Chapter 292: Massive Hemorrhage from Amniotic Fluid Embolism

Chapter 292: Chapter 292: Massive Hemorrhage from Amniotic Fluid Embolism

The mistake was his, and he was willing to accept the punishment. Even if he left with nothing, the vast Forrester Family business would ultimately belong to his son, Nolan Forrester. In essence, there was no real difference.

Clara Shepherd bit down hard on her pale lips, stubborn and unyielding.

"I’ll die before I let you sign!"

She was betting that Carla Shepherd still had a shred of compassion left, betting that she wouldn’t dare watch the tragedy of a mother and child dying unfold before her eyes.

Carla Shepherd saw the desperate gamble and calculation in her eyes and let out a soft chuckle. She casually picked up an orange and began to unhurriedly peel it, her movements languid and her expression indifferent, as if the heart-wrenching farce unfolding before her had nothing to do with her.

Time ticked by, second by second. The contractions grew more and more violent, and waves of excruciating pain washed over her body.

Clara Shepherd could no longer bear it. She curled up on the cold floor, writhing violently as a warm, crimson stain spread down her skirt, soaking a large patch of the fabric.

Her face was ashen, completely drained of color. Drenched in a cold sweat, her lips trembled uncontrollably until she no longer had the strength to even groan, leaving only faint gasps.

Having witnessed the entire scene, Carla Shepherd remained unmoved from start to finish, her expression unchanging.

Watching the near-death Clara Shepherd, Frederick Forrester was frantic with worry. Without a shred of further hesitation, he grabbed the divorce agreement from the table and signed it without a single glance.

As his pen left the paper, he looked up, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

"You can go now."

Carla Shepherd picked up the agreement and reviewed it carefully. Once she confirmed everything was in order, she gestured faintly with her hand.

After their hasty departure, silence fell over the vast living room.

She slowly lifted her gaze to the window. The tension in her spine suddenly released, and the facade of coldness, strength, and resolve she had just maintained came crashing down.

A scalding tear fell without warning, splashing onto the back of her hand with a startling chill.

She raised her hand and calmly wiped the tear away. A moment later, she turned to the butler at her side, her voice laced with a faint, bewildered rasp.

"Tell me... was I too cruel?"

The butler bowed his head, his tone respectful yet firm.

"Madam, you were never the one at fault. You were simply defending your marriage and protecting your rights and principles. There is no need for self-reproach."

Carla Shepherd was silent for a long while before saying softly, "Let’s go to the hospital."

「At the hospital.」

Having received the news, Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd rushed over, watching as Clara Shepherd was wheeled into the delivery room.

"Frederick, what on earth happened! Why is Clara saying her sister wants her dead?"

Frederick Forrester said wearily, "Mom, that’s not what happened."

"Clara would never lie! She was perfectly fine before, and then suddenly she’s bleeding so much. Something must have happened. You tell me the truth!"

"Please, stop asking. The most important thing right now is that Clara delivers the baby safely."

With that, he sat on a bench and fell silent.

Mrs. Shepherd started to ask something else, but Mr. Shepherd stopped her.

"Our son-in-law is right. Clara is giving birth in there. Quiet down. We can talk after she comes out."

A moment later, Mrs. Shepherd saw Carla Shepherd approaching.

"Your sister has lost so much blood! How could you, her older sister, only show up now?"

Carla Shepherd’s gaze was cold. "She’s not my responsibility. Am I supposed to watch her twenty-four hours a day?"

"What is that supposed to mean? She’s your sister! She was tricked by some scumbag and got pregnant. She has no one to rely on. She’s pitiful enough as it is! As her big sister, isn’t it only natural for you to help take care of her?" Not sensing anything amiss, Mrs. Shepherd rambled on as she always did.

"I’ve helped her too much, doted on her too much! That’s what made her so shameless she’d do something like get pregnant out of wedlock!"

"What did you just say?"

Mr. Shepherd sensed something was wrong and tugged on his wife’s arm, signaling for her to stop.

But Mrs. Shepherd continued, still disgruntled.

"Just listen to the things she’s saying! Calling her own sister shameless. What kind of sister says that?"

"Was any part of that wrong?" Carla Shepherd stared directly at her. "I must be the unluckiest person in the world to have a sister like her!"

Mrs. Shepherd raised her hand and slapped her across the face. Pointing a finger at her, she said furiously, "Your sister’s life is hanging by a thread in there, and you dare say something like that? Carla Shepherd, what exactly happened today?"

"Mom!" Frederick Forrester stepped in front of Carla Shepherd, his jaw tight. "It was all my fault."

"Frederick, don’t you defend her!" Mrs. Shepherd clutched her heaving chest. "Why did Clara say you wanted her dead? That slap mark on her face—was it you who hit her?"

"I did!" Carla Shepherd admitted without hesitation. ’She knew it. Clara was sure to have tattled to their parents.’

Mrs. Shepherd was stunned. She hadn’t expected Carla to admit it so openly.

"Why?! She’s pregnant! You..."

Just then, the doors to the delivery room were thrown open. A doctor emerged, walking quickly, his expression grim. A thick, metallic scent of blood filled the air.

Mrs. Shepherd immediately rushed forward. "Doctor! How’s my daughter?" she asked anxiously.

The doctor pulled off his mask. His forehead was beaded with sweat, his expression terrifyingly grim, and his tone was both urgent and grave.

"The patient had a sudden, acute amniotic fluid embolism, which triggered a severe postpartum hemorrhage. The situation is critical!"

His words struck them like a bolt of lightning.

Mrs. Shepherd’s pupils dilated, and the blood drained from her face.

"An amniotic fluid embolism? How...? She was just going into labor normally, right on her due date. How could this suddenly happen?!"

"It’s because of the precipitous labor and hypertonic contractions. After the amniotic sac ruptured, fluid entered the mother’s bloodstream, triggering a systemic failure of her clotting system." The doctor spoke quickly, every word a blow. "The patient is in full-blown DIC. Her clotting factors are completely depleted. Her uterus is hemorrhaging, she’s bleeding from multiple sites, and we can’t stop it. She could go into cardiac and respiratory arrest at any second!"

Nurses rushed past with emergency supplies, shouting orders.

"Prep blood! Get massive amounts of plasma and clotting factors, now! Push pressors! Prepare for resuscitation!"

The doctor looked them dead in the eye, his tone as serious as it could be.

"You need to prepare for the worst. An amniotic fluid embolism is the most dangerous emergency in obstetrics. It strikes fast and has an incredibly high mortality rate. We’re doing everything we can, but whether she pulls through now is up to her."

The hallway fell deathly silent.

Mrs. Shepherd’s vision went black and her legs gave out. If Mr. Shepherd hadn’t been there to catch her, she would have crumpled to the floor.

Frederick Forrester’s expression was grim. "Doctor," he said in a low voice, "do whatever it takes. You have to save her life!"

"Don’t worry, we will do everything in our power, but we have to inform you of the situation. You need to be prepared." The doctor handed them an emergency surgery consent form to sign.

With a trembling hand, Mr. Shepherd signed the form.

Carla Shepherd stood frozen to the spot, her limbs icy cold. For just a moment, the fingers hanging at her side twitched and curled.

After three hours of frantic effort, the lives of Clara Shepherd and her child were saved. However, due to the uncontrollable hemorrhage caused by the embolism, the doctors had to perform a hysterectomy to stop the bleeding. Her life was saved, but she had lost the ability to ever have children again.

After hearing the doctor’s explanation, Mrs. Shepherd collapsed into tears. Overwhelmed with grief, her vision went black, and she fainted, crumpling to the floor.

After getting his wife settled, Mr. Shepherd spoke with Carla alone.

"Carla, what in the world happened?!"

Carla Shepherd calmly recounted everything that had happened, her gaze steady as she looked at him.

"If you’re still going to take her side after this, then I have nothing left to say. I’m used to your favoritism, anyway."

Mr. Shepherd was utterly shocked. His expression grew complicated as he gave her a long, deep look.

"This time... Clara was in the wrong. She..."

He suddenly didn’t know what to say. After all, her actions were truly unspeakable.

"Since she didn’t die, I can rest easy. If there’s nothing else, I’m heading home."

Before Mr. Shepherd could reply, Carla Shepherd turned and walked away.

As she left the hospital, she saw two figures walking toward her and stopped dead in her tracks.

"Nolan, what are you doing here?!"