Unmasking the Heiress

The doctor theorized that maybe it was Evangeline's heartache, her rollercoaster emotions, that caused such a massive bleed, putting the baby at risk. However, how could Holden, her uncle, ever bring himself to say that to her?

"Evie, maybe it just wasn't meant to be with this baby. And hey, you're about to kick that jerk Walter to the curb with a divorce. Keeping the baby wouldn't be the best for you."

Holden eased down next to Evangeline, gently pulling her into a half-hug, letting her rest against him. "Sometimes things end, but you've got your whole life ahead. Why tie yourself down with Walter's kid? One day you'll meet someone amazing, and you can start a family then. Wouldn't that be so much better?"

Holden's words were careful, but Evangeline got the painful message loud and clear.

Without Walter, any child she had would grow up fatherless, and it could mess up her chances of finding happiness with someone else down the line.

Maybe it was better to let go then, to one day have a child with someone new, someone who would be in it with her, for real.

Even so... that was her and Walter's baby.

Evangeline knew she could not argue with her uncle's logic, so she kept the hurt bottled up inside.

The tears would not stop.

Life had a strange way of showing her what was hers and what was not. Cole was gone, and so was the baby. It was as if the universe was saying that some things, no matter how hard someone fought for them, just were not meant to stay. Maybe Evangeline and Walter's relationship was a mistake after all.

Holden's comforting voice was still in her ear.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

"Come on, let's not see you down, okay? The little one was just too delicate, and that's why we lost him. Once we're out of the hospital, we'll focus on getting stronger, and then we'll bring a healthy, bouncing baby boy into the Foster family!

"Okay." Evangeline's eyes were wet with tears, but she managed a small smile for her Uncle Holden who was embracing her.

James could not help but feel his own eyes dampen as he watched the tender moment.

"I had a feeling we might not be able to save the baby. Ever since I got pregnant, I've been feeling down, and then with everything else that happened... Maybe the baby was disappointed in me, and that's why he left..."

Evangeline blamed herself for the loss, for not being strong enough for not keeping her spirits up, and for letting her sadness affect the little one inside her.

Just then, James's phone rang.

He checked the caller ID, and it was Yale.

"Hey, what's going on?"

Yale's voice came through, deep and serious, "James, how is Evie doing?"

"Ah, the surgery was done, but... we couldn't save the baby," he spoke with a hint of sorrow.

Despite the doctors' best efforts, Evangeline's bleeding was not something that could be easily controlled, and she was still at risk of severe hemorrhage. He had expected Yale, as the concerned uncle, to ask him to pass on some comforting words to Evangeline, but instead...

"I need to talk to you about something serious. Hang up now and call me back from somewhere private, okay?"

James got the message loud and clear. Glancing at Evangeline, he reassured the caller with a nod, "Don't worry, Holden and I have Evie's back."