Daniel Brooks met Isabella Scott’s worried eyes. He took a slow, deep breath. “She’s fine,” he stated firmly. “Just completely exhausted. She needs to rest.”

Ethan Blackwood’s frown intensified. Something felt off about Daniel’s diagnosis. But he trusted the doctor’s professional judgment.

A heavy silence fell over the room.

A small weight lifted from Isabella’s shoulders. She let out a tired sigh. “Please,” she whispered. “Everyone, just go. I need to sleep.”

Ethan hesitated. Words lingered on his tongue, but he held them back. He remembered Daniel’s earlier warning. He stood up, his tall frame casting a shadow over the bed. “Rest,” he said softly. “Don’t worry about anything. The man from last night is in police custody. He won’t bother you again.”

Isabella froze for a second. A storm of emotions swirled in her tired eyes.

For a single, dangerous moment, she almost believed he had saved her. Then Sophia’s cruel words echoed in her mind. The police had intervened. Not Ethan.

Ethan left the room. Sophia followed close behind him. The sharp click of her heels faded down the hall. The fragile comfort from Ethan’s seemingly caring words vanished from Isabella’s heart.

She then looked at Daniel, who had deliberately stayed behind. Gathering her strength, she called out, “Dr. Brooks…” Her voice was rough and weak. “Thank you.”

Daniel stopped and turned, surprised. “For what?”

“For not telling Ethan about the baby.” Her grip on the white hospital quilt tightened, her knuckles turning white.

Daniel’s expression was complex and unreadable. He paused, choosing his words carefully. “The truth will come out eventually,” he said. “What is your plan?”

Isabella’s gaze dropped to the stark white sheets. A new resolve hardened inside her. “I will divorce Ethan as quickly as possible,” she declared. “And I am raising this child on my own.”

Daniel looked genuinely shocked. He struggled to process her decision. “Alone?” he asked, stunned. “Isabella, that is an incredibly difficult path.”

Under the quilt, Isabella’s hand gently rested on her stomach. She could feel the promise of new life. A small, determined smile touched her lips. “Every child is a gift,” she said softly, her voice filled with strength. “This baby chose me. I will not fail them. They might not have a father, but they will have twice the love from their mother.”

After a moment of quiet thought, Daniel nodded. He accepted her choice. “Alright. If you are certain this is what you want.”

Isabella nodded back, a grateful smile gracing her pale face.

Daniel left the room quietly, closing the door with a soft click. He wondered if Ethan would one day regret losing such a strong, remarkable woman. He doubted it.

Thinking of Ethan’s cold lack of empathy, Daniel shook his head in disappointment. He pulled out his prescription pad. He wrote down a list of medications. On the surface, they were simple vitamins for recovery. In reality, they were crucial for protecting her pregnancy.

Later that day, Isabella was sitting in the hospital canteen. Her phone rang. It was an unexpected call from a nurse.

“Miss Scott? Your grandmother is awake.”

The news sent a jolt of pure joy through Isabella, instantly replacing her grief. “Is she? I’m coming right now!”

She rushed toward Eleanor Vance’s hospital room.

The sterile smell of disinfectant hung in the air. The crisp white linens contrasted sharply with her grandmother’s pale skin.