Page 91 of Reclaimed By My Ex’s Bratva Brother

Fortunately. I stared at numbers on the page I couldn't understand, my breathing growing shallower.

"So the baby is okay?"

"It looks okay now. But this experience may have effects. We can't give you absolute guarantees. The child might have a weaker immune system than others later. You need to rest properly going forward, avoid emotional stress, and keep up with checkups."

Each word hammered into my skull like a nail. Threatened miscarriage, hypoxia, weak immunity.

When I went under, another life was inside me. While I struggled in the water, so did he. When I sank, he lost oxygen with me. Brinny hadn't pushed just one person overboard. When Varlam swam past me, he'd abandoned not only me but his child too.

My stomach clenched suddenly, and I doubled over. The doctor immediately steadied my shoulder.

"Breathe slowly."

I lifted my head. The pain in my chest had transformed into something else. Hotter, harder, flowing through my veins.

I hated Brinny. I hated Varlam too.

He didn't know I was pregnant. But that didn't reduce my fury one bit. He didn't know because he'd never truly seen me. He saw a similar name. Someone who could temporarily fill a void. Someone healthy enough not to break easily, so he didn't need to look back.

What if he knew about this child? The question had barely formed before my palm pressed protectively over my abdomen.

No. I could never let him find out.

If Varlam knew I carried his child, he'd control me, maybe even imprison me, then wait for me to deliver his baby before taking it from me in the name of fatherhood. He was the bratva Pakhan—doing all that would be child's play.

And Brinny? She'd pushed me into the ocean over a man. If she knew I carried Varlam's child, what would she do?

A chill crawled up my spine to my neck. She'd probably want me and this baby to disappear from the world forever.

The doctor misunderstood my silence.

"You don't need to decide now. If this accident makes you not want to continue the pregnancy, we can arrange counseling."

"No," I answered too quickly, startling even myself.

My palm still felt nothing beneath it. But I couldn't think of this tiny life as a cancellable plan anymore. I'd lost my parents. Rory had lost them too. I knew the hole left when someone suddenly vanishes from your life. This child hadn't truly entered the world yet, but he existed.

I couldn't give him up with my own hands.

"I'm keeping it."

The doctor nodded.

"Then rest. Emotional stability is important for both you and the baby."

Emotional stability. The phrase made my mouth twitch.

Across the hall, the baby's father was feeding another woman. I'd just discovered I was pregnant with his child and decided never to tell him. My life had never been more "stable."

After the doctor left, I picked up my phone. The screen showed over a dozen missed calls and messages, mostly from Rory.

The last one came five minutes ago.

"Why aren't you home yet? Can I eat the pasta in the fridge? It has some green stuff on it."

"Don't eat it. Throw it out. There's cereal in the cabinet, eat that." I replied immediately.

A message popped up quickly.