Chapter 500

Agony like a soul being torn apart consumed Sophia's entire body as her consciousness began to fade.

Was she dying?

Through the haze, she thought she saw Ethan Roscente's usually cold, composed face twisted with panic. His trembling arms held her tight as his hoarse voice repeated in her ear, "Don't you dare leave me."

How ridiculous.

Since when did he care about her?

Sophia, are you still dreaming?

The blinding emergency lights flickered on.

When her awareness returned slightly, Sophia saw doctors bustling around her.

A middle-aged female doctor noticed she was awake and gently took her hand. "Don't be afraid. The baby is safe. We'll protect you both."

That soothing voice miraculously eased her terror.

With difficulty, Sophia whispered, "If anyone asks... tell them I'm less than five months along."

The doctor frowned. "Why?"

"My fiancé... has violent tendencies." Sophia's voice was weak. "If he finds out the child isn't his..."

The doctor gave her a complicated look.

"Please..." Sophia clutched the doctor's hand desperately.

Finally, the doctor sighed. "I promise."

"Thank you..."

With a relieved smile, Sophia slipped back into darkness.

Outside the ER, Ethan leaned against the wall, his face ashen under the harsh fluorescent lights.

"I'm pregnant, Ethan... I'm carrying your child..."

Those words echoed endlessly in his mind.

He was going to be a father.

And he had almost killed his own child.

"Mr. Roscente!"

Zachary Evans rushed forward to steady Ethan as he staggered.

"Sophia's pregnant," Ethan rasped.

Zachary froze. "Congratulations, sir..."

"Congratulations?" Ethan let out a bitter laugh and stepped back. "I almost—"

The doctor's words—"we might not be able to save it"—made his world spin.

"She'll be fine," Zachary said firmly.

"Yes. She'll be fine." Ethan repeated it like a drowning man clinging to driftwood.

This level of vulnerability had never been seen in the ruthless Ethan Roscente.

"Family of Sophia Lowell?"

The ER doors opened, and the doctor emerged.

"Mother and child are stable, but she needs complete bed rest." The doctor's tone was stern. "No more stress."

The tension in Ethan's shoulders finally eased. "Where is she now?"

The doctor studied his refined, aristocratic appearance, struggling to reconcile it with the image of an abuser.

"Still unconscious. She'll wake in about two hours."

Once the doctor left, Zachary beamed. "Congratulations, sir!"

"Lock this down." Ethan's gaze sharpened. "No leaks."

Zachary understood immediately—if the old Mr. Roscente found out, Sophia's true identity would be exposed.

......

When the hospital bed was wheeled out, Ethan strode forward.

Sophia's pale face sent a knife through his heart. Her weak voice echoed in his ears again:

"Ethan... I'm pregnant..."