FULL NOVELXO Chapter My CEO 201
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201 Please Live (Jayden)
Striding into the hospital, I haven't felt fear like this in a long time, but I refuse to let it control me. This fear won't make me frustrated or angry. It won't make the lash out or wonder about my decisions.
Not anymore. I know who I am. I know the man I want to be.
Having this baby wasn't something I ever considered. But since I've known, it's changed me. Changed my outlook. Abby changed my life too, but I never got to see her or even know she existed when she was a baby.
Because of my mother. Because of Ashlyn. Because my mind wasn't where it should have been and Winona made a choice for the baby. Because I forced Winona into that choice and away from me.
Mother will never be an influence on me again.
In fact, I'm going to make her pay if she's had anything to do with this with Ashlyn and I'll need some strong proof to stop believing she's the reason Ashlyn fell from that rooftop.
I fife off a message to Winona, letting her know that I'll be staying here as long as I need to...
push through the emergency entrance, scanning the sterile hallways with a purpose. The nurse at the desk recognizes me. What are the chances of it being the same nurse working as the day Phillip and I had a fist fight. Every chance it seems. "Take a seat Mr. Brennan. Someone will be with you shortly.
I nod and move to the seating area, but I keep standing. After five minutes another nurse approaches me.
"Mr. Brennan," she says, her tone professional, but I can sense the gravity of the situation. That worries me. Am I about to find out I no longer have a baby to take home. Is the baby even big enough to save? I
don't know.
I steel myself for the worst and I wish Winona was here if I have to hear the worst. She hasn't messaged back yet but I know she will.
"Yes." I answer.
"This way, please." She leads me down a series of corridors until she stops outside a doorway. This isn't intensive care.
"You can wait in here with her. Doctor Mitchell will talk to you soon."
+ push open the door without hesitation. Inside Ashlyn is connected to machines that beep and whirl with life-saving precision. Her chest rises and falls in time with the machine.
It reminds me of Abby when she needed her first heart operation. My palms are clammy.
I swallow and go to her bedside. I'm not sure if I should talk to her. I touch her hand and draw my hand away again. I'm here in the hopes my baby is okay but Ashlyn is a person, not just a vessel to grow a baby Ashlyn is the woman I once thought I loved. I touch her hand again. No. Ashlyn is someone I did love at a point in my life. I may have not been myself,
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and I may have been confused about a lot of things. But I did love her at that time and I'd thought we'd spend a lifetime together.
My insides jump a little as I hear the door open, Interrupting my thoughts.
"Mr. Brennan, I'm Dr. Mitchell," a man in a white coat says, stepping up to me with a serious expression. Ashlyn's critical. She's on life support, and the baby is under a lot of stress, but we've managed to stabilize the situation somewhat." "What's the prognosis?" I ask, my voice steady. I need facts.
"The baby's heart rate has improved, but it's still a fragile situation. As for Ashlyn... the injuries are severe. Head trauma, spinal damage. The likelihood of her regaining consciousness is extremely low."
"I see."
"When she fell, she fell forward. Like she lost consciousness. Her head and neck sustained most of the impact. Luckily the paramedics knew about the baby in time and they assisted to maintain her vital bodily functions to give the baby a chance." I nod, absorbing the information without flinching. "And the baby? What are the odds? I mean, how developed is it exactly?"
"Bables have around a fifty to sixty percent survival chance if born at twenty-four weeks gestation. But of course, each case is individual and dependent on care. There are no guarantees. The longer in the womb, without complications, the better." "Will my baby survive this long enough to get to delivery?"
Dr. Mitchell hesitates, searching for the right words. "The next 24 hours are critical. We're doing *everything we can, but... I'm not in the business of giving false hope."
"I'm not giving up. This baby has already survived against all odds," I say, my voice leaving no room for doubt. "Do whatever it takes to keep my baby alive. Money is no object."
"I understand, Mr. Brennan, but no amount of money can turn me into God. As I said, the next 24 hours are critical. Let the nursing staff know if you need anything. You're welcome to stay but don't get in their way. And definitely no fighting." Ah, so he knows about my altercation. "They won't even know I'm here, I promise."
He pats my shoulder and leaves.
My phone rings and the caller ID says Winona.
I sit in the seat beside the bed and connect the call. "Winona, is everything okay?"
"Can you
talk?
I'm in with Ashlyn. Yes."
"How are things?"
"Dire. They are monitoring the baby, but they don't think..." I realize Ashlyn might be able to hear what I'm saying and that spooks me a bit. I don't want her to think we've given up on her just in case... "Anyway, how are things with you?" 2/3
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"Jayden, I need to tell you something. Steve... he's dead."
The words hit me like a brick. "Fuck! Winona....did you? How?"
"Lucy... my mom. She killed him, Jayden. She's in the hospital now too, unconscious, and Cass... Cass is blaming me for everything. But until she wakes, I don't really know how this all happened. But I'm glad he's dead." "Holy shit. Is Abby okay?"
"Yes, she wasn't here. She's still with Lisa."
"And you're in the hospital now?"
"Yes, intensive care."
"Good, you're both safe." I breathe out.
"I wanted you to know. I'm going to stay with Mom until she's stable, and then I'll come see you. Send me the floor and ward."
"I will. I can't wait to see you. I love you.
"I love you too."
"If this is Mother's....Judy's doing. I swear I'll -
"Jayden, one bite at a time, remember?"
"Yes."
"I'll see you soon."
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