Chapter 597
"What happened?"
Sophia Miller rushed forward and scooped Vivian Bennett into her arms.
Rainwater mixed with blood soaked her sleeves.
Her voice trembled as she turned to look at Grace Harper, who was slumped on the ground.
Grace's face was deathly pale.
Her lips quivered.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, mingling with the rain.
"Vivian... Vivian is pregnant. She fell from the bridge... The baby... The baby might not make it... It's my fault..."
A chill shot through Sophia's entire body.
Her blood seemed to freeze in an instant.
Tonight's engagement party had already been a disaster.
The blow Vivian had suffered was heavy enough.
But now... she was pregnant.
And she had fallen from such a height.
If she lost the baby too...
Sophia didn't dare to think about it.
Love, reputation, her child—everything had collapsed overnight.
How could anyone, no matter how strong, endure that?
Were Liam Sullivan and Vivian Bennett destined to be nothing but a tragedy?
"Vivian, hold on. I'm taking you to the hospital right now. The baby will be fine. It has to be."
Sophia forced down a sob and looked down at the woman in her arms.
Vivian's face was ashen.
Her eyes were unfocused.
Her rain-soaked hair clung to her forehead.
She looked like a withered leaf.
Sophia felt her heart clench painfully.
A wave of sorrow rose in her throat, stinging her eyes.
Vivian's consciousness drifted in and out through the pain.
Her body felt torn apart.
Her vision blurred and cleared.
In her haze, she felt someone lift her.
The embrace was warm and strong.
The voice was deep and firm, telling her the baby would be fine.
It was Liam...
He had to have come.
Only he would appear when she was most helpless.
Only he could give her this sense of security.
If he said the baby would be fine, then it would be fine.
With great effort, she raised her hand.
Her icy fingers clutched the sleeve of the person holding her, gripping tightly.
"Liam... We're having a baby. Are you happy? We're finally having a baby... You always said you wanted a child..."
Sophia froze.
Then she understood.
Vivian was delirious, mistaking her for Liam.
Looking into Vivian's eyes, filled with dependence and hope, Sophia's nose stung.
Tears she could no longer hold back spilled over.
She hated that she wasn't Liam.
She hated that man for being nowhere to be found when he was most needed.
Vivian had already suffered so much.
Why did even this last bit of warmth have to be taken from her?
"Yes, I'm very happy."
Sophia forced herself to imitate Liam's tone, lowering her voice to a husky whisper.
"Don't be afraid. The baby will be fine. I'm here."
Vivian seemed to relax a little.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched her pale lips.
She nestled closer into Sophia's embrace.
Her voice was as light as a feather.
"I knew... you would protect me and the baby... You said I was the most important person in your life... How could you ever leave me... I know you love me. You love me so, so much..."
Sophia's tears fell freely.
Her throat felt blocked, unable to utter a single word.
Every word Vivian spoke felt like a knife twisting in her heart.
"Liam... Do you think it's a boy or a girl? You promised to build the nursery yourself... Can we start tomorrow? Let's make it big and beautiful..."
"Liam... I want to make the baby's clothes, the little socks, the little hats myself... Would that be okay?"
"Liam... When the baby grows up, let's send them to my alma mater... The maple leaves there are so red, red like blood... Do you remember?"
"Liam... We..."
Vivian's voice grew weaker and weaker.
Finally, her body went limp.
She lost consciousness completely.
The wail of an ambulance siren pierced the rainy night, growing louder.
Sophia wiped her tears.
Carefully, she lifted Vivian onto the stretcher.
The paramedics sprang into action.
Oxygen mask, blood pressure monitor, IV line—their movements were swift and practiced.
Sophia sat beside the stretcher.
She held Vivian's cold hand tightly.
Her eyes were fixed on the monitor, watching the numbers flicker.
Outside the window, the rain fell harder.
The night was thick and impenetrable.