The emergency room was lit like a small spacecraft in the night.
The smell of antiseptic, the sound of heart monitors, the harsh white lights—everything felt cold, like a truth just exposed.
宋以燕 woke up in 武傲神's arms.
Her eyes were unfocused, her lips trembling, her head spinning like waves.
His hands held her firmly—not to restrain her, but to let her know: someone was here.
Beside them, 武傲天 stood like a statue.
His face pale, drained of all color.
He didn't sit.
Didn't move.
He just stood there and watched.
Two brothers. Two extremes. Both silent.
Only the ticking of the clock—like needles drilling into the air.
The obstetrician stood in front of the ultrasound screen, removing his gloves, gathering documents with visible weight.
A middle-aged man. Calm voice. Eyes that had seen life and death.
But tonight—he chose every word carefully.
He looked at all three of them:
"I need to explain a few things clearly. Please listen carefully."
He turned on the screen, enlarging the blurred image of a tiny form floating in fluid.
"At this stage, the most important indicators are fetal heartbeat and placental position.
We have detected a heartbeat—that's a good sign."
A pause.
"But unfortunately… today's scan also shows a large hemorrhagic area—what we call a subchorionic hematoma—located between the uterus and the chorionic membrane."
The room froze.
Medical terms dropped like heavy stones.
"This hematoma is large. It covers a significant portion of the embryo.
It can cause pain, bleeding, and may lead to miscarriage if not treated promptly."
"At this level, the risk of complications is high."
He looked at 宋以燕.
"But—we cannot say it is lost yet."
"There are interventions available. But we need a decision… immediately."
武傲神 heard every word like knives.
"What can we do?" he asked, voice tight.
The doctor spoke slowly:
"At eight weeks, direct intervention is limited.
But we can act immediately by:
1. Hospitalization — complete bed rest
2. High-dose progesterone to stabilize the pregnancy
3. IV fluids to maintain stability
4. Monitoring bleeding — surgical intervention if necessary, though risky at this stage
5. Most importantly: time.
If we treat now, chances improve. If delayed, miscarriage risk increases."
"Time."
The word echoed.
武傲天 gripped the chair.
武傲神's face drained of blood.
The doctor continued:
"This condition is often linked to stress, physical strain, or recent trauma.
She must avoid all pressure."
He looked at 宋以燕:
"Have you taken any medication or experienced any recent trauma?"
She shook her head.
"No… just exhaustion… too much work… and… a recent emotional shock."
The doctor nodded.
"One more thing. Initial tests show that HCG levels are not consistent with gestational age."
A pause.
"This could indicate a weak pregnancy… or the hematoma affecting development.
We need to monitor HCG and repeat ultrasound in 48 hours."
武傲神 felt his heart tighten.
Not matching.
Those words suffocated him.
Because he understood—
Every delay…
Every number off…
Meant a truth that could not stay hidden forever.
The doctor looked at them seriously:
"I understand your family's position.
If you want confidentiality from the media—that's possible."
"But do not hide anything from the hospital."
"This condition requires continuous monitoring.
If she remains under external pressure and cannot rest—
the chance of saving the fetus drops significantly."
Silence.
Only the heartbeat monitor ticking.
Time was running.
武傲天 clenched his jaw.
He understood.
To save the child—secrecy must be broken.
But secrecy… was the foundation of everything he protected.
Two opposing truths.
Two paths—both leading to loss.
For the first time in his life—
武傲天 was trapped.
Between saving the woman he loved…
and protecting the empire that bore his name.
武傲神 stepped forward:
"What can we do right now to increase the chances?"
The doctor answered honestly:
"Hospitalization. Rest. Progesterone injections—we can start emergency protocol immediately."
"And minimize external pressure.
Media exposure or shareholder pressure will worsen the situation."
"My recommendation:
Admit her, treat her, maintain strict confidentiality externally—
but full transparency medically."
武傲神 turned to 宋以燕.
His voice was firm:
"燕. You're coming with me. Now."
His hand held hers—warm, steady.
In that moment, everything in her mind collapsed into one point:
Life.
武傲天 stepped forward.
His voice low, but heavy:
"I'll handle the media. I'll…"
He paused.
"I'll make sure no one knows."
"But you have to stay.
You cannot leave."
武傲神 looked at his brother.
For one second—everything between them surfaced:
Conflict. Pain. Truth.
But above all—
They both wanted to protect her.
宋以燕 listened.
Her heart surged.
She thought of the life inside her—
a life that knew nothing of power, revenge, or war.
Tears fell.
"…Okay. I'll stay."
The doctor moved quickly.
Procedures.
Private room.
Tests.
Progesterone protocol.
48-hour monitoring.
As preparations began—
武傲天's phone vibrated.
Market alerts.
Red flashing across the screen.
He clenched it tightly—
but his eyes never left 宋以燕.
In the hospital corridor—
Two men walked behind the stretcher.
One willing to do everything in the shadows.
One willing to sacrifice everything for the outcome.
The door closed.
They stopped.
Looked at each other.
No words.
Their eyes said everything:
This was no longer a battle on a public chessboard.
It had moved to the smallest battlefield—
the life of a child.
And the future of three people.
Message of Chapter 38:
When the truth is revealed, it doesn't just bring pain—it forces choices.
When a fragile life appears in the middle of power, revenge, and strategy—everything must face one question:
"Who do we save… and at what cost?"