Damian Pov
I burst through the hospital doors. My heart was pounding. The private investigator called me an hour ago. Bella collapsed in the park. An ambulance took her to the emergency room.
I ran to the front desk. A nurse looked up at me.
"I need information about a patient" I said. "Bella Morgan. She was brought in from the park"
"I can't give out patient information" the nurse said. "Privacy laws"
"She's my wife" I said. "Please. I need to know if she's okay"
"I'm sorry sir" the nurse said. "I really can't"
I pulled out my wallet. I took out a stack of hundred dollar bills. I set them on the counter. The nurse's eyes went wide.
"Please" I said. "I just need to know she's safe. That the baby is safe"
The nurse looked around. No one was watching. She took the money quickly and shoved it in her pocket.
She typed something on her computer. She kept her voice low.
"She was treated and released two hours ago" she whispered. "Severe dehydration and malnutrition. Dangerously low blood pressure"
My stomach dropped. Dehydration. Malnutrition. Because she wasn't eating. Because she had no money. Because she was too proud to accept my help.
"The baby" I asked. "Is the baby okay"
The nurse looked at the screen again. She hesitated.
"She almost lost the baby today" she whispered. "The stress and poor nutrition...the doctor said if she doesn't take better care of herself she could miscarry"
My world tilted. The floor felt like it was moving under my feet. I grabbed the counter to steady myself.
Almost lost the baby. Our baby. Because of stress and not eating. Because she was suffering alone while I had everything she needed.
"Where is she now" I asked.
"She left" the nurse said. "About two hours ago"
I didn't say thank you. I just ran. Out of the hospital. To my car. I drove as fast as I could to Bella's apartment.
I parked badly. Half on the curb. I didn't care. I ran to her building. I took the stairs three at a time.
I reached her door. I started banging on it with my fist.
"Bella" I yelled. "Bella open the door. Please"
No answer. I banged harder.
"Bella I know you're in there. Please. I need to talk to you. I need to know you're okay"
The door opened. But just a crack. Bella's face appeared. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. She looked exhausted. Pale. Thin.
"Get away from me" she said. Her voice was rough.
"I know you collapsed" I said. "I know you were in the hospital. I know you almost lost"
"Stop" Bella said. She started closing the door. "Stop following me. Stop spying on me. Leave me alone"
I put my hand on the door to keep it open.
"I know you're pregnant" I said. The words rushed out. "I know you're in danger. I know the baby is at risk. Please Bella. Let me help you. Let me protect you both"
"I don't need your protection" Bella said. But her voice cracked. More tears spilled down her cheeks.
I dropped to my knees right there in the hallway. I didn't care if she thought I was pathetic. I didn't care about anything except making her listen.
"Please" I said. Tears were running down my face too. "Please let me help. You're sick. You're not eating. You almost lost our baby today. Our baby Bella. Please don't shut me out"
She just stared down at me. Pain and anger and exhaustion all mixed together on her face.
"You did this" she said quietly. "You made me this way. You destroyed everything. And now you want to fix it by throwing money at me. By stalking me. By bribing nurses for my medical information"
"I'm desperate" I said. "I don't know what else to do. You won't talk to me. You won't accept help. You're killing yourself and I can't...I can't just stand by and watch"
"Then don't watch" Bella said. "Go away. Pretend I don't exist. Pretend the baby doesn't exist. That's what you're good at right. Pretending"
The words cut deep. She was right. I pretended our marriage was fine while I was sleeping with Karen. I pretended everything was okay when it was all falling apart.
"I'm not pretending anymore" I said. "This is real. My love for you is real. My regret is real. My desperate need to fix this is real. Please Bella. Please give me a chance"
She looked at me for a long moment. I saw something in her eyes. Not forgiveness. Not love. But maybe...maybe a tiny bit of wavering. A tiny crack in the wall she built around herself.
Then it was gone. Her face went hard again.
"No" she said. She slammed the door in my face.
I heard the lock click. Then silence.
I stayed on my knees in the hallway. I put my forehead against her door. I could hear her crying on the other side. Soft sobs that made my chest ache.
"I'm not leaving" I said through the door. "I'm going to sit right here all night. I won't knock again. I won't yell. But I'm not leaving you alone"
No response. Just more quiet crying.
I sat down with my back against her door. The hallway floor was hard and cold. I didn't care. I wasn't going anywhere.
Hours passed. The building got quiet. People came and went. Some gave me strange looks. I ignored them all.
I could still hear Bella moving around inside her apartment. I heard water running. I heard her phone ring. I heard her crying.
Each sound broke my heart a little more.
Around midnight everything went quiet. She must have fallen asleep. I stayed right where I was. My back hurt. My legs were cramping. But I didn't move.
"I won't leave you to face this alone" I whispered to her door. "Even if you hate me. Even if you never forgive me. I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to take care of you and our baby whether you let me or not"
I meant every word. I would sit outside this door every night if I had to. I would follow her to every doctor appointment. I would make sure she was eating even if she threw my food away. I would do whatever it took.