The snow came down harder, blinding. I could barely keep my eyes open. Then everything went black. The last thing I heard was someone shouting.
“Mr. Vanderbilt, she passed out!”
David didn’t even look over. “Wake her up. She’s not done kneeling.”
I jolted when ice water was thrown on my face. It stole the air from my lungs. I gasped and coughed until my chest burned.
Inside the ward, Roxanne was clinging to David, crying like the world had ended.
“The babies… they’re gone,” she whispered. “I lost them.”
David held her, his hand gentle in her hair, “It’s okay. We can have more. I won’t let this be for nothing.”
She touched her stomach and broke down harder. “I have nothing left. No title, no child, no place. What’s the point of me even living? Maybe I should just end it.”
“Don’t talk like that,” he said sharply.
She pulled back and looked at him through her tears. “David… can I take her place? Can you make me your wife instead? Just leave Isabella. I’m tired of being called the other woman because of her.”
I heard the pause. Thick. Heavy.
Then the door opened again.
“Sir,” the bodyguard said nervously. She collapsed again. She’s not responding.”