Chapter: 48 Voices floated through the haze, their words jumbled and distant, just out of reach. All she managed to catch were bits and pieceswords like "pregnant and "bleeding" floated past her in scattered whispers. Her babyshe remembered now. With effort that seemed to drain her last reserves, she managed to whisper, "Please... save... my baby."Regret twisted in her chest, sharp and sudden. Back at the police station, just before she lost consciousness, fear had nearly swallowed her whole. For so long, Millie had imagined a child would keep her tied to Brandon, something real to bind their unraveling love. Eventually, both hopes had slipped awayshe'd given up on Brandon, and with him, the idea of motherhood. As days passed after finding out about her pregnancy and life quietly grew inside her, that certainty began to crumble, replaced by doubt and longing..n. Now, as danger pressed closer, the thought of losing the child filled her with a sorrow she could hardly name. The thought was unbearable. That was her child, the extension of her own life. That child had nothing to do with Brandon. It was hers and hers alone. Keeping the baby was all she wanted now. Brandon pressed hard on the accelerator... Tension radiated from the passenger seat, where Vivian gripped her seatbelt so tightly her knuckles turned pale. Not a word escaped her lips; silence was her safest choice after the show she'd put on earlier. Still, Brandon's mood hovered over the car like a storm cloud. She risked a sidelong glance at his profile, searching for any sign of weakness. His expression was cold as ever, but the rigid jaw and clenched hands betrayed a swirling storm inside... Millie still held a piece of his heartthat much was obvious, and Vivian seethed at the realization..v. Dropping her gaze, Vivian slumped back, masking her calculations with a display of fragile exhaustion. Crobert Hospital loomed into view much faster than she expected. As soon as they stopped, Brandon threw his door open, barely pausing as he strode into the night. Vivian scrambled out behind him, but halfway onto the pavement, she doubled over and spat a splash of "blood."