Chapter 4 Awakening

Fiona's POV

When I finally opened my eyes, a wave of disorientation washed over me. Everything felt strange and out of place, the unfamiliar surroundings leaving me momentarily confused. The harsh, sterile glow of the hospital lights forced me to squint, my eyes struggling to adjust.

As I slowly turned my head, taking in the pale walls, the beeping machines, and the faint scent of antiseptic in the air, it became clear-I was lying in a hospital bed. The realization hit me like a slow-moving fog, bringing with it a thousand questions I wasn't ready to answer.

How did I get here? The last thing I remembered was falling off my bike and... I panicked immediately when the memory hit me. I touched my belly immediately like I would be able to feel anything.

"My baby!" I thought to myself anxiously. The door to my ward opened and Tacha walked in.

"You're awake." She muttered happily and at the same time, in a worried tone.

"What happened to my baby? Is it..." I signed to her anxiously, not able to complete my question.

"Don't worry... the baby is okay," she said gently, her voice calm and reassuring. I immediately felt a wave of relief wash over me, and I let out a long, heavy sigh, as the tension I'd been holding onto finally began to fade.

"Thank God..." I don't know what I would have done if I lost this one too.

"Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant? Why did I have to find it out after you almost lost your life?" She asked, disappointment laced in her voice.

"I just found out about it and was planning to tell you today," I answered by signing in hand language and she nodded in understanding.

"What happened? Why were you driving in the rain in your condition? Don't you know how dangerous it is?"

She asked worriedly. I sighed deeply and explained all that happened earlier to me.

"What?? And you allowed them to treat you that way??" She asked angrily after I was done.

"What would you have me do? Fight them?" I asked in sign language and she sighed deeply.

"Now that you're in the hospital, he didn't even bother to come check up on you despite him being the cause of it. Don't you think you're enduring too much?" She asked while I bowed my head painfully.

"You're better off aborting this baby and divorcing him. He's made it clear he doesn't want you or a child with you. Think about what happened last time. He's not fit to be a father."

I paused in silence, letting her words echo in my mind. As much as it hurt to admit, Tacha was right all along-Michael had never truly loved me. From the very beginning, he had only seen me as a burden, someone who constantly weighed him down. Holding onto this relationship was only prolonging the pain for both of us.

Perhaps the healthiest and most peaceful thing we could do now is to let go and finally part ways, allowing ourselves the chance to heal and find the happiness we both deserve.

"I will divorce him but I can't have an abortion," I told her.

"Fiona... how do you plan to raise this child all on your own?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern. "And do you believe he and his mistress will just let you walk away, carrying his baby alive and well in your belly?" Her eyes searched Fiona's face, worried and anxious, as though hoping for a solid plan, a sense of safety.

The fear in her voice wasn't just for Fiona-but for the innocent life growing inside her, and the danger they might both face if things spiraled any further out of control.

"I'll work hard to raise it on my own and never tell him about the pregnancy. I won't let him control my life anymore. This baby is my reason to keep going."

"Alright.." She muttered as she nodded in understanding.

"I support your decision. You'll definitely make a very good mother." She muttered making me smile softly, i stretched out my arms and pulled her into a tight hug.

Thank you so much, Tacha.

Author's POV

When Michael returned home, he was really surprised to find the house in the same way it was in the morning, before he left for work.

Normally, Fiona made it a point to tidy up the entire house, even if it had already been cleaned earlier in the day. She took pride in maintaining a spotless home, ensuring that everything was in perfect order.

Without fail, he would return home each evening to the comforting aroma of a freshly prepared meal, already set and waiting for him. It was her quiet way of showing care, of creating a warm, welcoming space for both of them-a routine he had come to appreciate more than words could express.

The house was in disarray, and dinner wasn't ready. He was shocked and furious, suspecting that Fiona's new job at the cafe was distracting her from her responsibilities.

He strongly disapproved of Fiona forming any kind of friendship with Tacha or the other wolves. In his mind, she was better off remaining alone, just as she had been in the past. He believed that companionship was a privilege she hadn't earned-something far too good for someone like her.

The idea of her finding comfort, support, or even a moment of joy in the presence of others was completely unacceptable to him. Isolation, in his view, was not only her rightful place but also a form of punishment she deserved for whatever faults he imagined she had committed.

"Fiona!!" He called out angrily and Fiona emerged from her room the moment she heard his voice. His eyes softened immediately when he noticed the bandages wrapped around her body.

He was on the verge of asking what was wrong, but caught himself, reminding himself he didn't care. Her well-being was none of his concern, and he'd be damned if he showed any interest.

"You're home and the house is still a disaster!" he bellowed, his loud voice making her wince.

Fiona met his gaze calmly, offering no excuses, which only fueled his anger further.

"You!! You have to quit that lousy job of yours and cut off ties with that wench you call a friend!!" He ordered in a bossy manner.

Fiona pretended not to hear a word he had just said and silently walked past him into her room, leaving Michael standing there in stunned silence. His brows furrowed in confusion, caught off guard by her sudden coldness.

This was the first time she had ever acted this way toward him-completely distant, as if he were invisible, as if his presence meant nothing to her. The shift in her demeanor was jarring, and it sent an uneasy feeling through him. He could feel the wall she had just put up, and it unsettled him more than he cared to admit.

Moments later, she handed him a file. Michael's curiosity got the better of him as he opened it, and his eyes widened in surprise as he saw the divorce papers inside.

Through sign language, she conveyed, "I've given it a lot of thought, and I believe now is the perfect time to grant your desire."

"Let's end this marriage.. let's divorce."

TBC