Chapter 215

The strange sound that escaped Isla’s mouth was followed by another sharp cry. Her body jerked forward, and she clutched her stomach tightly, her face draining of all color.

“Isla!” Gabriel shouted.

He was beside her in seconds, dropping to his knees in front of her chair. His hands trembled as he held her face.

“What is it? Talk to me. Please talk to me.”

Her lips shook. “Gabriel.. It hurts. Something is wrong.”

Before anyone could react properly, another pain tore through her, stronger than the first. Isla screamed, her body curling inward as if trying to protect the baby inside her.

The room erupted into chaos.

“Call an ambulance!” John barked.

“Now!” Gladys cried, already moving toward Isla.

Gabriel did not hear anyone else. All he could hear was Isla’s cries. All he could see was her pain. He lifted her carefully, holding her against his chest.

“I’m here,” he whispered again and again. “I’m here. You’re not alone.”

By the time the ambulance arrived, Isla was alreadyshaking. Sweat covered her forehead. Her fingers dug into Gabriel’s shirt as another wave of pain hit her.

“Gabriel, I don’t like this,” she cried weakly. “It’s too early.

The baby isn’t ready.”

” know,” he whispered, pressing kisses to her forehead.” But you are strong. You are so strong.”

The paramedics moved fast. They placed Isla on the stretcher, speaking softly to her, telling her to breathe slowly.

Gabriel climbed into the ambulance without asking.

“Sir-” one of them began.

“I’m not leaving her,” Gabriel said firmly. “Dont even dare to stop me..”

No one argued.

The ambulance doors slammed shut, sirens screaming into the night.

***

Isla was rushed through long halls, doctors and nurses surrounding her. Gabriel walked beside her stretcher, holding her hand tightly, refusing to let go.

Every few seconds, Isla would cry out.

“Gabriel,” she whimpered, “this is your fault.”He blinked. “My fault?”

“You did this to me,” she said, breathing hard. “You and your… your.Fuck. Oh my God.” The pain tore through her again.

One of the nurses let out a surprised laugh before quickly covering her mouth.

Gabriel smiled weakly. “I’m sorry, my love. I truly am.”

“I told you,” Isla continued angrily, then groaned, “I told you to be gentle, but no, you were so rough and now, the baby…”

Another nurse laughed softly.

“I will never open my legs for you again,” Isla declared dramatically. “Never.”

Gabriel leaned down and kissed her cheek. “That’s fine. I will still love you.”

She gasped. “Liar.”

The doctors exchanged amused looks as they pushed her into the delivery room.

Despite the pain, Isla was still Isla.

And that gave everyone a strange kind of hope.

Outside the delivery room, the waiting area slowly filled up with the presence of family members.John and Gladys arrived there. Gladys’s hands were shaking as she clasped them together, whispering prayers under her breath.

Landon stood silently beside his father, his jaw tight.

Uriel paced back and forth, running his hand through his hair.

While Carl sat with his elbows on his knees, his head bowed.

Mia’s eyes were red. She kept checking her phone, even though there was nothing to check.

Then more people arrived.

Diana rushed in, her face pale, tears already falling.

Charles held her tightly, trying to be strong for her.

“My baby,” Diana sobbed. “My Isla.”

Betty and Maya followed closely behind. Betty’s lips were pressed together, her eyes glossy. Maya clutched her sister’s arm, shaking.

Isla wasn’t due to deliver her baby. It was the reason everyone was nervous and scared.

Friends arrived too, one after another. The room was full, yet completely silent.

Everyone looked scared and helpless as they all knew the truth. Seven and a half months was too early.Way too early.

They prayed silently. Some just stared at the floor. No one spoke out laud.

Inside the delivery room, Isla screamed again.

“I can’t do this!” she cried. “I can’t.”

“Yes, you can,” Gabriel said softly, his hand never leaving hers. “You are already doing it.”

The doctor explained calmly and carefully to her.

“The baby is coming,” she said. “We can’t stop it now. The baby will be premature, but our priority is you.”

Gabriel nodded immediately. “Save my wife. That is all that matters.”

Isla turned her head slowly to look at him. Her eyes were wet.

“But… the baby,” she whispered.

“We will fight for the baby too,” the doctor assured her.”

But you must stay calm.”

Isla nodded weakly.

“Gabriel,” she whispered again. “Promise me.”

“I promise everything,” he said quickly. “Just breathe.”

Another contraction hit, stronger than before.Gabriel kissed her forehead again. “I hear you. Loud and clear.”

“You better,” she muttered, then cried again.

The doctors guided her gently, telling her when to breathe, when to push. Everything moved quickly and well

Gabriel stayed right there. He refused to sit. Refused to step back.

Even when a nurse asked him to move aside, he shook his head.

“She needs me.”

And he was right. He was her strength even though she refused to acknowledge it.

Time lost meaning.

Isla squeezed Gabriel’s hand so hard that his fingers went numb, but he did not complain.

“You did this,” she accused again. “You and your good looks.”

The doctor laughed. “Focus, Isla.”

“I am focusing,” Isla snapped. “On blaming him.”

Gabriel chuckled through his fear. “I accept all blame.”

Finally, after what felt like forever, the room changed.Isla gathered the last of her strength as the doctor instructed her gently.

“Okay, Ista. One more push. Just one.”

She cried out, her whote body shaking as she pushed with everything she had left. Gabriel held her hand tightly, whispering encouragement, his voice breaking with every word.

“I’m here. I’ve got you. You’re doing great.”

And thenA cry filled the room. It was so sharp and loud.

For a brief second, the world stopped.

The doctor lifted her head slightly and said clearly,

“It’s a boy.”

Gabriel froze. Then his breath left him all at once.

“A… boy?” he whispered.

Tears spilled from his eyes as he bent over Isla, pressing his lips to her forehead, her cheeks, her hair.

“You did it,” he said brokenly. “You did it, my love.”

Isla laughed weakly through her tears. “I told you… I would give you a son.”

The nurse moved around quickly, and the doctor turned slightly, reaching out to receive the baby.

But suddenly, the room went quiet. One of the nursesfroze mid-movement.

Another sucked in a sharp breath. The doctor’s expression changed. And Gabriel felt it instantly.

“What?” he asked, his voice sharp with fear. “What’s wrong?”

No one answered him.

The doctor stared down in disbelief. The nurse looked at her colleague with wide eyes. And suddenly, a gasp filled the delivery room.

Gabriel’s heart slammed painfully in his chest as he looked from one face to another.

“Talk to me,” he demanded. “Please. Say something.”

But the silence only grew heavier. And whatever they were seeing, None of them expected it.