Chapter 40
40
AMELIA
I woke up slowly.
My head felt heavy, my thoughts muddled.
I opened my eyes and looked around.
Clearly, I was in the hospital.
“Oh no,” I whispered.
My hand went to my belly.
The bump was there, but that didn’t mean anything.
I tried to piece together the last twelve hours.
I remembered not feeling well, the dizziness that had hit me like a wave after my shower.
I remembered going to bed, my alarm blaring in the morning, but I’d been so exhausted I couldn’t even reach for my phone before falling back asleep.
Then there were voices—Jared’s, sharp and urgent, followed by Clair’s, frantic and worried.
I remembered being picked up, carried out of my house, but after that, everything went hazy.
Wait, I thought I remembered flying.
Was that right?
A nurse walked in.
She checked the monitors beside my bed and changed out an IV bag.
“Hello,” she said. “How are you feeling?”
“Confused,” I admitted, my voice hoarse.
“What happened?”
The nurse’s expression softened.
“You had a bleeding event—a subchorionic hematoma. It was serious enough that we needed to hospitalize you. You’re stable now, but you’ll need to stay put for a while. Bedrest is non-negotiable.”
I blinked, trying to process her words.
A bleeding event. Bedrest. My hand pressed against my belly.
“The baby?”
“The baby’s fine,” the nurse assured me.
“We’re monitoring both of you closely. Just try to relax, okay?”
I nodded, but my mind was racing.
A bleeding event. How had I not noticed?
How had I let this happen?
I was supposed to be taking care of myself, taking care of the baby, but instead, I’d ended up here, strapped to monitors with an IV in my arm.
I felt like a failure.
“Where am I?” I asked.
“Miami. You got here this morning. Do you remember?”
“No.”
She smiled and patted my hand.
“Sometimes, I think that’s the best way. Try and get some rest. I’ll bring dinner in later. We want to make sure you are eating enough.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
The nurse stepped out.
I looked around the room.
Miami? I had to have been flown here.
So it wasn’t a dream.
I heard her talking to someone in the hallway.
My stomach dropped when I recognized Jared’s voice.
He was probably so angry with me.
I was going to be stuck in the hospital for who knew how long.
What about my job? My research?
And Jared… what did he think of me now, knowing I was struggling to keep our baby—the baby he hadn’t wanted—healthy and safe?
I felt protective of the baby.
I would never do anything to put him or her at risk.
I hoped Jared understood that.
We didn’t plan for the pregnancy, but that didn’t mean I was going to let it go without a fight.
The door opened, and Jared walked in.
He stopped just inside the room, his eyes locking on mine.
For a moment, his expression was hard, unreadable, but then it softened, shifting to something between concern and relief.
He set a bag of takeout on the table and crossed the room to my bedside.
“Amelia,” he said. He didn’t say anything else, just wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a tight embrace.
I wanted to speak, to tell him I was sorry, but the words caught in my throat.
Tears welled in my eyes.
I choked back a sob, burying my face in his chest. He held me like that for what felt like forever, his hand gently stroking my hair.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, his voice breaking.
“This is my fault. I’ve put you under so much stress lately because I can’t get my own issues together, and it’s affecting you and the baby. I’m so sorry, Amelia.”
I shook my head, pulling back to look at him.
“No, it’s not your fault. It’s my body. I should have been more careful. I should have?—”
“Stop,” he interrupted, his voice firm but gentle.
“This isn’t on you. You’ve been carrying so much on your own. I haven’t been there for you like I should have been. That changes now. I’m going to take care of you, Amelia. Like I should have from the beginning.”
I stared at him, my heart aching.
I wanted to believe him, but it was hard.
Jared had always been so guarded, so focused on his career.
Could he really change?
Could I trust him with my heart—and our baby?
“I’m sorry,” I said, my voice trembling.
“I know my research can’t continue right now. I understand if you have to fire me.”
Jared’s eyes widened, and he shook his head.
“That’s not happening. Don’t even think about that right now. Your only job is to rest and take care of yourself. Everything else can wait.”
I nodded, but I wasn’t sure what to say.
My feelings for Jared ran deep—deeper than I’d ever admitted to myself.
This kind of connection didn’t happen often, and as a scientist, I knew the probability of ever feeling like this for someone again was slim.
There was no logical explanation for why I was in love with this arrogant, egotistical man, but I was.
And it terrified me.
He adjusted the pillow under my head before checking the IV pump.
“Headache?” he asked.
“No. Not really.”
He nodded and reached for my wrist, taking my pulse.
“Good. Strong.”
He was looking at me with a doctor’s clinical gaze, but there was something else in his eyes.
It was a vulnerability I wasn’t used to seeing.
Jared Welch, the man who always seemed so unshakable, was letting me see a side of him that few ever did.
“You scared me,” he admitted quietly, his fingers still resting lightly on my wrist. “When I found you this morning, I thought…” He trailed off, his jaw tightening.
“I thought I might lose you both.”
I swallowed hard.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” I whispered.
“I didn’t even realize how bad it was. I was a little dizzy, but I chalked it up to pregnancy stuff, like morning sickness.”
“That’s the thing,” he said.
“You shouldn’t have to figure it out on your own. I should’ve been paying closer attention. I should’ve been there. I knew you looked pale last night but I just… I’m sorry. I feel like a monster.”
“I was fine when we were doing that,” I said with a soft smile.
“You didn’t take advantage.”
“I should have been paying attention,” he muttered.
“I’m a doctor. I just, I only saw what I wanted to see. I’m sorry.”
“You’re here now,” I said softly, squeezing his hand.
“That’s what matters.”
“Sleep,” he ordered.
“Doctor’s orders. All the doctors.”
I wanted to tell him I wasn’t tired, but that was a lie.
I had never been more tired in my life.
I closed my eyes.
When I opened them again, Jared was sitting in the chair, his phone in hand as he tapped on the screen.
I smiled, happy to see him still there.
I tried to sit up but gasped when I twisted my wrist.
“What are you doing?” Jared was up and out of the chair in a flash.
“I was trying to sit up.”
“I’ll help. Don’t strain yourself.”
He adjusted the pillows and slowly raised the head part of the bed.
“Better?” he asked.
“Yes, thank you.”
“Are you hungry? I’ll have food brought in. You don’t need hospital cafeteria food.”
“I don’t mind cafeteria food,” I said.
“I’ve been surviving on it for years.”
“You need to eat something good. High in protein. What do you want? Steak? Eggs?”
I smiled.
“Jared, I’m fine with whatever they’re serving.”
He frowned.
“I’ll check. Don’t move.”
“I couldn’t if I tried.”
Jared left the room.
I leaned back against the pillows, letting out a slow breath.
The door opened again.
I expected to see Jared returning with a menu or maybe a nurse in tow.
Instead, Clair slipped in.
“Hi,” she whispered.
“I saw Jared out there giving the nurses hell and thought I would pop in real quick.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Shawn and I flew over. You had us all terrified. We’re going to head back now, but I just wanted to say hello. Jared is the gatekeeper. He is not letting anyone in here.”
“I’m sorry.”
She laughed.
“Don’t be. He’s looking out for you. The doctor said rest and Jared is making sure you do. I’ll see you when you get back.”
“Oh, I don’t think I’m coming back,” I said.
“I have no idea what I’m going to do.”
“Clair!” Jared’s growl had us both jumping, which made me wince.
“I told you no shop talk. Look, you’re stressing her out.”
“No, she didn’t,” I said.
“Go.” Jared ordered.
Clair smiled and rolled her eyes.
“Like I said, you’re in good hands. I’ll see you soon.”
Jared walked over to my bed.
“What hurts?”
“I’m fine. Just stiff.”
“Are you sure? I don’t like the way you look.”
“That’s a nice thing to say,” I teased.
“You know what I mean.”
“Jared, I’m fine. I’m just a little stiff. And weak.”
“This would’ve been easier if you had a head injury,” he muttered.
I blinked, then laughed—a real, genuine laugh that surprised even me.
Jared’s lips twitched into a smile.
“You are just full of kind words,” I said.
“Well, I can fix a head injury. Your dinner will be delivered shortly. You’ll eat and then sleep.”
“Yes, sir.”
Later, the doctor came in to talk to us.
She explained that I needed to take it easy for a while but would make a full recovery.
There was no reason I wouldn’t carry to full term as long as I followed the bedrest orders.
Jared asked a million questions, but the doctor handled him with patience.
“I’d like to take her home,” Jared said.
“Being in the hospital is never good for anyone.”
I wasn’t sure if he meant back to the lab, to my condo, or with him, but based on how serious he was, I had a feeling he wasn’t going to let me out of his sight anytime soon.
The doctor nodded. “That’s fine, but I want to keep her for another day to make sure she is stable enough to travel. Any kind of strenuous activity can cause more bleeding.”
“She won’t lift a finger,” Jared said.
“I can guarantee it.”
When the doctor left, Jared started building himself a little nest in the corner of the room, turning the couch into what looked like the most uncomfortable bed either of us had ever seen.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
He looked up, his expression serious.
“Making my bed.”
“Your bed? Wouldn’t you be more comfortable in a hotel?”
“I’m staying and trust me when I tell you, you don’t want to argue. You won’t win.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I said, though a part of me was relieved he was here.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” he replied.
“Now, sleep.”
I didn’t argue.
Instead, I lay back against the pillows, my hand resting on my stomach.
I didn’t know what all of this meant, but I was good with letting him watch out for me… for now.