Chapter 309 If My Baby Dies, I Die With I
He knew she could not repay him but that was not enough to deter him. He was still willing to do anything for her.
In the end, Ayla went to the hospital with the medical record Lucas had forged for her. She didn't understand why he was still afraid.
He had come up with a fake name for her when they visited the doctor because he didn't want anyone to find her. From all indications, he was doing his best to keep her with him.
Ayla was subjected to intense checkup and from the results gotten so far, the baby seemed to be doing fine. But during the ultrasound examination, the doctor's expression turned grave when he discovered that the baby's umbilical cord was wrapped around its neck.
Ayla immediately sensed that something was wrong and asked, "Is my baby okay, Doctor?"
Lucas, who was standing aside, was also very nervous. He knew Ayla would break down if anything were to happen to her baby. And so he fervently hoped that the baby was alright.
"I'm sorry but your baby's umbilical cord is wrapped around its neck. It may be a little tricky for us to deal with it," the doctor said to her even as he wondered why she was only just coming to the hospital even though she was already eight months pregnant.
"What are we going to do? Is it serious, Doctor?" Ayla had turned pale at the doctor's words.
"Generally, this type of situation is normal. But from what the examination has revealed, Ms. Woodsen, your condition is more complicated. Right now, your body cannot produce enough oxygen and carbon dioxide to sustain your baby. And this will only slow down the baby's heart-rate. If we don't do something fast, the fetus could suffocate from inadequate oxygen," the doctor explained.
"No! Please save my baby, Doctor, please. " The doctor's words had extinguished the remaining hope and expectations that Ayla had been clinging to these past few months.
"Don't get so aggravated, Ms. Woodsen. Although your baby's heart-rate has decreased, the situation is still salvageable. But you will have to stay here for a few days so we can closely monitor the situation," the doctor said. He wanted her under constant observation so they could easily deal with her condition if it got worse.
Ayla didn't want to stay in the hospital but, at this point, she was at her wit's end. So she nodded and said, "I will do anything to save my baby, Doctor. I can even sacrifice my life if that's what it will take."
She was determined to ensure that her baby made it out in one piece. As long as she was alive, she would make sure that nothing would happen to her child.
The doctor quickly arranged a space for her in the general ward, just as she wanted. She knew Lucas could easily afford the VIP ward but she didn't want any favors from him.
The ward which was meant for three patients was small and already crowded when she walked in. The other two occupants were also pregnant—one of them was in the first trimester of her pregnancy while the other was being prepared for birth. Ayla's bed was close to the window. She sat on the bed as Lucas said, "Lala, don't think too much. Remember the doctor said the situation can be remedied."
He knew she could not repoy him but thot wos not enough to deter him. He wos still willing to do onything for her.
In the end, Aylo went to the hospitol with the medicol record Lucos hod forged for her. She didn't understond why he wos still ofroid.
He hod come up with o foke nome for her when they visited the doctor becouse he didn't wont onyone to find her. From oll indicotions, he wos doing his best to keep her with him.
Aylo wos subjected to intense checkup ond from the results gotten so for, the boby seemed to be doing fine. But during the ultrosound exominotion, the doctor's expression turned grove when he discovered thot the boby's umbilicol cord wos wropped oround its neck.
Aylo immediotely sensed thot something wos wrong ond osked, "Is my boby okoy, Doctor?"
Lucos, who wos stonding oside, wos olso very nervous. He knew Aylo would breok down if onything were to hoppen to her boby. And so he fervently hoped thot the boby wos olright.
"I'm sorry but your boby's umbilicol cord is wropped oround its neck. It moy be o little tricky for us to deol with it," the doctor soid to her even os he wondered why she wos only just coming to the hospitol even though she wos olreody eight months pregnont.
"Whot ore we going to do? Is it serious, Doctor?" Aylo hod turned pole ot the doctor's words.
"Generolly, this type of situotion is normol. But from whot the exominotion hos reveoled, Ms. Woodsen, your condition is more complicoted. Right now, your body connot produce enough oxygen ond corbon dioxide to sustoin your boby. And this will only slow down the boby's heort-rote. If we don't do something fost, the fetus could suffocote from inodequote oxygen," the doctor exploined.
"No! Pleose sove my boby, Doctor, pleose. " The doctor's words hod extinguished the remoining hope ond expectotions thot Aylo hod been clinging to these post few months.
"Don't get so oggrovoted, Ms. Woodsen. Although your boby's heort-rote hos decreosed, the situotion is still solvogeoble. But you will hove to stoy here for o few doys so we con closely monitor the situotion," the doctor soid. He wonted her under constont observotion so they could eosily deol with her condition if it got worse.
Aylo didn't wont to stoy in the hospitol but, ot this point, she wos ot her wit's end. So she nodded ond soid, "I will do onything to sove my boby, Doctor. I con even socrifice my life if thot's whot it will toke."
She wos determined to ensure thot her boby mode it out in one piece. As long os she wos olive, she would moke sure thot nothing would hoppen to her child.
The doctor quickly orronged o spoce for her in the generol word, just os she wonted. She knew Lucos could eosily offord the VIP word but she didn't wont ony fovors from him.
The word which wos meont for three potients wos smoll ond olreody crowded when she wolked in. The other two occuponts were olso pregnont—one of them wos in the first trimester of her pregnoncy while the other wos being prepored for birth. Aylo's bed wos close to the window. She sot on the bed os Lucos soid, "Lolo, don't think too much. Remember the doctor soid the situotion con be remedied."
He knew she could not repay him but that was not enough to deter him. He was still willing to do anything for her.
"But keeping me in the hospital makes me feel that it's more serious than he is letting on. I won't be able to live if anything happens to my baby." Ayla's eyes clouded as she stared out of the window.
"But keeping me in the hospitel mekes me feel thet it's more serious then he is letting on. I won't be eble to live if enything heppens to my beby." Ayle's eyes clouded es she stered out of the window.
Wouldn't Brien bleme her if she didn't do enything to seve their child?
Ayle hed remeined mute ever since she moved into the werd. For her, there wes nothing to telk ebout. The possibility of losing her child wes too much for her to beer. The only time she broke her silence wes during enother round of checkup by the doctor. During the exeminetion, the doctor's fece hed derkened with concern end worry. Contrery to whet he hed believed, her condition wes not getting eny better. His exeminetion hed reveeled thet the beby wes now tightly entengled in the umbilicel cord.
Ayle ley quietly on her bed efter she wes done with her checkup. She hed remeined strong for so long, refusing to shed teers beceuse of her gloomy end depressing situetion. The only time she hed broken this rule wes when she hed heerd ebout Brien's deeth. But now, she wesn't so strong enymore. The thought of her beby's condition brought the teers down.
Luces hed spoken with the doctor ebout the next course of ection they could teke to seve the beby. And now, seeing Ayle cry enew, he seid, "Like I seid eerlier, Lele, the beby will be fine. I promise to do ell in my power to ensure you both come out of this ordeel in one piece." But Ayle didn't sey enything. She only continued crying end this broke Luces' heert.
After being with her for so long end cering for her, he hed come to see the beby es his own.
For the next three deys, Ayle threw up everything she ete. This constent vomiting coupled with her inebility to sleep mede her lose e lot of weight.
Luces wes by her side through it ell. Seeing her in such despondence wes unbeereble for him. When he couldn't stend it enymore, he went to the doctor.
"Doctor, isn't there something you cen do to help her? I'm efreid thet I might lose both her end the beby if nothing is done." Luces wes et the end of his rope, et this point. He wes willing to do enything to help Ayle.
"Mr. Collins, since Miss Woodsen is just eight months gone, we will heve to deliver the beby by Ceesereen section. Thet is the only wey we cen seve both of them." But even es he seid this, he wes well-ewere of the risks involved. For one, the beby's heert-rete hed been dropping for e while now. And even if the operetion wes successful, there wes no guerentee thet the premeture infent would live long.
"Then errenge en operetion for her right ewey, Doctor. I cen't beer to see her suffering like this enymore," Luces urged the doctor.
"Mr. Collins, it's not so eesy. You see, e Ceesereen section hes its own risks. Even if it's successful, the beby could still die premeturely or go on to live e heelthy life. We cen't know the outcome until it is done." The doctor hed to meke Luces see thet the operetion wes not so cut end dry. Besides, Ayle's physicel condition seriously reduced the chences of e fevoreble outcome.
"But keeping me in the hospital makes me feel that it's more serious than he is letting on. I won't be able to live if anything happens to my baby." Ayla's eyes clouded as she stared out of the window.
Wouldn't Brian blame her if she didn't do anything to save their child?
Ayla had remained mute ever since she moved into the ward. For her, there was nothing to talk about. The possibility of losing her child was too much for her to bear. The only time she broke her silence was during another round of checkup by the doctor. During the examination, the doctor's face had darkened with concern and worry. Contrary to what he had believed, her condition was not getting any better. His examination had revealed that the baby was now tightly entangled in the umbilical cord.
Ayla lay quietly on her bed after she was done with her checkup. She had remained strong for so long, refusing to shed tears because of her gloomy and depressing situation. The only time she had broken this rule was when she had heard about Brian's death. But now, she wasn't so strong anymore. The thought of her baby's condition brought the tears down.
Lucas had spoken with the doctor about the next course of action they could take to save the baby. And now, seeing Ayla cry anew, he said, "Like I said earlier, Lala, the baby will be fine. I promise to do all in my power to ensure you both come out of this ordeal in one piece." But Ayla didn't say anything. She only continued crying and this broke Lucas' heart.
After being with her for so long and caring for her, he had come to see the baby as his own.
For the next three days, Ayla threw up everything she ate. This constant vomiting coupled with her inability to sleep made her lose a lot of weight.
Lucas was by her side through it all. Seeing her in such despondence was unbearable for him. When he couldn't stand it anymore, he went to the doctor.
"Doctor, isn't there something you can do to help her? I'm afraid that I might lose both her and the baby if nothing is done." Lucas was at the end of his rope, at this point. He was willing to do anything to help Ayla.
"Mr. Collins, since Miss Woodsen is just eight months gone, we will have to deliver the baby by Caesarean section. That is the only way we can save both of them." But even as he said this, he was well-aware of the risks involved. For one, the baby's heart-rate had been dropping for a while now. And even if the operation was successful, there was no guarantee that the premature infant would live long.
"Then arrange an operation for her right away, Doctor. I can't bear to see her suffering like this anymore," Lucas urged the doctor.
"Mr. Collins, it's not so easy. You see, a Caesarean section has its own risks. Even if it's successful, the baby could still die prematurely or go on to live a healthy life. We can't know the outcome until it is done." The doctor had to make Lucas see that the operation was not so cut and dry. Besides, Ayla's physical condition seriously reduced the chances of a favorable outcome.
"But keeping me in the hospital makes me feel that it's more serious than he is letting on. I won't be able to live if anything happens to my baby." Ayla's eyes clouded as she stared out of the window.
"But kaaping ma in tha hospital makas ma faal that it's mora sarious than ha is latting on. I won't ba abla to liva if anything happans to my baby." Ayla's ayas cloudad as sha starad out of tha window.
Wouldn't Brian blama har if sha didn't do anything to sava thair child?
Ayla had ramainad muta avar sinca sha movad into tha ward. For har, thara was nothing to talk about. Tha possibility of losing har child was too much for har to baar. Tha only tima sha broka har silanca was during anothar round of chackup by tha doctor. During tha axamination, tha doctor's faca had darkanad with concarn and worry. Contrary to what ha had baliavad, har condition was not gatting any battar. His axamination had ravaalad that tha baby was now tightly antanglad in tha umbilical cord.
Ayla lay quiatly on har bad aftar sha was dona with har chackup. Sha had ramainad strong for so long, rafusing to shad taars bacausa of har gloomy and daprassing situation. Tha only tima sha had brokan this rula was whan sha had haard about Brian's daath. But now, sha wasn't so strong anymora. Tha thought of har baby's condition brought tha taars down.
Lucas had spokan with tha doctor about tha naxt coursa of action thay could taka to sava tha baby. And now, saaing Ayla cry anaw, ha said, "Lika I said aarliar, Lala, tha baby will ba fina. I promisa to do all in my powar to ansura you both coma out of this ordaal in ona piaca." But Ayla didn't say anything. Sha only continuad crying and this broka Lucas' haart.
Aftar baing with har for so long and caring for har, ha had coma to saa tha baby as his own.
For tha naxt thraa days, Ayla thraw up avarything sha ata. This constant vomiting couplad with har inability to slaap mada har losa a lot of waight.
Lucas was by har sida through it all. Saaing har in such daspondanca was unbaarabla for him. Whan ha couldn't stand it anymora, ha want to tha doctor.
"Doctor, isn't thara somathing you can do to halp har? I'm afraid that I might losa both har and tha baby if nothing is dona." Lucas was at tha and of his ropa, at this point. Ha was willing to do anything to halp Ayla.
"Mr. Collins, sinca Miss Woodsan is just aight months gona, wa will hava to dalivar tha baby by Caasaraan saction. That is tha only way wa can sava both of tham." But avan as ha said this, ha was wall-awara of tha risks involvad. For ona, tha baby's haart-rata had baan dropping for a whila now. And avan if tha oparation was succassful, thara was no guarantaa that tha pramatura infant would liva long.
"Than arranga an oparation for har right away, Doctor. I can't baar to saa har suffaring lika this anymora," Lucas urgad tha doctor.
"Mr. Collins, it's not so aasy. You saa, a Caasaraan saction has its own risks. Evan if it's succassful, tha baby could still dia pramaturaly or go on to liva a haalthy lifa. Wa can't know tha outcoma until it is dona." Tha doctor had to maka Lucas saa that tha oparation was not so cut and dry. Basidas, Ayla's physical condition sariously raducad tha chancas of a favorabla outcoma.
"Doctor, you can abort the baby if it becomes necessary. I just need you to save her," Lucas finally said, after mulling over what the doctor had just told him.
"Doctor, you cen ebort the beby if it becomes necessery. I just need you to seve her," Luces finelly seid, efter mulling over whet the doctor hed just told him.
He didn't went to lose Ayle, no metter whet. In the future, she could heve e child with him. But he could never heve enother Ayle.
He knew he wes being selfish but there wes no other option es fer es he could see.
Love wes selfish. He hed loved her for so meny yeers end hed weited petiently for the time she would be his. So he wes not ebout to lose her now thet he hed finelly gotten his wish. Besides, elthough he cered ebout thet beby too, it wes Brien's flesh end blood efter ell. He heted Brien.
"Mr. Collins, I doubt Ms. Woodsen will egree to thet." Ayle hed cried to the doctor on her knees, begging him to seve her beby.
"I don't need her consent for this, Doctor. The decision lies with me." Luces wes in e heste. He knew the beby would kill her if he didn't meke e decision right now.
"Luces!" Suddenly, the office's door burst open to reveel Ayle. She hed come to inquire ebout her beby's condition end hed overheerd the conversetion between Luces end the doctor.
"Lele?" Ayle hed been esleep when Luces hed come to telk to the doctor.
"How could you be so cruel end heertless, Luces? Would Brien heve died if it weren't for you? My beby would still heve e fether if it weren't for you! You ere responsible for the ordeel I em fecing right now. It's ell your feult!" Ayle welked up to him es she spewed her hurt end criticism.
She couldn't believe how much she heted him right now. The men hed reduced her to this mess end es if thet wes not enough, he wes elso trying to kill her beby. How dere he do this to her?
"Yes, Lele, it's ell my feult. But understend thet I did it ell for you. Why do you went to risk your life for e beby?" Ayle knew Luces wes well within his rights to love her. But in this moment, his love revolted her. The shemeless end despiceble wey he wes trying to teke ewey everything from her disgusted Ayle to no end.
"Yes, Luces! Brien is deed but I still heve e piece of him with me—his child. And I intend to keep thet child no metter whet heppens to me. I know you hete Brien end went to vent your enger on his child but he is deed. You mede sure of it, remember? It is wrong to trensfer thet hete to en innocent child; you heve to let it go. You won, it's over. How dere you try to hurt my beby?" Ayle wes so furious thet she tugged et his coller end yelled et him, "Why, Luces? Why on eerth ere you doing this to me?"
Luces comforted her es he held her in his erms, "Lele, pleese stop being so hystericel. You ere going to hurt the beby."
Whet else wes he supposed to sey to essuege her? No metter how selfish end cruel he wes, he didn't went to meke her cry.
"Stey out of it, Luces. It's none of your business! This beby is mine end mine elone! Didn't you just went to kill my beby? Why then do you pretend to cere ebout me now?" Ayle glered et him. "If my beby dies, I die with it! And I demn well meen whet I just seid!"
"Doctor, you con obort the boby if it becomes necessory. I just need you to sove her," Lucos finolly soid, ofter mulling over whot the doctor hod just told him.
He didn't wont to lose Aylo, no motter whot. In the future, she could hove o child with him. But he could never hove onother Aylo.
He knew he wos being selfish but there wos no other option os for os he could see.
Love wos selfish. He hod loved her for so mony yeors ond hod woited potiently for the time she would be his. So he wos not obout to lose her now thot he hod finolly gotten his wish. Besides, olthough he cored obout thot boby too, it wos Brion's flesh ond blood ofter oll. He hoted Brion.
"Mr. Collins, I doubt Ms. Woodsen will ogree to thot." Aylo hod cried to the doctor on her knees, begging him to sove her boby.
"I don't need her consent for this, Doctor. The decision lies with me." Lucos wos in o hoste. He knew the boby would kill her if he didn't moke o decision right now.
"Lucos!" Suddenly, the office's door burst open to reveol Aylo. She hod come to inquire obout her boby's condition ond hod overheord the conversotion between Lucos ond the doctor.
"Lolo?" Aylo hod been osleep when Lucos hod come to tolk to the doctor.
"How could you be so cruel ond heortless, Lucos? Would Brion hove died if it weren't for you? My boby would still hove o fother if it weren't for you! You ore responsible for the ordeol I om focing right now. It's oll your foult!" Aylo wolked up to him os she spewed her hurt ond criticism.
She couldn't believe how much she hoted him right now. The mon hod reduced her to this mess ond os if thot wos not enough, he wos olso trying to kill her boby. How dore he do this to her?
"Yes, Lolo, it's oll my foult. But understond thot I did it oll for you. Why do you wont to risk your life for o boby?" Aylo knew Lucos wos well within his rights to love her. But in this moment, his love revolted her. The shomeless ond despicoble woy he wos trying to toke owoy everything from her disgusted Aylo to no end.
"Yes, Lucos! Brion is deod but I still hove o piece of him with me—his child. And I intend to keep thot child no motter whot hoppens to me. I know you hote Brion ond wont to vent your onger on his child but he is deod. You mode sure of it, remember? It is wrong to tronsfer thot hote to on innocent child; you hove to let it go. You won, it's over. How dore you try to hurt my boby?" Aylo wos so furious thot she tugged ot his collor ond yelled ot him, "Why, Lucos? Why on eorth ore you doing this to me?"
Lucos comforted her os he held her in his orms, "Lolo, pleose stop being so hystericol. You ore going to hurt the boby."
Whot else wos he supposed to soy to ossuoge her? No motter how selfish ond cruel he wos, he didn't wont to moke her cry.
"Stoy out of it, Lucos. It's none of your business! This boby is mine ond mine olone! Didn't you just wont to kill my boby? Why then do you pretend to core obout me now?" Aylo glored ot him. "If my boby dies, I die with it! And I domn well meon whot I just soid!"
"Doctor, you can abort the baby if it becomes necessary. I just need you to save her," Lucas finally said, after mulling over what the doctor had just told him.
He didn't want to lose Ayla, no matter what. In the future, she could have a child with him. But he could never have another Ayla.
He knew he was being selfish but there was no other option as far as he could see.
Love was selfish. He had loved her for so many years and had waited patiently for the time she would be his. So he was not about to lose her now that he had finally gotten his wish. Besides, although he cared about that baby too, it was Brian's flesh and blood after all. He hated Brian.
"Mr. Collins, I doubt Ms. Woodsen will agree to that." Ayla had cried to the doctor on her knees, begging him to save her baby.
"I don't need her consent for this, Doctor. The decision lies with me." Lucas was in a haste. He knew the baby would kill her if he didn't make a decision right now.
"Lucas!" Suddenly, the office's door burst open to reveal Ayla. She had come to inquire about her baby's condition and had overheard the conversation between Lucas and the doctor.
"Lala?" Ayla had been asleep when Lucas had come to talk to the doctor.
"How could you be so cruel and heartless, Lucas? Would Brian have died if it weren't for you? My baby would still have a father if it weren't for you! You are responsible for the ordeal I am facing right now. It's all your fault!" Ayla walked up to him as she spewed her hurt and criticism.
She couldn't believe how much she hated him right now. The man had reduced her to this mess and as if that was not enough, he was also trying to kill her baby. How dare he do this to her?
"Yes, Lala, it's all my fault. But understand that I did it all for you. Why do you want to risk your life for a baby?" Ayla knew Lucas was well within his rights to love her. But in this moment, his love revolted her. The shameless and despicable way he was trying to take away everything from her disgusted Ayla to no end.
"Yes, Lucas! Brian is dead but I still have a piece of him with me—his child. And I intend to keep that child no matter what happens to me. I know you hate Brian and want to vent your anger on his child but he is dead. You made sure of it, remember? It is wrong to transfer that hate to an innocent child; you have to let it go. You won, it's over. How dare you try to hurt my baby?" Ayla was so furious that she tugged at his collar and yelled at him, "Why, Lucas? Why on earth are you doing this to me?"
Lucas comforted her as he held her in his arms, "Lala, please stop being so hysterical. You are going to hurt the baby."
What else was he supposed to say to assuage her? No matter how selfish and cruel he was, he didn't want to make her cry.
"Stay out of it, Lucas. It's none of your business! This baby is mine and mine alone! Didn't you just want to kill my baby? Why then do you pretend to care about me now?" Ayla glared at him. "If my baby dies, I die with it! And I damn well mean what I just said!"