Chapter 218

Thea was very light. Nicolas could barely feel her weight in his arms.

"Thea, we'll be at the hospital soon," he said, his eyes bloodshot. "Don't be afraid. I won't let anything happen to you, or to the child." He refused to consider the truth of Stephanie's words, or why Thea hadn't mentioned the baby. He only wanted to protect her.

Darwin handled Stephanie while Nicolas drove recklessly, ignoring red lights. Thea, barely registering his frantic words, felt something slipping away inside her, a terrifying sensation. As the hospital came into view, her face was ashen. "I don't think… I can hold on anymore. Can the doctor save the child?" It was their first child, a thought that pierced her heart.

"It'll be fine," Nicolas said, his tone cold.

In the emergency room, Nicolas, his tall frame a stark contrast to the sterile, cold corridor, was barred from entry. The waiting felt like an evisceration.

Joyce arrived swiftly, her eyes red-rimmed. Ignoring his imposing presence, she asked anxiously, "How's Thea?"

Nicolas, fixated on the closed doors, ignored her. Joyce, losing control, cried out, "Nicolas, do you know how hard Thea worked to raise your child? She wanted to surprise you… but why didn't you protect her?" Her words stunned him. "Our child?"

He had believed Stephanie. Yet, he was prepared to raise the child regardless of paternity, as it was Thea's. Joyce's question shocked him. "Say that again," he demanded, his voice deep.

Joyce refused. "No wonder you tolerated Stephanie's abuse. You never trusted Thea! She planned to tell you everything after the baby was safe. Nicolas, you're not worthy of her!"

Her words shattered him. The pain was suffocating. He barely registered Joyce's accusations, his usually handsome features now marked by a rare dejection. He finally understood Thea's repeated rejections, his earlier suspicions of her infidelity now sickeningly clear. "So that's what happened… What exactly did I do?"

He’d never been religious, but now, staring at the operating room door, he prayed for Thea. Stephanie would face Thea's wrath later.

Every second felt agonizing. Then, Ivy Rowland's voice cut through the silence. "How's Thea, Nicolas?"

Even Emmalie's smile couldn't entirely mask the insincerity of Ivy's concern. "I heard Thea was injured, so I rushed over from Key Biscayne. This is the Rowland family's fault. Nicolas, I apologize for not raising Thea to be a good girl—I never expected…" Ivy's voice trailed off, fear evident as she gauged Nicolas's impassive expression. "She's not part of the Rowland family anymore, but she's still my daughter… Please spare her life."

Nicolas's silent disdain spoke volumes. Emmalie was convinced of the online rumors. She hid her glee, sighing dramatically, "Mom, why cover it up? We might as well tell Nicolas everything and beg for his forgiveness."

Nicolas and Joyce remained focused on the operating room, oblivious to the online frenzy. But then Joyce's phone rang. Kelly's sharp voice accused, "Joyce, come home! Thea cheated on Nicolas. Are you going to offend him and ruin your father's business by sticking up for her?"

"You never cared about me, and now you dictate my friendships? Thea's my friend, and no one interferes with that!" Joyce snapped back, exhaustion weighing heavily. "I know better than you whether Thea did anything to deserve this!"

"She's carrying another man's child, and she miscarried after being beaten. The photos are online! You're still defending her?"

Joyce's blood ran cold. The Twitter feed confirmed Kelly's words. Ivy, displeased, chided, "She's your daughter-in-law! How can you talk to your mother like that?"

Before Joyce could retort, Emmalie feigned concern, "Mother, Joyce might have been deceived by Thea. If this hadn't blown up, none of us would know." Then, turning to Nicolas, she added, "Nicolas, I'm so sorry. She's miscarrying, at her most vulnerable. Please don't punish her."

Nicolas checked his phone. A man was detailing his one-night stand with Thea, highlighting a distinctive red mole—a mole Nicolas himself had intimately known. The man's apology was lost in a torrent of online condemnation.

Emmalie pressed, "Nicolas, your engagement to Thea isn't public. Divorce her. Avoid the scandal."

Nicolas's cold stare silenced her. "Who said I wanted a divorce?" His words, laced with icy resolve, left Emmalie speechless.