Chapter 242 The Price of Silence

Chapter 242: Chapter 242 The Price of Silence

"Legally, Sebastian has no claim to it now," Jennifer replied evenly. "Any money recovered through the lawsuit belongs to Eira. We are already trying to gather what we can. If you want to make a claim, speak to Eira’s attorney. Showing up here and threatening us is harassment. I can call the police."

Isabella laughed.

"Go ahead. Call them." She stepped closer. "I’ll stand in the hallway with a bullhorn and tell every neighbor that your precious daughter slept with a married man, burned through his money, and is now being sued by the wife. Let’s see how proud you feel when the whole neighborhood knows exactly what your daughter has done."

Jennifer’s neck stiffened. No one had ever spoken to her that way.

Robert slipped an arm around his wife’s shoulders. His face had turned dark with anger.

Serena grabbed Isabella’s wrist. "Didn’t you hear her? Whatever money is recovered belongs to Eira, not you. Take it up with her."

Isabella pulled free.

"So you’re not paying me?"

"We don’t have the money."

"Then I’ll tell everyone."

Robert and Jennifer exchanged a frightened look. They knew Isabella was reckless enough to do it.

Serena’s face tightened with desperation.

"Fine. Go ahead and scream." She placed a hand over her lower abdomen. "But remember, Isabella, I’m carrying your brother’s child. If anything happens to this baby because you keep attacking me, that will be on you."

Isabella’s eyes dropped to Serena’s stomach.

"Oh, right. I almost forgot. You’re pregnant with my brother’s little bastard."

"Isabella." Serena’s voice shook.

"Sebastian and Eira are divorced," Serena said. "My baby is not a bastard."

"No ring. No father. That’s what people will call it." Isabella’s voice turned cruel. "Go ahead and have the baby. See what the other kids say when they find out he’s growing up with no father. A little stray with only a mother and no..."

"Shut up!"

Serena slapped her across the face.

For one second, the room went completely still.

Then Isabella lunged. She grabbed a fistful of Serena’s hair and yanked hard.

"You crazy little..."

Robert caught Isabella around the shoulders while Jennifer pulled Serena away. The three of them stumbled into the entryway, knocking over a small side table.

"This is my house!" Robert shouted. "Get your hands off her!"

Isabella fought against his grip, still cursing, but Jennifer managed to push Serena behind her.

Then Serena doubled over.

The anger drained from her face.

A sharp pain twisted through her lower abdomen, stronger than before. She pressed both hands against her stomach and sucked in a breath.

"Dad..."

Robert released Isabella and turned toward her.

"Mom, I need a hospital." Serena’s voice broke. "Something’s wrong."

Jennifer grabbed her phone with shaking hands and called 911.

The pain came in another wave. Serena bent forward, her face turning pale.

Isabella stopped struggling. ℯℯ𝑙.

This was no longer a fight. If the pregnancy ended, everyone would blame her for starting the confrontation.

When the ambulance arrived, paramedics helped Serena onto the stretcher. Robert and Jennifer climbed in beside her.

Isabella stood on the sidewalk, shaken and furious. Then she flagged down a cab and followed them to Mercy General.

At the hospital, Serena was taken to the emergency department and then moved to the obstetric unit.

The same physician who had seen her during her first visit came in to evaluate her.

The moment he heard about the worsening abdominal pain, his expression tightened.

"Most of your previous results are already here," he said. "Your CBC, quantitative beta-hCG, blood type, Rh factor, urine test, and initial ultrasound have all been recorded."

Serena pressed a hand against her lower abdomen. "Then why does it hurt so much?"

"Because your symptoms have changed, and we need to find out why."

He scrolled through the chart.

"Your HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis screens were sent to an outside lab. They’re still pending, but there’s no reason to repeat them today. We’ll review those results when they come back."

Serena swallowed. "What are you going to do now?"

"We’ll repeat the transvaginal ultrasound and compare it with the last scan. We need to check the location of the pregnancy and look for any sign of bleeding or another complication. Depending on what we see, we may repeat your CBC or beta-hCG level."

"You think something is wrong with the baby?"

"I’m not saying that. I’m saying worsening abdominal pain in early pregnancy needs to be evaluated in person."

He entered the order into the computer.

"I’ll also ask the OB team to review the images. If the results are reassuring, we’ll talk about discharge and follow-up. If anything looks concerning, we’ll keep you here for observation."

Robert and Jennifer nodded at once.

"Do whatever you need to do," Robert said.

After the nurses settled Serena into a hospital room, her parents stepped out to speak with the doctor.

Serena reached for her phone and called Alpha Sebastian.

He answered after several rings.

"Serena?"

"Isabella came after me today." Serena made her voice tremble. "She frightened me so badly that I started having severe cramps. I’m at the hospital."

There was a pause.

"Are you bleeding?"

"Not yet. But I’m scared." She pressed a hand to her stomach. "Sebastian, this is your baby too. Please come sit with me."

He said nothing.

"She called our child a fatherless stray," Serena whispered. "She said no one in your family wants this baby."

The silence on the line grew longer.

Then Alpha Sebastian’s voice came through, low and tired.

"I’m on my way."

A faint smile touched Serena’s lips.

"Thank you."

She ended the call just as Isabella entered the room.

Isabella had heard enough. Disgust twisted her face.

"Unbelievable. Let me save you the heartbreak. Even if my brother comes, he isn’t coming because he wants this pregnancy. He’s coming to tell you it’s over. Mom already told him yesterday. We don’t want this baby."

Serena’s pupils tightened.

Then she slowly lifted her chin.

"Whether this baby stays or goes is not your decision. It’s not your mother’s decision, either. It’s my body and my choice."

"You’re only keeping the pregnancy to trap my brother," Isabella shot back. "And don’t flatter yourself. A woman like you is not guaranteed a healthy baby just because she wants one."

Serena’s hand tightened around the blanket.

"If you have so much to say, wait until Alpha Sebastian gets here and say it to his face. Stop hiding behind insults when it’s just the two of us."

"You think he’s going to choose you?"

"I think you’re terrified he won’t choose your family."

The two women glared at each other until Robert and Jennifer returned.