Too Late For Regret: My Lost Heir

The light was blinding. Seraphina threw her hand up to cover her eyes, her other arm instinctively crossing over her stomach.

Mrs. Sterling! Why are you here?

Are you here to confront the dying woman?

Have you no shame?

The questions were shouted like accusations. Microphones were thrust into her face, nearly hitting her.

Julian stood frozen by the elevator. He saw Seraphina being swarmed. He saw the fear in her posture. Instinct kicked in. He took a step forward, his mouth opening to shout at the reporters to back off.

Harper saw his movement. Her eyes narrowed.

Ah! Harper screamed.

It was a piercing shriek. She threw herself forward out of the wheelchair. She hit the floor with a thud.

My stomach! Harper wailed, curling into a ball. Julian! It hurts!

Julian spun around. He dropped to his knees beside her. Harper!

Harper pointed a shaking finger at Seraphina. She... she pushed past me... she looked at me with such hate...

It was a lie. Seraphina was twenty feet away. But the implication was clear. She caused this stress. She caused this pain.

The reporters went feral.

Murderer!

She attacked her!

Julian looked up at Seraphina. His eyes were black with rage.

Get out of here! he roared. Haven't you done enough?

Seraphina lowered her hand. She looked at the man she had loved for three years. He was cradling the woman who was faking cancer, screaming at his pregnant wife.

I was just leaving, Seraphina said. Her voice was barely audible over the noise.

She turned to go. But the crowd had surged forward, blocking her path. The reporters were pushing, trying to get a shot of Harper on the floor.

"Move!" Julian shouted. He stood up, desperate to get Harper back into the elevator. He shoved his way through the press, his shoulder leading like a battering ram.

Seraphina was in his way. She was trying to back up, but she was hemmed in by the cameras.

Julian didn't see her face. He only saw an obstacle between him and safety for Harper. He extended his arm and shoved hard to clear the path.

"Move aside!"

His hand connected with Seraphina's shoulder. It wasn't a gentle push. It was the force of a desperate man.

Seraphina gasped. The floor was polished marble. And nearby, a janitor's bucket had been knocked over in the chaos.

Her feet slipped on the wet stone.

She fell backward.

Time seemed to slow down. Seraphina saw the ceiling lights spinning. She felt gravity take hold.

Julian saw it happen. He saw her feet go out from under her. He surged upward, reaching out his hand to catch her. He was close enough. He could reach her.

Julian! Harper screamed again, grabbing his pant leg with a vice-like grip. Don't leave me! I'm dying!

Julian looked down. He hesitated. Just for a fraction of a second.

That fraction was enough.

Seraphina hit the floor.

Her lower back struck the sharp metal corner of the reception desk with a sickening crack. Then she hit the ground.

She didn't scream. She just made a soft, exhaling sound.

The sound of the impact silenced the lobby.

Seraphina lay curled on the cold marble. Her hat had fallen off, revealing her pale face. Her eyes were squeezed shut. Her hands were clutched tightly around her abdomen.

Zoe burst out of the stairwell door. She saw Seraphina on the floor.

Sera! Zoe screamed.

She ran, shoving reporters aside. She slid to her knees beside her friend.

Julian pulled his leg free from Harper's grip. He stood up, staring at Seraphina. He took a step forward.

Is she... is she okay? he stammered.

Seraphina let out a whimper. It was a sound of pure agony.

Then, Julian saw it.

A dark stain was spreading across the light gray fabric of Seraphina's jeans. It was growing fast. Crimson. Thick.

Blood.

It pooled on the white marble floor, bright and terrifying.

Julian felt like he had been punched in the gut. He couldn't breathe.

Zoe looked at the blood. Her face went gray.

Gurney! Now! Zoe screamed at the hospital staff. Code Blue! Internal Hemorrhage!

The words hit Julian like a hammer.

Hemorrhage?

He stumbled forward. He grabbed Zoe's shoulder. What did you say? Why is she bleeding like that? Is it her stomach?

Zoe slapped his hand away. She stood up, her white coat stained with Seraphina's blood. She looked at him with pure hatred.

"Get away from her!" Zoe yelled. "You did this! Look at what you did!"

She didn't say it. She didn't say "baby." She didn't say "pregnant." She just looked at the blood and then at Julian with eyes full of accusation.

Julian's knees gave out. He grabbed the reception desk to hold himself up.

He looked at Seraphina. She was semi-conscious. Her lips were moving.

He leaned down, desperate to hear her. To tell her he didn't mean to push her.

Save him... she whispered. Her voice was a broken rasp. Don't let Julian near... he'll kill him...

Julian recoiled as if she had spit in his face. Him? Who was him? Was she delirious? Did she think he was a murderer?

Paramedics swarmed them. They lifted Seraphina onto a stretcher. The movement caused more blood to flow.

Harper watched from the floor. She saw the blood. A flicker of triumph crossed her face, quickly replaced by a mask of horror.

Oh god, Harper sobbed. I didn't know...

Julian turned slowly to look at Harper. For the first time, he didn't see a victim. He saw the person who had held him back.

But he didn't speak. He turned and ran after the stretcher.

The elevator doors were closing. Zoe stood in the gap.

Don't you dare, Zoe hissed. You stay with your fake. You don't deserve to be here.

The doors slid shut.

Julian stood alone in the lobby. The blood was still on the floor. He looked at his hands. There was blood on his fingertips from where he had tried to touch Seraphina.

A camera flashed.

Julian turned on the photographer. He grabbed the camera and smashed it onto the floor.

Get out! he screamed. All of you!

He collapsed against the wall, sliding down until he was sitting on the floor, his head in his bloody hands.