Twice Betrayed- Reborn in Flames - Chapter 3: Chapter 3
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I dropped to my knees, shielding Alma with my body as I grabbed the first-aid kit to help deliver her baby.
Kind strangers stripped off their heavy coats, laying them across the snow to make a makeshift bed. They formed a protective circle around us, blocking both the biting wind and prying eyes.
The world seemed to freeze—until a newborn's sharp cry shattered the stillness. Cheers erupted around me, but my vision blurred as I collapsed onto the frost-covered grass.
"She did it! It's a girl!" someone shouted.
"Jesus, look at her back—completely burned raw from the fire," another gasped.
"And she's pregnant too! Must be four or five months along!"
Alma sobbed uncontrollably, her voice shaking. "First your brother saved my father... now you risked your life for me and my baby. Eleanor, how will our family ever repay you?"
As the Barren Family's emergency vehicle screeched to a stop nearby, my last strength drained away. I woke later in a private room Alma had arranged. The nurse changing my bandages told me the hospital had pumped 5,500 milliliters of blood into me—just enough to pull me back from death's door and save my unborn child.
She reassured me Alma was getting checked at maternity but would visit soon. Then her eyes flashed with anger.
"Miss White, the ambulance got here in five minutes. How'd your injuries get this bad?" she demanded. "How did those EMTs miss this much blood loss? I'm reporting this to the director—this is disgraceful for our hospital!"
Her outrage twisted like a knife in my chest. A stranger showed more concern than my own husband, who'd mocked me and accused me of faking everything. I bit my lip until I tasted blood.
Noticing my silence, the nurse softened. "I won't let you down," she promised. "I'll take care of you and your baby myself."
Her kindness sparked a tiny warmth in my numb heart. After she left, I reached for my phone to call a divorce lawyer—
When the door burst open. Joanne entered, leaning on Gerald. Her teary eyes fluttered as she whined, "Eleanor, I know you hate me, but did you really have to take my hospital room?"
Gerald immediately stepped between us, his glacial stare fixed on me. "Enough games, Eleanor," he snapped. "If not for Joanne's mercy, you'd be in handcuffs. Discharge yourself and give her this room—now."
Joanne's eyes gleamed before she put on her saintly act. "Gerald, don't fight because of me! I'll just use a shared ward downstairs. It's fine, really." She added with fake bravery, "And don't blame Eleanor. If she wants to press charges... I'll accept the consequences."
Gerald's scowl darkened. "Why do you always defend her?" he growled. "Can't you see she uses your kindness to walk all over you?" Then to me: "Last warning—leave today, or we're divorcing."
In my past life, I'd have caved. I'd have crawled out of that bed to please him.
This time, I held his gaze without flinching. "Fine, Gerald. Let's divorce."
The room went so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Gerald's face darkened at my words, his jaw tightening as his hands balled into fists.
Kind strangers stripped off their heavy coats, laying them across the snow to make a makeshift bed. They formed a protective circle around us, blocking both the biting wind and prying eyes.
The world seemed to freeze—until a newborn's sharp cry shattered the stillness. Cheers erupted around me, but my vision blurred as I collapsed onto the frost-covered grass.
"She did it! It's a girl!" someone shouted.
"Jesus, look at her back—completely burned raw from the fire," another gasped.
"And she's pregnant too! Must be four or five months along!"
Alma sobbed uncontrollably, her voice shaking. "First your brother saved my father... now you risked your life for me and my baby. Eleanor, how will our family ever repay you?"
As the Barren Family's emergency vehicle screeched to a stop nearby, my last strength drained away. I woke later in a private room Alma had arranged. The nurse changing my bandages told me the hospital had pumped 5,500 milliliters of blood into me—just enough to pull me back from death's door and save my unborn child.
She reassured me Alma was getting checked at maternity but would visit soon. Then her eyes flashed with anger.
"Miss White, the ambulance got here in five minutes. How'd your injuries get this bad?" she demanded. "How did those EMTs miss this much blood loss? I'm reporting this to the director—this is disgraceful for our hospital!"
Her outrage twisted like a knife in my chest. A stranger showed more concern than my own husband, who'd mocked me and accused me of faking everything. I bit my lip until I tasted blood.
Noticing my silence, the nurse softened. "I won't let you down," she promised. "I'll take care of you and your baby myself."
Her kindness sparked a tiny warmth in my numb heart. After she left, I reached for my phone to call a divorce lawyer—
When the door burst open. Joanne entered, leaning on Gerald. Her teary eyes fluttered as she whined, "Eleanor, I know you hate me, but did you really have to take my hospital room?"
Gerald immediately stepped between us, his glacial stare fixed on me. "Enough games, Eleanor," he snapped. "If not for Joanne's mercy, you'd be in handcuffs. Discharge yourself and give her this room—now."
Joanne's eyes gleamed before she put on her saintly act. "Gerald, don't fight because of me! I'll just use a shared ward downstairs. It's fine, really." She added with fake bravery, "And don't blame Eleanor. If she wants to press charges... I'll accept the consequences."
Gerald's scowl darkened. "Why do you always defend her?" he growled. "Can't you see she uses your kindness to walk all over you?" Then to me: "Last warning—leave today, or we're divorcing."
In my past life, I'd have caved. I'd have crawled out of that bed to please him.
This time, I held his gaze without flinching. "Fine, Gerald. Let's divorce."
The room went so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Gerald's face darkened at my words, his jaw tightening as his hands balled into fists.
End of Twice Betrayed- Reborn in Flames Chapter 3. Continue reading Chapter 4 or return to Twice Betrayed- Reborn in Flames book page.