Page 61 of His Demands

I resume my pacing, my footsteps a rhythmic reminder of the helplessness I feel. The waiting is agonizing, each second stretching into an eternity. I want to be with her, to hold her hand, to be there when she wakes up. But all I can do is wait, trapped in a limbo of uncertainty.

The doctors had been guarded in their responses, their professional demeanor doing little to ease my worries. They spoke of monitoring her concussion and vitals of the need to assess any potential complications with the pregnancy. Their words were clinical, but the underlying message was clear—the next few hours would be critical.

As I continue my anxious pacing, the door to the waiting room opens, immediately drawing my attention. Fyodor walks in, his expression grim, accompanied by Barb. She looks disheveled, her usual sharp appearance clouded by distress and anger. The sight of her in such a state deepens the knot of worry in my stomach.

"Barb, what happened?" I ask, my voice tinged with concern as I approach them.

She shakes her head, her eyes blazing with a mix of fury and pain. "I got home just as they were loading that bastard Calvin into the ambulance," she spits out, her voice trembling with rage. "He told me what he did, the lowlife. If I'd had a gun, I swear I would've shot him again myself."

Fyodor places a comforting hand on her shoulder, but she seems too consumed by her emotions to notice. "He set Julie up, Ivan. Lured her out with a lie about me being hurt. And now..." Her voice cracks, revealing the fear beneath her anger.

I feel a surge of protectiveness, both for Julie and Barb. "I'm sorry, Barb. This is all my fault. If I hadn't—"

Barb cuts me off, her eyes locking onto mine. "Don't you dare start with that ‘it's all my fault’ crap, Ivan. We both know who's to blame here, and it's not you nor is it me." Her fierceness is a testament to her strength, even in the face of such betrayal and turmoil.

Fyodor interjects, trying to diffuse the tension. "We're all on edge right now. The important thing is that Julie is safe, and we're going to make sure she stays that way."

Barb nods. "You're damn right we will. And as for Calvin..." She trails off, her gaze hardening. "Let's just say he's going to regret the day he ever crossed paths with me."

I look between them, grateful for their support but weighed down by the enormity of the situation. I sit down in one of the chairs. "I should've seen this coming," I admit, my guilt resurfacing. "I thought I'd left that world behind, but it came back to haunt us all."

"We'll deal with it, Ivan. Together," Fyodor says, his voice steady. "Right now, our focus is on Julie and the baby. We'll handle whatever comes after."

Barb nods in agreement, her earlier rage giving way to a new focus. "We're here for you, Ivan. For Julie. Whatever it takes, we'll get through this."

Their words are a small comfort in the sea of uncertainty that surrounds us. I nod, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "Thank you, both of you. Right now, all I can do is wait and hope that Julie and our child are going to be okay."

In the midst of my guilt-ridden thoughts, the doctor emerges, drawing all of our attention. He looks around the room, his eyes settling on me.

"Mr. Stepanov?" he asks, his tone professional yet empathetic.

I stand up immediately, my heart racing. "Yes, that's me. How is she? How's Julie?"

The doctor offers a small, reassuring smile. "She's stable. She's been asking for you. Would you like to see her?" It’s a foolish question.

Relief washes over me, mingled with lingering concern. "Yes, absolutely. But how is she really? And the baby?"

He hesitates for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "She's suffered a severe concussion due to multiple blows to her head, but she's conscious and responsive. As for the pregnancy, it's still early, but we're monitoring her closely."

I nod, my mind racing with a mix of relief and worry not to mention an even greater hatred toward Boris for hurting her. "Can I go in now?"

"Yes, of course," the doctor replies, gesturing toward the corridor.

I turn to Barb and Fyodor, anxious expressions on their faces. "I'll let you know how she's doing as soon as I can," I promise them.

Barb nods, her expression softening. "Tell her we're here for her, Ivan."

"And if there's anything she needs, anything at all, you let us know," Fyodor adds.

I give them a grateful nod, feeling the sincerity of their support. "I will. Thank you both."

With a deep breath, I follow the doctor down the hallway, every fiber of my being aching to see Julie. I enter the room to find Julie lying there, a bandage wrapped around her head, but her eyes are open, and there's a smile on her face. It's a sight that both relieves and pains me.

"Julie," I breathe out, rushing to her side, taking her hands in mine. I can barely contain the emotions surging through me.

She tries to speak but I interrupt her, my words tumbling out in a rush of apology. "I'm so sorry, Julie. I never should have put you in this situation. I—"

But she cuts me off, her voice weak but filled with warmth. "Ivan, it's okay. I'm okay."

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