Darkness of Obsession

She suddenly collapsed on the sofa.

Without a word, he scooped Evangeline into his arms, her body limp and trembling, her vomit-stained dress clinging to her skin.

His grip was firm, almost possessive, as he carried her through the mansion's opulent halls.

The chandeliers cast jagged shadows on the walls, mirroring the fractures in the silence between them.

He scooped her up without a word-bridal style, her arms limp at her sides, her cheek falling against his shoulder.

She felt too light. Her skin, too warm. His jaw flexed as he turned toward the stairs, already moving.

"Carla," he called out, voice low but sharp. Controlled. Not calm.

The housekeeper appeared instantly at the edge of the foyer, pale.

"Yes, sir?"

"Get Dr. Cox. Now. She comes here. Not the clinic. Make it fast."

Carla nodded, her gaze flickering to Evangeline's ashen face before she hurried away.

Her footsteps echoed, too quick, too tense.

Vincente carried Evangeline through the house like he was cradling a detonator.

The house had never felt so quiet. Every step echoed through marble and stone.

As he moved through the corridor, past portraits and closed doors, he never once looked away from her face.

Her eyes were closed. Her breath shallow. He hated how unfamiliar that made her look.

Their bedroom door opened under his shoulder.

He brought her in quickly, laying her down on the bed. Not rough, not delicate. Just precise.

He crouched beside the mattress and touched her face. Her skin was too hot.

"Evangeline." His voice stayed low. "Look at me. Come on."

She stirred faintly, a barely-there wince at the sound of his voice.

He pressed the back of his hand to her forehead. Then her cheek. He didn't speak for a long moment. He just watched her.

Then "Goddamn it."

He stood. Pacing once. Only once. Then he forced himself back into control.

He wasn't sure what the hell was happening.

He sat back down at the edge of the mattress and gently pulled her hair away from her face.

The soft knock came ten minutes later.

Dr. Cox entered. Tall, precise, wearing a navy coat over a fitted blouse.

She didn't greet him. Just walked straight to the bed with her medical bag already open.

Vincente rose and stepped back only one pace. No farther.

"What happened?" she asked as she checked Evangeline's pulse, lifting her eyelids with practiced fingers.

"She threw up then fainted," he replied.

Dr. Cox didn't speak for a few moments. She worked quickly. Blood pressure, heart rate. A small light to her eyes. Then, a soft exhale.

"She's severely dehydrated," she said. "Heart rate's elevated. And her body temp is too high."

"And is there a baby?"

Dr. Cox glanced at him. "I'll need a scan to be sure. But her vitals are okay for now. We need to cool her down and start fluids. I'll set up a drip here."