CHAPTER 137: BLOOD

The soft glow of the morning sun streamed through the curtains as Ruby finished brushing her hair. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, gently adjusting her blouse over her small bump.

It was still barely noticeable, but she could feel the weight of it, both physically and emotionally. Today felt different. Not just because she was going to the hospital for her routine check-up, but because today, she had made a decision.

Rayna stepped into the room, already dressed and ready, her keys dangling from her fingers. "You ready, Rubes?"

Ruby turned, smiling softly. "Yeah, just need to grab my bag."

They both walked out to the hallway together. As Ruby slipped on her flats, she glanced up at Rayna, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "So... did you talk to him?"

Rayna nodded as she opened the front door. "Yeah. I told him you agreed to meet. We agreed he’d come by this evening."

Ruby chuckled lightly. "Seems he’s anxious. Can’t even wait until the evening to fix things."

"Can you blame him?" Rayna teased, nudging her. "You were sweet to him, Rubes. Sweet and honest and strong. Men don’t forget that kind of thing."

Ruby rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the warmth in her cheeks. "I wasn’t that sweet."

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"You were," Rayna said with a knowing smile. "That was why he wanted it to be this morning and when I said no, he went on to ask why he couldn’t come this morning," Rayna said and Ruby’s expression turned serious.

"Did you tell him why?" she asked curiously and Rayna shrugged.

"Why not? He already knows about the baby so I told him it was your check-up. He offered to join us but I declined. He couldn’t go when you both hadn’t sort things out besides, I figured it was something you should go through without pressure."

"Thanks," Ruby said sincerely. "I appreciate that."

So he wanted to do fatherly duties? Had he thought about what would she’d say? Or did he think she’d just agree to take him back just because Rayna talked to her? She mused, a smile curling on the corners of her lips.

But could she even delay with taking him back? She was at fault and so was he. He’d suffered enough for it and he’d even paved the way for her by divorcing Ivy. But how would meeting him without all the anger feel like?

They got into Rayna’s car and soon pulled out of the driveway, the soft hum of the engine filling the morning air. Ruby looked out the window, letting the wind flutter through her hair as they moved through quiet streets.

She was nervous. Not just about seeing Stefan later, but also about the check-up. Every visit to the hospital reminded her how fragile life was—how easily things could change. Especially now.

A few minutes into the drive, Rayna frowned and tapped the steering wheel. The car gave a strange lurch.

"That didn’t feel right," she muttered.

Another hundred meters later, the engine sputtered and the car rolled to a slow stop by the side of the road.

"Oh, come on," Rayna groaned, putting it in park. "What now?"

They both stepped out. Rayna popped the hood and leaned over to take a look.

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Ruby walked around the front, standing just a little ways off to give Rayna space. She squinted up at the sky. The day was still early, and there weren’t many cars on the road yet.

"Any idea what it is?" Ruby asked.

Rayna shook her head. "Nope. Could be the battery or maybe something came loose. Let me check the cables."

Just then, a sharp sound tore through the quiet.

A screeching noise that sounded like tires, scaring them both.

Ruby turned instinctively, and her eyes widened.

A car was racing toward them—fast, too fast. The tires screeched louder as the driver made no move to slow down. It wasn’t swerving. It wasn’t stopping. And it was heading straight for her.

Time froze.

Rayna looked up too, her hands still on the engine. "Ruby!"

Ruby’s body locked up. Her legs wouldn’t move. Her heart pounded in her ears. She wanted to run, scream, something. But her feet felt glued to the ground.

The car was almost upon her.

Suddenly, strong arms grabbed her from behind and pulled her away with a force that knocked the breath out of her.

They hit the pavement hard, just as the speeding car zipped past, missing them by inches.

It swerved violently, just barely avoiding Rayna’s car before it sped off into the distance, disappearing around a bend.

For a second, there was only silence.

Then the weight lifted off her. Ruby opened her eyes, her breath coming in gasps. She turned her head and saw him.

Stefan.

He was panting, his arms still half-wrapped around her. He was the one who’d saved her.

"Are you okay?" he asked quickly, his voice shaky, laced with fear as he looked her over.

Ruby opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her whole body trembled. Her throat was tight. She couldn’t speak.

If Stefan hadn’t saved her, what would’ve happened to her and her baby? What about Rayna? Would they had died just because she was helping her?

Rayna rushed over. "Oh my God, Ruby! Are you okay?"

Still no answer. Then Rayna gasped when she took a closer look at Ruby wanting to be sure she was okay.

Her eyes locked on something and another gasped escaped her lips.

"Blood," she whispered, her voice suddenly sharp with panic. "Stefan. Blood."

He turned immediately. "What? Where?"

Rayna pointed. He followed her hand to see that a dark stain was spreading across Ruby’s pants. Right between her legs.

Stefan’s heart nearly stopped. "No. No, no, no. This can’t be happening."

Ruby looked down, and the moment her eyes saw it, her vision spun.

"The baby..." she murmured, and her knees buckled.

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Stefan caught her just in time as she collapsed. Her eyes fluttered closed.

"Ruby!" Rayna screamed. "We need to get her to the hospital! Now!"

Stefan didn’t hesitate. He scooped her up into his arms and raced to the backseat of the car. "Rayna, forget the car. Get in your car. I’ll drive her in mine!"

He laid Ruby gently across the back seat of his car, brushing her hair away from her face, his chest tight with panic.

Rayna jumped into the driver seat of hers just as Stefan slid behind the wheel of his.

The engine roared to life as he sped off, his grip tight on the wheel, with Rayna driving just as fast behind him.

"She’s going to be okay," he whispered. "She has to be." He kept telling himself as he kept driving while glancing at Ruby through the rearview mirror.

And in the backseat, Ruby lay motionless, pale, and silent—as Stefan drove faster than he ever had in his life, praying to a God he wasn’t even sure he believed in that he wasn’t already too late by the time he’d arrive at the hospital.

The white walls of the hospital waiting room felt colder than usual.

Stefan sat stiffly on the plastic chair, his elbows on his knees and his fingers tightly laced together. His heart was pounding—loud, heavy, and uneven. His clothes were stained with dust from the fall, and his palm still burned faintly from when he’d hit the ground shielding Ruby.

But that pain was nothing compared to what was twisting inside him.

He hadn’t said a word since the nurses rushed Ruby through those double doors. Only the quiet hum of machines, the soft shuffle of feet, and Rayna’s occasional shifting in the chair beside him kept the silence from swallowing him whole.

His eyes were fixed on the wall ahead, but his mind was anywhere but there.

He had been just in time.

One second later, and Ruby would have been—

He couldn’t even finish the thought. What would’ve happened had he not decided to follow them from afar? Though Rayna had said he shouldn’t come, he’d felt too anxious, not wanting to just sit around and do nothing; hence, he’d thought to follow them from the distance, all so he could get a glimpse of Ruby.

That image—her eyes wide, frozen in shock, standing by the side of the road as that car came speeding toward her—would never leave him. His body had moved before his brain had even processed it, pushing her out of the way with every ounce of strength he had.

But it hadn’t been enough. Because now she was inside that room, bleeding, unconscious, and carrying a child he hadn’t even gotten the chance to meet.

His child.

His and Ruby’s.

The thought made something tight squeeze inside his chest. He hadn’t even held her hand since the truth came out. He hadn’t had a single real moment with her where they were free from secrets or fear.

And now, that moment might never come.

"Please be okay," he whispered under his breath, not even realizing he’d said it aloud.

Rayna looked over at him but didn’t say anything.

Stefan’s jaw clenched. He shut his eyes tightly for a second, trying to calm his racing mind.