Chapter 4Bleeding Out At My Own Wedding

My total serenity sometimes rubbed Harrison the wrong way. His ego couldn't handle the lack of friction.

He would corner me in the kitchen, staring intently into my eyes. "I haven't slept in our bed for days, and you haven't even texted me about it. Are you giving me the silent treatment, or do you actually not care?"

I fed him the script with zero emotion. "It's the pregnancy hormones. I just really crave quiet right now."

"As long as I know you still love me."

He accepted the excuse, pulling me into a hug. "I just needed to hear it. I get paranoid that you're drifting."

He even had the audacity to joke about our twisted reality. "Honestly, if the three of us can just find a rhythm, it’s better than anything else."

I offered a hollow laugh.

Even on the night before our lavish wedding ceremony, he was summoned to Mia's bedroom.

But less than two hours later, sounds of distress echoed down the hallway.

Harrison rushed into my room. "Natalie, you’re an OB-GYN. You’re the expert here. Please, come look at Mia. Something's wrong."

When I walked in, Victoria was already perched on the edge of Mia’s bed, clasping the girl’s hands. "You're going to be fine, darling. Just breathe."

Seeing me, Mia put on her best wounded fawn act. "Natalie... thank you for coming."

"Don't thank her, she's family," Victoria said briskly.

Harrison urged me forward. "Check her. What's happening?"

I walked over, my face an emotionless mask, and placed my hands on Mia's abdomen. "Describe the pain."

She bit her lip, looking artificially embarrassed.

Victoria picked up the cue, giving her a reassuring nod. "Don't be shy, dear. Tell the doctor."

Mia twisted her fingers into the silk sheets. "Harrison was just... a little too rough. It hurts down there, and my stomach feels tight. I'm so scared for the baby."

Harrison looked stricken. "It's my fault."

I finished the exam. I found absolutely nothing wrong. "The baby is fine. But I'd strongly advise against intercourse in this condition."

Mia immediately clutched her stomach. "But I really don't feel well! What if something happens to him in the middle of the night?"

She looked up at me through her eyelashes. "Could you... maybe just sit here and keep an eye on me for a little while?"

"That's a good idea," Victoria chimed in. "Natalie, you sit by the bed. Keep watch until we're sure the danger has passed."

I glanced at Harrison. He didn't object. In fact, he looked at me with soft gratitude. "Thank you for doing this."

They had entirely forgotten that I was pregnant, too.

"Sure," I said, my voice utterly flat.

In the dead of night, the house went silent. I sat in a stiff chair beside their bed, watching Mia sleep securely in Harrison's arms.

Before she drifted off, she shot me one last smirk—a look of pure, concentrated venom and victory.

I just sat there, breathing evenly.

Sometime past 3:00 AM, Harrison stirred. He looked over and saw me sitting straight up, my face completely devoid of jealousy, anger, or sorrow.

He couldn't take the silence anymore. He whispered into the dark. "Seeing me sleep with another woman... it really doesn't bother you at all?"

I smiled faintly. "I'm not bothered. Now go back to sleep. You'll wake Mia."

His face darkened. My lack of jealousy was starting to wound his pride. But he swallowed his words. His eyes communicated loud and clear: I don't know who you are anymore.

I kept my eyes open until dawn, yawning through the exhaustion, my body heavy with fatigue.

When the sun finally rose, I dragged myself to the bridal suite to get into my Vera Wang gown.

Today was my wedding day.

Harrison was glowing. He brushed a thumb over the dark circles under my eyes. "Once the reception is over, I'm going to hold you, and we're going to sleep for a week."

I gave him a shallow, compliant nod.

The venue was spectacular. Hundreds of A-list guests, champagne flowing, the room buzzing with wealth and privilege.

But right as the music swelled and I prepared to make my grand entrance to the altar, a vicious, stabbing pain ripped through my abdomen.

As a doctor, I knew the physical sensations of my own body better than anyone. I knew exactly what was happening. I was miscarrying.

Panic seized Harrison's face. He rushed forward to catch me. "Don't panic. I'm taking you to the hospital right now."

But before he could move, Victoria and Mia blocked his path.

"The wedding has already started!" Victoria hissed. "You can't have the bride and groom vanish into thin air!"

"Her health is the priority!" Harrison snapped, his brow furrowed.

"I will have my driver take her to the ER," Victoria countered sharply. "We cannot cancel this event. We have investors in that room. Put Mia in a white dress and walk her down the aisle. The Prescott family will not become the laughingstock of the city!"

Harrison froze. I watched the gears turning in his head as he weighed his love for me against his family's PR disaster.

Slowly, he motioned for his security detail to carry me out. He leaned down and pressed a hurried kiss to my sweaty forehead. "I'm so sorry, Nat. I'll make this up to you. I promise."

Mia leaned in close, pretending to check on me.

With her face inches from mine, she whispered so only I could hear: "You lose, Natalie. The title of Mrs. Prescott is mine. I will be his only legitimate wife."

Then she straightened up, acting frantic, yelling at the staff to hurry up and get me to the car.

She turned and took Harrison's arm. The fake bride and the real groom.

As Harrison walked her toward the grand double doors, preparing to step onto the stage under the blinding lights, I pushed the medics away.

Bleeding, my white gown stained with a horrific, blossoming red, I grabbed a microphone from the soundboard. I held my legal marriage certificate high in the air and pushed my voice to the absolute limit.

"I apologize to all the guests!" I gasped into the mic, my voice booming through the ballroom. "But my husband and I have to cancel this wedding... because I am currently miscarrying his child!"