here, the same couple, who were supposedly estranged, walking through fluorescent-lit halls with their fingers intertwined and a softness in their eyes that stunned even the most cynical onlooker.

And the whispers began immediately:

"Is that her?"

"You mean that shameless woman? It’s really her! Who would not recognize that devilish beauty?"

"Wait—they’re back? Together?"

"Yh, that does not seem right at all.... Isn’t he supposed to be married to madam Aliya? They have kids already so why is Ian Thronston with that ...."

"They look... happy, though...."

"Do you think that he’s been bewitched?"

"Can’t you guys think of positives in things? Does it always have to be the worst scenario? Take a good look! Does she look like someone who does not like her husband and eloped? I knew that there was something off with that woman’s story!"

A few nods went around for they could not stop their eyes from following the lovely couple.

"Maybe she’s—?"

"No... do you think she’s pregnant?"

"Oh my god, is that why they’re here?"

"Can’t you see it for yourself? They are going into the obstetrics and gynaecology department. Besides, her dress is too loose! I think that she is! Definitely!"

"You’re right, she does have that glow ... and look at the way he’s holding her."

"Why won’t my hubby treat me this way too?" Some lamented.

Others gasped quietly, with the rest exchanged meaningful glances. An overly excited intern nearly slipped on the polished floor trying to get a better look.

Gossip turned to guesses. Guesses turned to hope. For an unknown reason, people preferred to have hope in Ian and Shelby rather than in Aliya, no matter how pitiful she looked on TV. The thing was that when lies added up, there tended to be cracks, and a few discerning people had started to see those cracks. Without Shelby in the picture, it was difficult to add up and come to a decision, but with her mere presence, the tides were already turning.

The shock of seeing them alive—and together — had quickly transformed into something else: glee. A sense of relief. Of triumph. A once-tragic story now rewritten as a fairy tale, resurrected from the dead.

As they approached the elevator, the receptionist ... barely able to contain her grin .... called softly, "Congratulations, if... if that’s what I think it is."

She was nervous, but Ian smiled, just a hint of it, and didn’t say a word. Ian Thornston never smiled at anyone, not for any reason at all, so because of this small action, he had given this woman the answer she sought.

Shelby helplessly squeezed his hand gently, shaking her head. For a moment, all the murmurs fell silent, as if the building itself was holding its breath, for they had all seen Ian’s smile and the way his gentle gaze softened when it rested on Shelby’s lower abdomen.

They stepped into the elevator. The doors closed.

And behind them, the gossip exploded into a jubilant storm.

They were no longer a mystery. They were certain! It didn’t matter what this meant, all they cared for was that it was certain!

The gossip had been almost dismissed with this one action. Aliya would have vomited blood if she had known that the lies she had methodically placed had been unravelled with one short walk in a hospital!

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