Chapter 6
Five minutes later, the black Range Rover tore through the streets toward the hospital. Sebastian sat rigid in the back seat, his arms cradling Inlia as he watched her with sharp focus
He caught the exact second her eyelids twitched. “Julia, wake up,”
The faint, woody trace of his cologne drifted over her, and she blinked her eyes open. She was on his lap, her body tucked against him.
Their gazes met, and Julia thought she saw relief flicker in his eyes.
“How do you..”
Sebastian’s words faded away. The warmth in his eyes disappeared the moment he saw the ice in hers..
Julia shoved off his chest without hesitation, sliding to the opposite side of the seat, putting a deliberate gap between them.
Sebastian arched a brow, dismissing it as just one of her usual stubborn acts.
“You’re a grown woman, Julia! You know you have allergies, but instead of going to the hospital, you had to pass out right in front of me and Xay. What? Was the goal just to freak us out? Make us scramble around you like some kind of drama?”
Maybe because she’d iced him out for two days straight, even his concem sounded like an attack.
Julia clenched ber fists, her face bloodless as she stared out the window.
Her silence only pissed Sebastian off more. He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Say something! You were fine with nearly killing yourself for attention, but now that we’re stuck dragging you to the hospital, you’re going to shut down on us?”
Julia knocked his hand away with a hollow laugh. “For attention? Sebastian, are you seriously clueless or just pretending not to know? I’m allergie to Nowers.”
Sebastian frowned, his expression turning cold, as if she were the one being difficult.
Julia didn’t see the point in explaining anymore. Suddenly, she just felt tired. None of it mattered now,
Then, she noticed the other two watching her inside the car and looked up. In the front seat, Penelope stared at the scene with wide, guileless eyes, Xavier curled up in her arms.
When Julia glanced over, Xavier pouted at her in disapproval as if she was making some unnecessary some that had interrupted them
Like always, after Julia passed out from her allergic reaction, Sebastian and Xavier didn’t seem concerned about her. If anything, they acted irritated, like she’d faked the whole thing just to get a reaction out of them.
They even moved closer to Penelope, shielding her is if they thought julia might snap and go after ber the second she woke up.
“Jules, are you clay?” Penelope’s eyes filled with tears, her voice oozing faloo concern as she offered a water bottle. “Don’t worry, we’re almost at the hospital. Mr. Holt, Xev, and I will
Julia slapped Penelope’s hand away without hesitation.
Penelope bit back a whimper, putting on a show of bravely bearing the pain. The bick of her hand was already turning red where she’d been hit.
“Mommy, stop being mean to Aunt Penny! Xavier’s voice pitched high with anger. He snatched up Penelope’s stinging hand and blew on it softly. “Let me blow the pain away.
Julia’s lips quivered. She squeezed her eyes shut, swallowing whatever words she wanted to say, What she saw stabbed straight through her heart.
Xavier had always been an energetic little boy, constantly scrambling up trees, tumbling onto the grass, and coming home with scrapes and bruises as if they were part of his everyday adventures.
everyday
Whenever he got hurt, he’d pout, clinging to Julia while whimpering She’d gently blow on the sore spot and whisper, “Let me blow the pain away.”
Just like that, his tears would disappear. He’d hug her, whine playfully for a moment, then dash off to play again.
Now, seeing the boy she’d loved more than anything treat another woman as his mother, Julia felt the cruel irony sink deep into her chest.
Sebastian and Xavier completely missed the flash of triumph in Penelope’s eyes, or the outright dare she sent Julia’s way when their eyes locked.
“It’s okay, Xav. You’re such a sweetheart. It’s fine now. Your mom barely even touched me,” Penelope said.
Her eyes were still slightly red–rimmed as she let Xavier rub her hand for a while before pulling it behind her back. She lifted her gaze to Sebastian, her expression wounded and pleading.
Julia, apologize to Penelope.”
Sebastian’s voice was cold, edged with irritation.
Julia whipped around to face him, stunned.
“You want me, the one who fainted, to apologize to her?” A sharp, humorless laugh escaped her. “She set off my allergy and made me pass out. Do lowe her a thank you, too?”
Penelope had been Julia’s Intern, trained by her from the start. She knew about Julia’s allergy to floral scents.
Back at the Holt residence, a flicker of suspicion had crossed Julia’s mind when she first caught that faint trace of perfume. And yet, somehow, it still
“Mr. Holt, there’s no need to make Jules apologize. It’s just a misunderstanding.”
Penelope managed a strained smile, her expression tinged with reluctance as if desperate to keep Julia from misreading her.
“Stop covering for her!” Sebastian’s gaze went frosty. “If anything, you’ve been too lenient with her.”
Julia caught his meaning loud and clear.
so he thought he’d been too lenient on her, too? Once again, Sebastian had sided with Penelope. What was she even to him, then? Just some wife on paper?
Then a sharp cramp twisted through Julia’s stomach.
The baby!
Her hand drifted almost imperceptibly to her stomach, her lips pressed tight with quiet concern. She wasn’t going to say another word.
The car was thick with tension, but thankfully, they reached the hospital quickly. Sebastian was the first one out.
“Jules, your health comes first. Don’t let pride make things worse,” Penelope said.
Still in the car, Xavier was too young to catch the sharpness in Penelope’s tone. To him, It sounded like she was still being kind, still worrying about Julla, even though Julia was heartless,
Fulla’s face lost what little color it had left at those words.
Pressing a hand to her stomach, she fixed Penelope with a glare like frozen steel. “I did this to myself by being naive enough to show you kindness. Now I’m getting exactly what I deserve.”
Julia yanked the car door open. Before getting out, she threw one last comment over her shoulder. “Don’t expect any more help from me.”
Did Penelope really think being Sebastian’s wife would be easy?
Penelope barely registered the words. Once Julia was out of the picture, she’d be the only woman standing by Sebastian’s side. How difficult could it be to claim her rightful place as his wife?
Julia barely made it two steps before the world titted violently. Her knees buckled. Sebastian caught her just in time.
“Get a doctor Now!”
Sebastian could feel Julia shaking in his arms. Her face was ghostly pale. A sudden rush of panic washed over him
Almost instantly, nurses rushed over with a gurney and whisked Julia away into the emergency room.
The patient is having a severe allergic reaction. We need…. Ma’am, any known medication allergies?” the doctor asked, following standard ER protocol julla pressed a hand to her stomach. “Doctor, I’m pregnant. I can’t t
‘t take any medication.”
“Pregnant?” The doctor’s eyebrows shot up before he caught himself. “Your allergic reaction is life–threatening. Without immediate treatment, you could lose nerve function, stop breathing, and even die.”
“The whatever’s safe for the baby, Julia gasped, thoughts swimming. “And my husband can’t know about the pregnancy,”
“T–that’s against hospital policy. If something happens-”
“I’m the Summers Group heiress. Any fallout is on me! Please…”
Julia’s voice trailed off as she passed out on the operating table.
Sebastian stood outside the ER, his hands clenching into lists when he noticed the ER status light turn on.
Julia only had an allergic reaction. She’d be fine.
He released a quiet breath, his hand instinctively tightening on his suit’s hem where he felt something damp. His eyes widened. Blood? Was that Julia’s blood?
