341 You’re Allowed To Grieve
“You should,” Ste agreed softly. “You scared everyone. I almost fainted when I heard about your—” She stopped. The word caught in her throat.
Evelyn noticed immediately. Ste, who could lecture a room full of senior doctors without blinking, now looked like someone who had just identally broken a priceless vase and was debating whether to run or stay.
“About what?” Evelyn asked, genuinely confused. She tilted her head slightly, wincing at the pull in her chest. “Why do you look like you stole someone’s boyfriend?”
Ste let out a weak, breathlessugh that didn’t quitend.
She lowered her gaze instead of answering, her fingers fidgeting before finally reaching for Evelyn’s hand. She held it tightly, as if letting go would make everything worse.
“Little sis…” Evelyn said gently, concern threading through her voice despite the ache in her body. “What’s wrong? Are you in trouble? Tell me, what is it?”
Evelyn shifted instinctively, then hissed quietly when the bandages pulled. Her body felt like it belonged to someone else, restrained and fragile.
Ste slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes were red.
“Why are you crying?” Evelyn asked, worriedly.
“Sis… I’m sorry,” Ste said, her voice trembling. She swallowed hard, clearly choosing each word with care. “Did you… Did you know about your pregnancy?”
The world seemed to pause around them.
Evelyn’s breath was sharp and shallow, as if the air had suddenly grown heavier.
Her fingers curled weakly against the sheets, and the faint warmth that had settled in her chest moments ago shattered.
Of course, she knew.
The pain she had carefully locked away surged forward, cruel and relentless.
It felt like a thousand tiny nails piercing straight through her heart, each one whispering the same truth she had been trying not to face.
18:03
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341 You’re Allowed To Grievo
341 You’re Allowed To Grieve
“You should,” Ste agreed softly. “You scared everyone. I almost fainted when I heard about your-” She stopped. The word caught in her throat.
Evelyn noticed immediately. Ste, who could lecture a room full of senior doctors without blinking, now looked like someone who had just identally broken a priceless vase and was debating whether to run or stay.
“About what?” Evelyn asked, genuinely confused. She tilted her head slightly, wincing at the pull in her chest. “Why do you look like you stole someone’s boyfriend?”
Ste let out a weak, breathlessugh that didn’t quitend.
She lowered her gaze instead of answering, her fingers fidgeting before finally reaching for Evelyn’s hand. She held it tightly, as if letting go would make everything worse.
“Little sis…” Evelyn said gently, concern threading through her voice despite the ache in her body. “What’s wrong? Are you in trouble? Tell me, what is it?”
Evelyn shifted instinctively, then hissed quietly when the bandages pulled. Her body felt like it belonged to someone else, restrained and fragile.
Ste slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes were red.
“Why are you crying?” Evelyn asked, worriedly.
“Sis… I’m sorry,” Ste said, her voice trembling. She swallowed hard, clearly choosing each word with care. “Did you… Did you know about your pregnancy?”
The world seemed to pause around them.
Evelyn’s breath was sharp and shallow, as if the air had suddenly grown heavier.
Her fingers curled weakly against the sheets, and the faint warmth that had settled in her chest moments ago shattered.
Of course, she knew.
The pain she had carefully locked away surged forward, cruel and relentless.
It felt like a thousand tiny nails piercing straight through her heart, each one whispering the same truth she had been trying not to face.
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341 You’re Allowed To Grieve
She had known.
She had carried it quietly.
She had loved that child before she ever got the chance to protect it.
Since she knew about it, she had forced herself to be strong. For Axel. For Oliver.
She had smiled, reassured, and pretended the loss was manageable. But it wasn’t. It had never been.
Her head bowed, her gaze fixed on the nket as if it could shield her from the
memory.
She told herself not to cry.
She told herself she was fine.
However, she wasn’t.
The tears came anyway, hot and relentless, sliding down her cheeks before she could stop them.
Her shoulders trembled, small at first, then harder, the sound of her quiet sobs breaking the fragile calm of the room.
Ste panicked instantly.
“S–Sister… Eve… no, no, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have to ask you about it. I’m sorry, sis…”
Evelyn shook her head weakly, finally lifting her face. Tears clung to hershes, her eyes red and raw.
“I lost my baby,” she whispered, her voice crackingpletely. “I didn’t even get to say hello.”
Ste’s heart broke.
“I tried so hard to stay calm,” Evelyn continued, her words spilling out now that the dam had cracked. “I didn’t want Axel to see me fall apart. He’s already hurting. Everyone is. I thought if I stayed strong, it would hurt less.”
Evelyn let out a brokenugh that carried no humor at all. “But, it doesn’t… It hurt. A lot…”
Ste leaned forward, careful not to touch any bandages, and rested her forehead against Evelyn’s hand.
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341 You’re Allowed To Grieve
“Sis, you don’t have to be strong all the time,” she said softly. “You’re allowed to grieve”
Evelyn squeezed her sister’s hand as tightly as she could manage.
“I wanted that baby, Ste,” she sobbed. “I already imagined everything”
Ste’s tears finally fell. “I know, sis… I know…”
They stayed like that for a while, hands sped, grief shared in silence.
Theughter from earlier felt distant now, reced by something heavier but real.
But soon after, their tears vanishedpletely when little Doctor Oliver entered the
room.
“Aunt Ste?”
Oliver’s small, worried voice echoed from the doorway. His brows were knitted together, and his tiny fists were clenched at his sides.
“Why are you making my mommy cry?”
The question hit Ste so unexpectedly that she nearly choked on her own breath. She froze, staring at him for half a second beforeughter burst out of her despite herself. He looked far too serious for someone barely taller than the bed.
“Oh my goodness,” she said betweenughs. “Look at his face.”
Evelyn stifled augh, too, though the sound softened quickly when a dull ache rippled through her chest.
Still, her eyes warmed as she watched her son march toward her like a tiny knight ready to defend his queen. Somehow, just seeing him there loosened the heaviness in her heart.
Ste immediately stood and scooped Oliver up, careful as she settled him on the edge of the bed.
“Little Oli,” she said quickly, “I didn’t make your mommy cry.”
Oliver crossed his arms, clearly unconvinced. “Really?” he asked, turning to Evelyn with suspicious eyes.
Evelyn smiled gently and nodded. “Really. Aunt Ste was just talking to me.”
“But I saw mommy cry,” he insisted, reaching up to wipe away the faint traces of tears still clinging to her cheeks. His movements were clumsy but earnest.
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341 You’re Allowed To Grieve
Ste’s expression softened. “Your mommy was hurting a little, so I wasforting her. Doctors do that, you know. We help people feel better.”
Evelyn nodded again. “She was helping me, sweetheart. I’m okay now.”
Oliver studied their faces seriously, as if weighing the truth.
After a long second, he finally rxed.
“Okay,” he said, satisfied. “But if Mommy cries again, I will scold you, Auntie…”
Ste gasped. “Scold me? Oh, No! Now I’m terrified.” She said, doing her best to look truly afraid while she held back herughter.
Oliver smiles.
Then Evelyn sniffed the air. “Oliver… why do you smell like chocte?”
Ste leaned closer, squinting. “And why,” she added slowly, “is there chocte on your lips?”
Oliver’s eyes widened. He immediately rubbed his mouth with the back of his hand. “It’s not chocte,” he said too quickly.
“Oh?” Ste raised a brow. “Then what is it?”
He hesitated, then sighed heavily, like someone burdened by great secrets. “I ate four donuts,” he admitted.
“Four?” Evelyn repeated, stunned.
“But…” Oliver quickly added, “I didn’t eat all of them. I saved one for Mommy and one for Aunt Ste.”
Ste burst outughing. “Wow, how generous.”
Evelynughed too, her chest aching slightly, but her heart felt lighter than it had in hours. She reached out and pressed a kiss to Oliver’s hair. “Thank you, sweetheart.” Oliver beamed proudly. “Because you’re unwell. And people need donuts to get well.” Ste nodded solemnly. “Seconded. It’s an undeniable medical fact. Guarantee!”
The room filled withughter again, warm and real, and for the moment, Evelyn felt the pain fade into the background.
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<strong>Olivia Harris</strong> is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.