"She needs a blood transfusion immediately." A doctor said in a tone of urgency. The doctor had rushed in to check on Evelyn and realized she had lost a lot of blood.
"What are you waiting for?" Doctor Paige asked the nurses when she looked back and realized none of the nurses were planning to go get a bag of blood.
"I don't think there would be blood at the blood bank. We discovered earlier this morning that they are out of blood." The first nurse informed the doctor. Hearing that, Doctor Paige narrowed her eyes at the nurse.
"And have you checked again recently? Like some minutes ago or even seconds? Do you know that a life can be lost within seconds? That is to tell you that a lot of things can happen within seconds, so go back and check right now." Doctor Paige said to the nurse, firmly. Her tone was harsh but that was because of the condition of Evelyn.
"Delay is dangerous." Doctor Paige stated more to herself as she checked Evelyn's pulse again. The nurse ran outside, heading to the blood bank.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I left her in your care, Victoria." Robert bellowed at Victoria. He ran a hand through his head in frustration. He had just gotten to the hospital. He was at work when he was informed that his daughter was in labor.
Evelyn was the one who had placed a call through to him and he had called Victoria, immediately.
"And didn't I take care of her?" Victoria retorted, her eyebrows furrowing.
"The nurse in charge said she wasn't brought in early, Victoria. She was already weak before she got here." Robert told her, his voice growing soft as the mention of 'weak'. He sounded sad.
"You were in the house with her but she had to call me to inform me that she needed help." He pointed out, solemnly. He looked hurt and sad.
Immediately, Victoria changed her countenance. From appearing nonchalant to looking so concerned and worried.
"Robert, she didn't tell me anything. She didn't let me know when her water broke. You know she has always been so indifferent to me, despite the fact that I have shown her only love and care. She has been so open with her dislike for me, even when I am doing my best to let her feel loved." Victoria stated, sniffling a little as if she could burst into tears any moment. Robert was taken aback, he didn't know what to say, for a moment, so Victoria continued talking.
"Because she still sees me as a mere stepmother, scratch that, as just another wife of her father. An unwanted stepmother. That is what she sees me as." She added and choked on a sob. Robert's demeanor changed and he became sorry. He drew her closer to his body and hugged her.
"No, I don't want you to think like that ..." Robert was saying but Victoria interrupted him, cutting him short.
"Robert, I am saying it as it is. You just don't want to accept it. Evelyn dislikes me. And I can't believe she would show her hatred for me to the extent of putting herself in the harm's way, like that." She maintained sharply, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Maybe she just wants to do anything and everything to make me become a bad person in your presence." She added. Robert shook his head in disagreement.
"No, she doesn't hate you. I guess she is just having a hard time coping with the sudden loss of her mother. I told you how close she was to her mother, remember? More so, she is just a child." Robert said, trying to placate Victoria. At that, Victoria got out of the hug and heaved a sigh in frustration, looking away.
"I know you won't believe whatever I say, anyway. Actually, I am not really bothered by her hatred for me. I am just worried that she doesn't even mind hurting herself just to show she hates me. She locked herself in her room and didn't call me for help when her water broke. And she knew I was just a room away from her, yet she called you who were far away from the house." She said and sniffled again.
"She just hates me." She added and finally let go of her restraint. She burst into tears.
"Hey, don't do that. Please." Robert quickly pulled her into a hug and tried to pacify her. Victoria kept crying.
"How can she hates me that much? I am sure I haven't done anything to her to deserve that." She rambled on, still crying, while Robert kept pacifying her.
Afterwards, a nurse ran out of the labour room and went to meet the duo at where they were.
Seeing the nurse, they got out of each other's embrace and faced her.
"How is it going, nurse? Has she given birth?" Robert inquired.
"I am afraid not. She needs blood." The nurse informed them.
"Then give her blood. Give her as much as she needs." Victoria stated sharply.
"I am sorry but we are out of blood at the moment. That's why the doctor asked me to see if any of her parents would be able to donate blood for her." The nurse explained gently.
"Of course, please lead the way." Robert said urgently. The nurse nodded and led the way.
"I can donate mine too if it matches with hers." Victoria chipped in and trailed behind Robert.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You are not a match, sir." The lab technician informed Robert. That was after taking some of Robert's blood for testing before it would be given to Evelyn.
The information shocked Robert and his eyes widened.
"What does that mean? I am her father." Robert stated in shock.
"Well, I mean, that's the result of the, you know ..." The lab technician trailed off, giving Robert a knowing look. Robert shook his head in disagreement.
"Are you saying that I am not the father of my daughter?" Robert bellowed.