“Ms. Jade,” he began, his voice calm but heavy. “I need to tell you something, and I want you to know that we’ll do everything we can to support you through this.”
Jade’s breath caught in her throat. Her heart pounded so loudly she thought it might drown out his words.
“During the accident, the impact caused a significant amount of trauma to your abdomen,” Dr. Jaxon said, his tone measured. “Unfortunately, despite our efforts and monitoring, your baby didn’t survive.”
The words hit Jade like a freight train, knocking the air from her lungs. Her world spun, and a wave of disbelief washed over her.
“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “No, that can’t be true.”
Mia gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes. “Oh, Jade…”
Milan stepped forward, his face pale but his voice steady. “Are you certain?” he asked, his tone hard. “There’s no chance—”
Dr. Jaxon cut him off gently. “I’m certain. I’m truly sorry.”
Jade felt her chest tighten, the weight of the news suffocating. Her hands trembled as she clutched the blanket tighter. “This can’t be happening,” she said, her voice breaking. “I was so careful… I tried so hard.”
Enzo knelt beside her, his usually calm demeanor shattered as he took her hand in his. “Jade,” he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m so sorry.”
Thiago rubbed a hand down his face, pacing the room like a caged animal. “This isn’t fair,” he muttered under his breath, his frustration and grief evident.
Dr. Jaxon let the room settle before continuing. “There’s one more thing we need to address,” he said carefully. “Because of the nature of the trauma, we need to perform a minor surgical procedure to ensure your health and prevent any complications. It’s a standard procedure, but it’s important to do it as soon as possible.”
Jade’s head snapped toward him, her tear-filled eyes wide with fear. “Surgery? Now?”
“It’s a quick procedure, and we’ll keep you comfortable,” Dr. Jaxon reassured her. “But it’s necessary for your recovery.”
Milan’s hand tightened into a fist at his side. “How soon can this be done?” he asked, his voice sharp.
“We can prepare for the surgery within the next hour,” Dr. Jaxon replied. “The sooner we do this, the better.”
Jade felt paralyzed, her mind swirling with grief, fear, and confusion. “I don’t know if I can do this,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Mia leaned closer, wrapping her arm around Jade’s shoulders. “You’re not alone, Jade,” she said softly, her own tears streaming down her face. “We’re here for you, every step of the way.”
Milan stepped forward, his voice gentler now. “You have to trust us, Jade. We’ll get through this together.”
Enzo nodded, his hand still holding hers. “You’re the strongest person I know. And we’re not leaving your side.”
Thiago finally stopped pacing, pulling up a chair next to her. “You’ve been through hell, Jade,” he said, his voice cracking. “But you’re not going through this alone.”
Jade looked at each of them, their faces etched with pain and determination. Her heart ached, but their presence anchored her, keeping her from completely falling apart.
“Okay,” she said finally, her voice trembling. “Let’s do it.”