Chapter 2
Morning rain painted thin silver lines across the hospital window when Noah Bennett finally arrived.
He looked exhausted.
His tuxedo jacket was gone, his white dress shirt was wrinkled, and dried blood stained one of his sleeves—a reminder of the rooftop rescue that had already made headlines.
He stopped outside Olivia Carter's hospital room, hesitating for only a moment before opening the door.
Olivia was sitting upright against the pillows, staring out the window. She had changed into a simple gray sweater the hospital had provided. Her wedding dress was gone.
So was the engagement ring.
"You woke up," Noah said quietly.
She didn't turn around.
"I heard."
Silence settled between them.
"I tried to come sooner."
Still nothing.
He stepped closer.
"Olivia..."
She finally looked at him.
For seven years, Noah had always been able to read her eyes.
Today, he couldn't recognize them.
There was no anger.
No tears.
No pleading.
Only a calmness that frightened him more than any argument could have.
"I saved her," he said.
"I know."
"I couldn't leave someone who was about to jump."
"I know."
Every answer was flat.
Measured.
As though she were discussing a stranger's life instead of the man she had planned to marry only yesterday.
Noah swallowed.
"I'm sorry."
She held his gaze.
"For what?"
He frowned.
"For... leaving."
"No."
Her voice remained steady.
"Be specific."
Noah opened his mouth, then stopped.
She continued for him.
"Are you sorry that you left me standing alone in front of our families?"
A pause.
"Or are you sorry that everyone saw you do it?"
His shoulders stiffened.
"It's not like that."
"No?"
She looked away again.
"You made a choice yesterday."
"I chose to save a life."
"You chose someone else."
The words landed harder than she intended, because they were true.
Noah took another step.
"Sophia wasn't thinking clearly."
"And what about me?"
He had no answer.
The doctor entered briefly to review Olivia's condition before quietly leaving them alone again.
Noah noticed the medical file on the bedside table.
"How are you feeling?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she reached for the folder and handed him a single sheet of paper.
His eyes scanned the report.
Six weeks pregnant.
He froze.
His face drained of color.
"...Olivia."
She watched every emotion cross his face—shock, joy, disbelief.
"You were going to tell me?"
"I was."
"When?"
She gave a faint, bitter smile.
"Probably after we were married."
Noah looked back at the ultrasound report as if afraid it would disappear.
"We're... having a baby."
She didn't smile.
He looked up, his eyes suddenly bright with hope.
"We can fix this."
Olivia almost laughed.
May you like
Fix.
Such a small word for something so enormous.
