Chapter 5 Blinding white light . The smell of disinfectant . The steady beeping of heart monitors . I slowly opened my eyes to a sterile hospital ceiling . " You're awake ? " Marcus's exhausted face came into view , dark circles under his eyes . " You've been out for two days . " I instinctively touched my stomach . " The baby ... " " Safe . " Mom squeezed my hand with tear filled eyes . " But the doctor said there's a risk of placental abruption . You have to stay on bed rest for at least a month . " I let out a huge breath of relief , finally noticing the IV in my arm and all the monitoring equipment around my bed . " Blake came by , " Marcus said casually . My fingers gripped the sheets . " Relax , security didn't let him up . " Marcus tucked the blanket around me . " He was screaming like a lunatic in the hallway . Police had to drag him out . " The door opened softly and Ethan walked in carrying a huge bouquet of white baby's breath . Seeing me awake , he paused for a second , then put on his usual smirk . " Perfect timing . " He set the flowers on my nightstand . " Heard you almost tore this place down , Sullivan heiress . " I smiled weakly . " Your intel's always on point . " Ethan shrugged . " Hospital director's my uncle . By the way , " he lowered his voice , " Blake Turner was diagnosed with a mild psychiatric disorder . He's under observation at the mental health facility . " I closed my eyes , not sure how to feel . Blake Turner , once this unstoppable force , had fallen this far . " Khloe , " Mom said softly , " there's something you need to know . The doctor said this bleeding episode was dangerous . If it happens again , we might have to choose between you and the baby ... " My eyes snapped open . " There won't be a choice . Both my baby and I will be fine . " Ethan suddenly spoke up . " If you need the world's best maternal specialists , I can make some calls . " I looked at him , surprised . " Don't look at me like that , " Ethan smiled . " I just invest in talent I believe in . The Sullivan heiress and her heir deserve the best medical care money can buy . " Marcus narrowed his eyes . " What's the catch , Cole ? " " Pure humanitarian gesture . " Ethan raised his hands in surrender . " Though if Ms. Sullivan would consider deeper collaboration with Cole Industries after her recovery , I certainly wouldn't complain . " I stared at Ethan for a few seconds , then smiled . " Deal . " 23:15 Divorce Papers or Death Code ? My Choice , His Regret 44.4 % A month later , I was cleared to leave the hospital but ordered to stay on strict bed rest at home , Marcus moved all his business to the house , giving me daily updates every afternoon . " Turner Tech officially went into bankruptcy liquidation , " He handed me some papers , " All assets auctioned to pay debts . Blake's personally on the hook for nearly three hundred million . " I flipped through the documents , feeling conflicted . " What about his parents ? " " They sold their house to help pay his debts . Now they're renting some tiny apartment in the suburbs . " Marcus paused . " Blake disappeared after getting out of the psychiatric facility . " I rubbed my noticeably rounded belly without saying anything . " One more thing , " Marcus hesitated . " Avery Brooks lost everything at overseas casinos and got detained by loan sharks . She's asking to see you through intermediaries . " " See me ? " I laughed coldly . " What could we possibly have to talk about ? " Marcus shrugged . " She claims she has important information about Blake Turner . " I thought for a moment , then shook my head . " Not interested . Blake Turner's not my problem anymore . " Two months flew by , and I was in my final trimester . With Ethan's help , KS Tech was crushing it - we'd landed several major government contracts . That afternoon , I was relaxing in the garden when my assistant rushed over . " Ms. Sullivan, there's a ... homeless man at the gate asking for you . " I frowned . " Homeless man ? " " He says his name is Blake Turner , " she whispered . I sat up sharply , the baby giving an annoyed kick . After a moment's hesitation , I sighed . " Let him in . " When security brought Blake in , I barely recognized him . His once - confident posture was now hunched over , hair gone gray , face deeply wrinkled , clothes filthy and reeking . Only his eyes still held traces of who he used to be . " Khloe- " His gaze fixed on my rounded belly , a spark of something flickering in his eyes . " How's the baby ?" Security stood ready , hands on their batons . I waved them back . " Blake , " I said calmly , " what do you want ? " He wrung his hands nervously . " I just ... I wanted to see you and the baby- " " Well , now you have . You can go . " My voice was flat . Blake suddenly collapsed to his knees , sobbing . " Khloe , I was wrong ! I know I screwed up ! I've been living on the streets for months , regretting everything . Please , just give me a chance to make it right ! " Looking at this pathetic figure , I felt nothing but emptiness . " Blake , you know why I could walk away from you so easily ? " He looked up , tears streaming down his face . " Because after ten years , I saw exactly who you really are . " I slowly stood up , looking down at him . " You're selfish , weak , and you only ever loved yourself . You dumped me for your own desires , and now you're crawling back for your own desires . You never changed . " 23:15 Divorce Papers or Death Code ? My Choice , His Regret 48.1 % Chapter 5 Blake's lips trembled . " No ! I have changed ! Khloe , please , for the baby's sake ! " The baby ? " I laughed coldly . " What right do you have to mention my baby ? The second you chose Avery Brooks , you gave up any claim to this child . Blake hinged forward , trying to grab my legs , but security stopped him . He screamed as they held him back . " That's my kid ! I have rights ! 111 take you to court ! " I shook my head and told security . " Get him out . And don't let him come within a mile of this place again . " Watching Blake get dragged away , I gently rubbed my belly and whispered , " Don't worry , baby . Mommy will never let that man hurt you . " That night , I spiked a high fever and was rushed to the hospital . The head of obstetrics looked grim as he told Marcus , " We need an emergency C - section now , or we could lose both mother and baby . " In the OR under those blinding surgical lights , I caught fragments of the doctors ' urgent voices : " BP's crashing ! " " Get blood ready ! " " Baby's heart rate is dropping ! " After a wave of sharp pain , I heard the faint cry of a newborn . " Healthy baby girl ! " a nurse announced happily . " Six pounds , two ounces ! " I tried to see my baby , but everything went blurry before fading to black . When I came to , Marcus was standing beside my bed holding a tiny bundle , his eyes red - rimmed . " Her name is Sophia , " he said softly , gently placing her next to me . " The doctor said it suits her . " I turned to look at this little red - faced life sleeping peacefully , tiny fists clenched . I could see traces of Blake in her features . " She's taking our name ? " I asked weakly . Marcus nodded . " Father's name is blank on the birth certificate . Legally , she only has her mother and maternal grandparents . " I carefully touched my daughter's soft cheek , tears sliding down silently . " Sophia ... my little miracle . I'll make sure she remembers that some ' people aren't worth remembering . " འ་ འལ་ ང་ མི Just then , a nurse burst in panicked . " There's a maniac who broke into the pediatric ward ! He's saying he's looking for his child ! " Marcus and I locked eyes , both thinking of the same person . " Where's security ? " Marcus demanded . " They're trying to stop him , but he has a knife ... " I clutched Sophia to my chest , heart pounding . Marcus immediately grabbed his phone . " I'm calling backup now . " Chaotic footsteps and shouting echoed down the hall , getting closer . The door slammed open as Blake burst in wielding a box cutter , his stolen scrubs covered in blood . " Khloe ! " His eyes were wild . " Give me back my daughter ! "