Chapter 243 A Shrinking Kingdom

Chapter 243: Chapter 243 A Shrinking Kingdom

By the time Alpha Sebastian reached Mercy General, Robert and Jennifer had stepped out to speak with the billing office.

Isabella remained in the room, perched on the vinyl couch beneath the window. Her lacquered nails tapped against her phone as she scrolled.

She had refused to leave.

The Hale family was already drowning. Alpha Sebastian had lost his job, their accounts were nearly empty, and Serena owed more than a hundred million dollars.

If she managed to take another cent from Alpha Sebastian, the entire family could lose everything.

"Look who finally showed up," Isabella said without looking up.

Alpha Sebastian’s jaw tightened. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Collecting what she owes you." Isabella lifted her eyes toward Serena. "She cost you your job. The least she can do is write you a check."

"Isabella," he warned.

"Back when she was overseas, you wired her money without asking questions. Now you’re broke, and she suddenly can’t spare a dime." Isabella gave Serena a cold smile. "That tells us who really loved who, doesn’t it?"

Serena’s jaw tightened. She ignored Isabella and turned to Alpha Sebastian, her green eyes filling with tears.

"The doctor said stress isn’t good for the baby."

Alpha Sebastian’s gaze dropped to her stomach. After a long pause, he looked at his sister.

"Go home, Isabella."

She crossed her arms and sank deeper into the couch.

"No."

Alpha Sebastian did not argue. He simply turned back to Serena.

She curled her fingers into the blanket. "What did she mean about your job?"

He stood beside the bed, his expression hard and distant.

"Alpha Carter asked me to resign. The announcement went out this morning. I’m finishing the handover with Finn, and then I’m done at Hale Group."

Serena’s face went pale.She lowered her gaze. "Sebastian, I’m sorry."

Isabella snorted, but Serena ignored her.

"It’s not the end of the world," Serena said quickly. "You have a strong reputation. Headhunters will be calling. Another Pack will hire you as a CEO within weeks."

"I signed a two-year non-compete."

The hope vanished from her face.

No job. No income. And more than a hundred million dollars in debt.

"Then you can work in another industry," she said, forcing the words out. "Something related to technology. You could consult, or join a private firm..."

"We’ll see."

His voice stopped her.

"You know my situation now," he continued. "You’re barely holding your own life together. Are you sure you still want to have this baby?"

Serena stared at him. "What are you saying?"

Isabella answered before he could.

"He’s saying that keeping the baby is your choice. But the Hales are not paying for it, raising it, or cleaning up another financial disaster. If you want this child, you’ll have to support it yourself."

Alpha Sebastian shot her a warning look.

She finally fell silent.

Tears rolled down Serena’s cheeks.

"This is our child," she whispered. "You said you only wanted children I carried. This baby exists because you agreed to it. How can you suddenly act like he means nothing?"

Alpha Sebastian said nothing.

"Things went wrong for all of us," Serena continued, both hands covering her abdomen. "But this baby is innocent. We can’t punish the baby for what we did."

Alpha Sebastian remained unreadable.

"They’re repeating the ultrasound and checking my bloodwork because the pain got worse," she said softly. "Please wait for the results. Hear what the doctor says before you decide anything."

Silence filled the room.

Finally, Alpha Sebastian said, "Fine."

Serena released a shaky breath.

"My parents have been running themselves into the ground because of me." She wiped her cheeks. "Will you stay tonight? Just until the doctor comes back with the results?"

Alpha Sebastian pulled a chair beside the window and sat down.

Outside, the city lights flickered on one by one.

He remembered how Eira used to leave a single lamp burning for him, no matter how late he came home. The moment he walked through the door, the pressure of the day seemed to disappear.

Alpha Sebastian closed his eyes.

He missed her so badly it hurt.

And he had been the one who pushed her away. He had turned the woman who loved him into his enemy with his own hands.

Serena texted her parents, telling them to go home and get some rest. Alpha Sebastian had arrived, and she was no longer alone.

Isabella watched her brother pull a chair beside the window. She knew exactly what Serena planned to do next. She would wait until the room was quiet, cry a little, and keep working on Alpha Sebastian until he opened his wallet again.

Isabella grabbed her coat.

At the door, she stopped and looked back at her brother.

"Sebastian, one thing before I go." Her voice turned cold. "If she starts crying and convinces you to pay her debt to Eira, remember who you’re helping."

Serena’s fingers tightened around the blanket.

"She drugged Eira," Isabella continued. "So picture this. You hand Serena the money, she passes it straight to Eira, and Eira finds out you helped the woman who hurt her."

Serena nearly came off the bed.

Isabella had found the exact place to press. She had used Eira’s name like a blade.

Then she opened the door and walked out.

The room fell silent.

Serena lowered her head. Tears slipped down her cheeks, one after another, without a sound.

He said nothing. He only pushed the tissue box across the blanket.

The door opened again.

The emergency physician stepped inside, followed by a nurse. He glanced at Serena, then at Alpha Sebastian.

"Are you the father?"

Alpha Sebastian nodded.

The doctor’s expression hardened.

"She is in the early stages of pregnancy, and this is already her second visit for abdominal pain. She has no established prenatal records, and she has been under serious emotional stress."

Alpha Sebastian lowered his eyes.

"That’s my fault," he said quietly. "The situation has been complicated."

"Complicated does not change the medical risks." The doctor checked the monitor and then looked back at him. "She needs proper prenatal care, follow-up with an OB, and a stable environment. If the pain gets worse, if she has bleeding, dizziness, fainting, or shoulder pain, she needs immediate attention."

Serena wiped her cheeks.

"We’re still deciding whether to continue the pregnancy," Alpha Sebastian said.

The doctor studied both of them for a moment.

"That is a personal decision, but you need accurate medical advice before making it. You are still early enough that you have options, but those options depend on your health, the ultrasound findings, and how far along the pregnancy is. Do not delay speaking with an obstetrician or a qualified provider."

He turned toward the door, then paused.

"And whatever you decide, make the decision together and without threatening or pressuring each other. Her health comes first."

Alpha Sebastian stood. "We understand."

The doctor gave him a firm look.

"I hope you do."