“Don’t touch me!” Emily cried, one hand wrapped around her stomach.
Clara stood over her in the red dress, breathing hard. “You stole him from me.”
“I didn’t steal anyone. Daniel chose me.”
“Chosen?” Clara laughed. “You think a ring makes you his wife?”
Emily tried to move, but pain shot through her body. “My baby…”
Clara froze for half a second, then looked toward the door. “Get up.”
“I can’t.”
“Get up before someone comes in!”
Emily’s voice broke. “Call an ambulance.”
Clara stepped back. “No. You fell. You slipped. That’s what happened.”
“You pushed me.”
“You were screaming at me.”
“You came into my room and told me to disappear.”
Clara bent down, her face inches from Emily’s. “Because you should disappear.”
The door suddenly opened.
Daniel stood there in his wedding suit.
His smile died.
“Emily?”
Emily reached for him. “Daniel… the baby…”
Daniel ran to her and dropped to his knees. “What happened?”
Clara immediately cried, “She slipped! I tried to catch her!”
Emily shook her head. “No…”
Daniel looked at Clara. “Why are you in here?”
“I heard her scream.”
“You heard her scream before or after you pushed her?”
Clara’s face turned white. “How can you say that to me?”
Daniel pulled out his phone. “I’m calling 911.”
Clara grabbed his wrist. “Don’t. Think about the wedding. The guests are waiting.”
Daniel stared at her. “My pregnant wife is on the floor.”
“She isn’t your wife yet.”
The room went silent.
Emily gasped in pain.
Daniel’s eyes turned cold. “Get out.”
Clara whispered, “Daniel…”
“Get out before I forget we grew up together.”
Clara backed toward the door, trembling with anger. “You’ll regret choosing her.”
Daniel looked down at Emily. “Stay with me. Breathe.”
Emily gripped his hand. “She said something.”
“What?”
“She said… the baby was never supposed to be born.”
Daniel slowly looked toward the open door.
Clara was gone.
Then Emily’s phone lit up on the floor.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
THE PUSH WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
Chapter 2: The Nurse Who Lied at the Hospital
“Daniel, don’t leave me,” Emily whispered as the paramedics lifted her onto the stretcher.
“I’m not leaving,” Daniel said. “I’m right here.”
A medic asked, “How many weeks pregnant?”
“Thirty-four,” Emily answered through tears.
Daniel held her hand. “Is the baby okay?”
“We need to check at the hospital,” the medic said. “Sir, ride with us.”
Behind them, wedding guests crowded the hallway.
Daniel’s mother, Victoria, rushed forward. “What happened?”
Daniel looked past her. “Where’s Clara?”
Victoria hesitated. “She left crying. She said Emily attacked her.”
Daniel’s face hardened. “Emily was on the floor.”
“Pregnancy makes women emotional.”
Emily turned her head weakly. “Victoria…”
Victoria’s eyes flashed. “Don’t speak. Save your strength.”
Daniel noticed the coldness in her voice. “Mom, why aren’t you shocked?”
“I am shocked. At this disaster.”
“My wife and child could be in danger.”
“She is not your wife yet.”
Daniel stepped closer. “Say that again.”
Victoria lowered her voice. “This wedding should wait.”
The ambulance doors slammed before Daniel could answer.
At the hospital, a nurse named Karen met them in the emergency room.
“Mrs. Hart?”
“Soon to be,” Daniel said.
Karen glanced at Emily’s chart. “It says no family allowed during examination.”
Daniel frowned. “Who wrote that?”
Karen avoided his eyes. “Hospital policy.”
A doctor entered. “That is not hospital policy. Sir, you may stay if the patient wants you.”
Emily said immediately, “I want him.”
Karen’s mouth tightened.
The doctor examined Emily and watched the monitor. “The baby’s heartbeat is present, but we need to observe contractions.”
Daniel exhaled. “Thank God.”
Emily cried softly. “Clara pushed me.”
The doctor looked up. “You should file a police report.”
Daniel nodded. “We will.”
Karen suddenly dropped a tray.
Everyone turned.
Daniel stared at her. “Why are you nervous?”
“I’m not.”
Emily narrowed her eyes. “You were at the wedding.”
Karen froze.
Daniel stepped toward her. “Who invited you?”
Karen backed away. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Emily whispered, “She was speaking to Clara near the balcony.”
Karen ran for the door.
Daniel blocked her. “Not so fast.”
Karen’s phone buzzed. The screen lit up with Clara’s name.
Daniel grabbed the phone before she could hide it.
The newest message said: DID THE BABY SURVIVE?
