After the hotel room door opened, Hector immediately strode toward the bed and carefully laid Estelle down. He ignored the pristine white sheets that were now stained red.
Sandra quickly stepped forward, taking over to clean Estelle's trembling body, which was damp with cold sweat.
Meanwhile, Hector pulled out his phone and resumed his call with Sandro. Hurried footsteps could be heard faintly through the line.
"Sandro," Hector called.
"Can you describe her symptoms?" Sandro asked, slightly out of breath.
"She has a mild fever, cold sweats… she complained about abdominal pain, and… there's blood coming from between her thighs," Hector explained, his gaze flickering toward Estelle, making sure her complexion had not grown even paler.
"Wait a moment," Sandro paused briefly. "Is there a lot of blood?"
"It's flowing down to her legs. It dripped several times while she was still sitting in the car."
The first three symptoms could still be considered normal. Many women experienced similar discomfort during the early stages of menstruation.
But the fourth symptom left Sandro uneasy.
Although the first day of menstruation could indeed be painful and heavy, excessive bleeding of that level was not normal.
There was one possibility.
Yet Sandro hesitated to voice it.
"The symptoms sound like… a miscarriage."
Hector's brows furrowed instantly. His hand tightened into a fist as a surge of emotion ignited within his chest.
No.
He hasn't touched Estelle.
If Estelle was truly miscarrying… then which lunatic dared to lay a hand on what belonged to him?
Hector would make sure that man suffered a slow and agonizing death.
"Calm down first," Sandro said quickly, sensing the shift in Hector's mood. "For now, give her a fever reducer and pain relief medication. I'll send you the prescription. Ask Sandra to buy it."
Several moments passed without a response. Sensing something was wrong, Sandro cleared his throat a few times, attempting to soothe his employer.
"Master, we cannot confirm anything yet," Sandro said carefully. "So please don't let your emotions take over."
"Quiet," Hector hissed.
Sandro sighed softly. His master had always been difficult to reason with. For everyone's sake, it was better to comply rather than argue.
"I'm on my way," the doctor added. "Make sure Miss Estelle takes the medicine first."
Hector ended the call without another word.
His blue eyes returned to Estelle's fragile figure lying motionless on the bed. The blood staining the sheets seemed to spread wider with every passing second.
"Master, I'm worried about Miss Estelle. Wouldn't it be better if we took her to a hospital?" Sandra pleaded anxiously.
Even after changing Estelle's clothes, the bleeding had not stopped. Sandra feared the young lady might lose too much blood if this continued. In her current condition, the situation seemed increasingly serious.
Hector remained silent. Sitting at the edge of the bed, he reached toward Estelle's abdomen and pressed down roughly.
If there truly was another man's child inside her…
Then that thing should die now.
"Ugh…" even in her unconscious state, Estelle showed signs of pain.
"Master!" Sandra quickly pushed Hector's hand away, shielding the fragile girl.
Hector's piercing blue gaze shot toward Sandra, causing her courage to falter.
Yes, Sandra understood why her master was furious. She had suspected from the beginning that Estelle might have lost a child. But she did not have the heart to say it aloud.
"Miss Estelle is already in pain. Please don't make it worse," Sandra said timidly, summoning what little courage she had left.
A cruel smirk slowly formed on Hector's lips. The concern Sandra had seen earlier had vanished. Replaced by something darker.
"It would be better if that cursed seed inside her womb disappeared," Hector said coldly. "Tell me, Sandra… which man dared to touch my girl? Whose filthy seed dares to grow inside her?"
The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
Sandra's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Master… you and Miss Estelle—"
"I have never slept with her," Hector cut her off sharply.
Sandra fell silent, unable to process the situation.
Impossible.
If Estelle had been with another man, Hector would have known. Every movement around her had always been monitored. Hector was not someone easily deceived.
No.
That matter could wait.
Saving Estelle was far more important.
"Master, please set that aside for now," Sandra urged desperately. "I'm afraid something terrible might happen to Miss Estelle. Please… help her first."
Several seconds passed before Hector finally pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled slowly.
Sandra was right. No matter how violently his emotions burned, Estelle's condition had to come first.
"We cannot take her to a hospital," Hector said flatly. "There are too many enemies watching. I do not trust any doctor except Sandro."
His past experiences with medical professionals had rarely ended well.
Poison.
Traps.
Betrayal.
He had experienced them all.
Too many doctors had already died by his hands. Furthermore, after pretending to be near death, he had provoked Lucille. Naturally, his enemies would not remain idle. If his location or Estelle's were exposed, the consequences would be disastrous. Rather than sacrificing his loyal subordinates, it was better to wait for Sandro to arrive.
Estelle would survive.
As for whatever might be inside her womb…
Hector didn't care. If it was not his, then it was better for it to die.
"You should go buy the medicine," Hector ordered as he sat at the edge of the bed. "If the situation worsens, we will return to the mansion."
"Master, but—"
"Sandra," Hector interrupted coldly. "I am your master, not the other way around."
Falling silent, Sandra lowered her head. She knew better than to argue further. After giving a respectful nod, she quickly left the room. Now only Hector remained, alone with Estelle's unconscious form.
Minutes passed in silence, yet his thoughts churned violently. His sharp gaze slowly traced every inch of her pale figure.
Miscarriage.
If it were true… what reaction should he show?
His expression turned colder. The mere thought of another man touching her made his jaw tighten. He wanted to sever the hands of anyone who dared lay a finger on Estelle.
No one was allowed to touch her.
No one except him.
His hand brushed gently against her damp cheek.
"I should never have let you leave," Hector murmured darkly.
"I should have chained you… kept you bound to the bed so no one could ever steal you from me."
His hand slowly moved down her trembling body before stopping at her abdomen.
"Here," Hector whispered near her ear. "Only my child is allowed to exist here."
"If it belongs to anyone else… I will kill it."
Whether Estelle could hear him or not, it didn't matter. He only needed somewhere to vent the storm raging inside his chest. He wanted his words to sink deep into her subconscious.
"Remember this well, Little Lioness."
Hector pressed a light kiss against her hair.
"If I cannot have you… then no one else in this world will."
***