But the doctor delivered the news anyway.
"The prolonged stress and the delay in treatment allowed the cancer cells to spread."
My eyes snapped open. "Cancer...?"
The doctor sighed. "Uterine cancer."
"The fall also caused severe trauma to the uterus."
"The surgery went well. We removed the uterus and saved your life."
"But you will never be able to bear children again."
I stared at nothing. The agony in my chest arrived on a delay, crashing over me all at once.
Tears slid down before I could stop them.
Thomas grabbed my hand, gripping it so tight his fingertips trembled.
He bowed his head, pressing his forehead against mine.
A long silence. Then his voice came out broken.
"I'm sorry... I didn't know..."
"I thought we could have another child..."
"But I was so caught up with Douglas's bone marrow transplant..."
Another child.
That would never happen now. Not in this lifetime.
And Lily would never have anything to do with Thomas Gilbert again either.
"Vivienne, once Douglas is formally adopted into the Gilbert family, we'll start fresh. A real life together."
"I mean it this time. I'll send Tracey away."
He paused, then scrambled to his feet.
"I'll go take care of it right now."