Chapter 2 You are safe with me

"I'll go in with her." Three seconds later, Jasper Milton had changed his mind.

He loosened his grip and took a step back.

"No!" Everyone said in unison.

Lieutenant Johnson tried to get a word in. "It is too dangerous for you to go in, Chief. If the Deputy Commander gets wind of this, we won't be able to explain ourselves!"

"Don't talk nonsense. It is the same danger for anyone who goes in. Stay here and wait for my order." Jasper ordered decisively."

"But, Chief..." Lieutenant Johnson wanted to continue, but was swiftly silenced by the cutting look on Jasper's face. Helplessly, he nodded mutely "Yes, sir."

Grabbing Stella's elbow, perhaps with more strength than necessary, Jasper pulled her along towards Room 801. She lifted her hand to knock on the door, but it was quickly held by Jasper. The current was electrifying.

Almost as a reflex, Stella yanked her hand back. She was not used to being held by a man.

His eyes deepened, considering her rejection. Opening his mobile phone, he said "Before heading in, record your last words. If you die, we will send this to your next of kin." His voice was flat.

"Send it to my husband." Stella took over the phone.

"Frederick, if there is indeed a next life, I hope we don't meet again. Donate my corpse, I don't care if you dissect it, send it for transplant operations. May we never see each other again." Her words were short but concise.

Returning the phone to Jasper, she realized he had a strange expression. "Anything else?"

Her features softened. "Give the rest of my money to my mother. Where possible, I hope you guys can take care of her."

"We will." It was a promise.

Assured, Stella looked towards the door. "It's time to head in."

"The pregnant woman being held as a hostage is the girlfriend of a high-ranking official, and we must ensure the safety of both mother and child. I will not allow you to get into trouble before me – you are safe with me, I promise." His voice was deep and comforting.

Stella caught her breath, looking into the depths of his clear eyes. It seemed to hold the boundless universe. A corner of her heart tasted sour.

Here was a handsome man, promising her safety before his. It was hard not to be taken in by the warmth of such words, even if they were strangers. Particularly now, when her heart was in a state of desolation.

"I'm not scared." Stella smiled slightly. "But I appreciate it, thank you."

"You're welcome." He pulled her behind him, knocking on the door. A slight gap creaked open.

"Let the woman come in alone." The man hissed.

"She requires an assistant for the operation. Let both of us in." Jasper was relentless in his negotiation. Every word was a measure of his intimidating will.

"No, who knows what you are up to?"

"Then let the pregnant woman die. What hostage are you left with then?" Checkmate.

The man hesitated, before grinding his teeth. "Fine, consider yourself gutsy! Come in!" A cold, metallic gun was pressed against Jasper's forehead.

Stella looked on worriedly. His face was expressionless.

After conducting a search, he could not find any weapons on Jasper's body. Keeping away his gun, the short-haired man warned "Don't think of playing any tricks."

"It hurts! Help, someone help me!" A woman's voice rang out from the main room. Stella rushed to the bedroom. The curtains were closed, and the room was dimly lit without any lights switched on. In the corner, two men had their guns trained expertly on him.

Stella walked towards the pregnant woman. Her face was a pale, blank sheet, tinged with pain. Holding tightly on to her stomach, the woman's bed was already drenched with her sweat. "Save me, please save me, I don't want to die."

"Show me your latest ultrasound," Stella said urgently.

"It's in the drawer." She managed to stutter out the words between her labored breath.

Opening the drawer, Stella found a photo frame atop the ultrasound. It was a picture of Frederick and the woman.

The high-ranking official was Frederick. And the pregnant woman lying on the bed was another kept woman of his.

"Save me, please doctor, it hurts!" The pregnant woman stretched out her hands, held Stella on her own. Coming to her senses, Stella took out the ultrasound sheet. Things were only getting worse.

"The fetus is in the wrong delivery position, and the umbilical cord is coiled around the neck. We must do a Caesarean, and because we are running out of time, we can only do a general anesthetic instead of local." Stella was already opening the first aid kit. It had already been checked by the criminals.

The pregnant woman shook her head, her eyes turning red. "Can we not a Caesarean? He prefers women without scars on their bodies."

Women without scars on their bodies? It certainly sounds like Frederick.

"Then the child will suffocate," Stella said coldly.

A fierce gleam flashed across the pregnant woman's eyes. Gritting her teeth, she said, "So let it be."

Pushing down her revulsion, Stella reasoned, "You have carried the child over the past 9 months. It is a life living inside you."

"Without his love, it will be meaningless to have this child. It will only drag me down. I don't want it!" The pregnant woman yelled decisively. The pain from her stomach increased.

Setting her shoulders, Stella took out the anesthetic from the first aid box and swiftly inserted it into the needle.

"I'm sorry, as a doctor, my duty is to protect every life that comes under my care. I cannot promise to do what you want."

Jasper held her hand, full of concern in his eyes. He knew the importance of respecting patients' wishes. But She could get into a lifetime of legal trouble from her obstinate insistence.

"Listen to her. She is the patient." He reminded her. She tried to shake off his hands, to no avail.

Furious, she stared determinedly at him. "I am a gynecologist, and it is my duty to deliver life. If something goes wrong, I will bear the responsibility. I'm not afraid of death, so why are you so scared?"

Jasper was surprised.

He was not afraid of taking on responsibility, but just for a moment, he was afraid something would happen to her.

Letting go of her hands, he announced, "Begin the operation. I'll say it's my order, and inform the Dean of your hospital."

Bending over and putting on her rubber gloves, Stella turned over to the criminals, "Please leave the room. I need to operate on her now."

"Absolutely not. The hostage must remain in our hands, and you will operate on her with our supervision."

"Do you really think she can run away in this situation?" Stella was afraid the woman's naked body might be exposed to the roving eyes of the audience in the room.

Aiming the gun at Stella, the criminal said, "One more word, and I'll shoot you."

Shielding Stella behind his body, Jasper said, "If you harm her, you won't be able to run away as well." They hesitated.

"Doctor, the child is coming out now! Please!" The pregnant woman's screams were getting shriller. There was no point in this stalemate. Jasper opened the cabinet and spread out a green bedsheet, hiding the women behind.

"Do the operation. I'll stay guard." Jasper was confident even in such a time.