Chapter 518

Olivia's eyelids fluttered shut. Oblivious to her earlier exchange with Liam, her fingers instinctively curled into the fabric covering her abdomen. "This is my child. I must protect it."

Tears welled in Liam's eyes. Just then, the physician entered. Liam swiftly schooled his expression, though the tremor in his voice betrayed his anguish. "She's expecting. Do whatever it takes to save her. If the baby can't be saved... so be it. I'll bear the responsibility."

The doctor gave a solemn nod. Fortunately, Olivia had ingested only a trace of the toxin and had undergone immediate gastric lavage. Both mother and child were out of immediate danger.

The physician kept his tone grave. "The fetus is stable for now, but the toxin exposure remains a concern. Even at this early stage, there could be lasting effects. The mother must be informed so she's prepared for any complications."

Liam's lips twisted into a humorless smile. "Perhaps you should be the one to tell her when she wakes. I'm... not the right person to deliver that news."

The doctor frowned. "I assumed you were her—"

Liam cut him off with a shake of his head. "No. And don't mention my presence. She wouldn't welcome it."

After Liam's departure, the nurses exchanged hushed whispers.

"Even with that mask, you could tell he's devastatingly handsome. The way he looked at her—like she was his entire world."

"Did you see how his hands shook? When he first rushed in, his shirt was soaked through with sweat. And when the doctor mentioned risks to the baby? I thought he might collapse."

Unbeknownst to them, Olivia caught fragments of their conversation through the fog of sedation. A desperate curiosity about this mysterious man tugged at her, but exhaustion dragged her back under before she could speak.

Time blurred. When consciousness next claimed Olivia, darkness still cloaked the hospital room. Medical staff moved in quiet efficiency, and Sebastian stood vigil at her bedside.

Panic surged through Olivia the moment coherence returned. "Where's Isabelle?" Her voice cracked as she fought to throw off the sheets, her body weak but determined to search for her daughter. Sebastian hurried to reassure her. "Miss Kensington, there's no need for alarm. Your daughter is not only safe—she's thriving. She's awake, full of energy, and the doctors even recommended she have some broth."

Olivia exhaled in relief. Then, her hand drifted to her stomach, her pulse stuttering with dread. Was the baby still there? Liam must have known.

Noticing her distress, Sebastian cleared his throat. "Mr. Blackwood believes the decision rests entirely with you as the mother. He's... overjoyed, but he hasn't forgotten Mr. Kensington's warnings about Isabelle's traumatic birth. He doesn't want you to endure that agony again."

Olivia's lashes lifted in surprise. She had expected Liam to demand the child be kept at all costs. A flicker of something unreadable passed through her eyes before she changed the subject. "Where is Liam now? Have we uncovered who's responsible?"