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A flash of anger crossed her features, and I instantly regretted my reaction.

What was wrong with me?

“I’m so sorry, Layana,” I blurted, rushing to her side with desperate urgency. “I’m incredibly frustrated. I can’t believe this has happened, and all I want is to take you home, lay you in our bed, and keep you safe forever.”

Slowly, the flames in her gaze softened, replaced by a forgiving smile illuminating the dim room like the first rays of dawn. As I cupped her cheek tenderly, I leaned in and brushed my lips against hers, a kiss filled with both apology and promise.

“Are you always going to be so overprotective, darling?” she teased, despite the lingering shadows of the day.

I nodded, fully aware of my nature.

“Yes, absolutely,” I affirmed. “It comes hand in hand with my love—a complete package deal.”

Her gaze locked with mine, deep and earnest.

“I understand that, my love,” she murmured, her irises sparkling with both affection and fierce resolve. “But please,believe me when I say that if you ever try to keep me confined like a caged bird, you’ll unleash the wild tiger within me.”

My eyes widened in startled surprise at her fierce declaration.

“I hope you know that’s not what I—” I began, wanting desperately to defuse the charged air around us.

“Hello!” the doctor cheerfully announced as he entered the room, his presence slicing through our quiet conversation like a sudden gust of wind.

I slowly turned to face him, bracing myself for the weight of his impending news. My heart raced in anticipation, and my muscles tensed as I prepared for a stern lecture or some grave revelation.

Instead of any preamble directed at me, he moved purposefully toward Laya. His eyes scanned every detail as he examined the neatly wrapped bandages covering her wounds. At the same time, his skilled fingers explored the array of tubes accompanying the rhythmic beeps from the machine connected to her frail body.

I took a sharp breath, praying for calm. This harbinger of dread tested every ounce of my patience. He reached the end of the bed, grabbed her chart with methodical efficiency, and quickly scribbled a few notes before finally lifting his gaze to meet Laya’s eyes.

“Mrs. Galanis, may I have your permission to discuss your medical condition openly in front of your husband and sister?” he asked, maintaining a professional demeanor that conveyed the seriousness of the subject.

Laya’s eyes widened as she gave a timid nod before saying, “O-of course, yes.”

“Excellent, thank you,” he replied, his attention once again focused solely on her as though we were mere spectators of an intimate, life-altering conversation.

Cali and I exchanged nervous glances, our unspoken understanding suggesting the seriousness of the matter about to be revealed.

“We conduct a complete blood screening on all of our patients before preparing them for surgery,” he began, each word measured and deliberate.

Laya furrowed her brows in confusion as she nodded, her eyes reflecting a mix of worry and perplexity.

“Your results revealed something unexpected that we need to discuss. Fortunately, the bullet only pierced your shoulder. We conducted precise, localized imaging on that area, ensuring the necessary surgical intervention was targeted and successful. We’re confident that we’ve eliminated all imminent threats, so further surgery isn’t necessary.”

Every sentence out of his mouth added to the already palpable tension in the room. Each of us held our breath in quiet suspense as we awaited his next revelation.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly as this gloomy harbinger of fate savored each prolonged moment.

Was my wife teetering on the brink of death? What was the astonishing secret that had been uncovered? I felt an uncontrollable urge to shake him, to jolt him into revealing the truth more quickly.

Internally, my fists clenched as I urged my agitated body and the enigmatic Dr. Doom to end the delay and reveal the truth without hesitation.

“Mrs. Galanis, were you aware that you’re pregnant?” he finally asked, his tone matter-of-fact yet holding an undercurrent of genuine astonishment.

In an instant, the room fell silent. My heart skipped a beat and then seemed to stop entirely. It was as if the deep, unyielding void of this revelation consumed time.

“Pregnant?” Laya’s surprise was as evident as mine.

“I take it from your reaction that the news is as unexpected for you as it is for your husband?” he pressed.