CHAPTER 4 — The Race Against Time
The hospital corridor was too white.
Too clean.
Too quiet for something so urgent.
Daniel sat outside the ICU, hands buried in his hair, replaying everything.
The wedding.
Her smile.
The way she kept holding her stomach slightly too carefully.
He hadn’t noticed.
Not once.
Carol stood beside him, no longer the strict mother-in-law.
Just a woman watching the consequences of pride unfold in real time.
A doctor finally approached.
“We stabilized her… but she’s critically weak. Another episode like last night… and we may not have time.”
Daniel stood immediately.
“I want to see her.”
Inside the ICU, Sophie looked smaller than before.
Machines now spoke for her.
Daniel approached slowly.
His voice cracked.
“I’m here.”
Her eyes opened slightly.
And for the first time, she looked at him not with fear…
but apology.
“I didn’t want… to ruin your wedding day…”
Daniel shook his head.
“No. You should’ve ruined it. You should’ve told me.”
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“I just wanted… one perfect day…”
Silence filled the room.
Then—
The monitor beeped unevenly.
May you like
Carol rushed forward.
“Doctor!”
