Chapter Thirty: Three Days Later
Still at the mansion…
"No one is ever hurting you again," Jeremy said, his voice thick with emotion as he cradled Tammy in his arms. Her body was limp, her skin cool, her breathing shallow but steady. The weight of everything—the footage, the lies, the betrayal, the sleepless nights—had crushed her. Zion moved to grab his phone, muttering, "I already called the doctor, he's on his way—"
"No," Jeremy barked, already moving. "That'll take too long."
He scooped Tammy into his arms and rushed out, Tobi holding the door open while Wale cleared the path to the driveway. Jeremy didn't wait for the engine to warm. He started the car and roared off, one hand gripping the wheel, the other holding Tammy's icy fingers.
"Zion," Jeremy said through gritted teeth via Bluetooth, "call Anjii and Rita. Tell them it's urgent. And call her family. All of them."
"Got it."
By the time Jeremy pulled into the hospital's emergency bay, Tammy was still unconscious. He didn't wait for a nurse to bring a stretcher—he carried her in himself. Doctors took over, nurses flooded the room, and Jeremy stood just outside, fists clenched, jaw tight, chest heaving. He'd never felt so helpless in his life.
Zion arrived first. Then Anjii and Rita came rushing in, both looking wrecked. Rita still had her bonnet on. Anjii was barefoot, holding her sneakers in her hands.
"She hasn't eaten properly in days," Rita said, breathless. "She barely slept either—she didn't even tell us she was still working on the footage!"
Anjii choked on a sob. "I knew something was wrong—I knew it. Why didn't I push her harder to talk and sleep and eat?"
"She just wanted to make sure everyone knew the truth," Jeremy said hoarsely.
"She did," Zion confirmed. "Everyone saw it. No more doubts."
The doctor emerged an hour later, removing his gloves. "She's stable," he announced. Relief crashed over the group like a wave. "We'll monitor her closely. But she's very exhausted and severely dehydrated."
Jeremy slumped into a seat, burying his face in his hands. "Is she gonna be okay?"
"She's young and strong," the doctor said. "Let's give her a few days."
And so the days passed.
Word traveled fast. The maids at the mansion, alarmed by Jeremy's absence and the rushed hospital visit, informed Madam Adebayo and Grandma Adebayo. His mother arrived the next morning, haughty elegance replaced with quiet concern. Grandma came the day after, flanked by a nurse and her personal chef. On the third day, Tammy's parents walked in, led by Rita and Anjii—her father pale with worry, her mother quiet for once.
The hospital room filled gradually: family, friends, grief, fear, and hope sitting heavily in the sterile air. Tobi and Wale showed up with groceries, Jeremy refused to leave her side, and Zion had stationed himself like a watchdog outside her door.
Then, on the third morning, as the sunlight peeked through the window, Tammy stirred.
Jeremy, who had been resting in a chair beside her bed, jolted upright. "Tammy?" he whispered, brushing her hair back gently.
Her lashes fluttered. "Mm... Jeremy?"
Everyone turned, as if on cue. Rita gasped. Anjii started crying again. Her mother covered her mouth. Her father's shoulders slumped with relief.
"You're awake," Jeremy breathed, standing. "God, you're awake."
She blinked, trying to process all the faces in the room. "What… what happened?"
"You passed out," Zion answered softly from the doorway. "You've been unconscious for three days."
"Three…" Her voice cracked. "Days?"
"Shhh. Don't worry about that now," Jeremy said, gripping her hand.
The doctor walked in just then, reading over her vitals on the monitor. He turned to the room, cleared his throat, and gave them all a pointed look. "Some privacy, please?"
Everyone except Jeremy began to move, filing out reluctantly. The doctor waited until only Jeremy remained beside Tammy, then looked between the two and smiled lightly. "Congratulations."
Jeremy frowned. "On what?"
"You're going to be parents."
Tammy's breath hitched. "What?"
"You're pregnant," the doctor said, gently. "Rough estimate—about six weeks along."
Jeremy sat down slowly, the room spinning. Tammy turned to him, eyes wide, mouth slightly open. "I'm… pregnant?"
"Yes," the doctor said with a warm nod. "It's a miracle, honestly, considering the stress your body has been under. But both you and the baby seem stable."
Tammy turned her face away, pressing the back of her hand to her mouth as tears welled. Jeremy reached for her immediately, cupping her face. "Hey… hey, look at me. This changes nothing. Okay? You're not alone."
Her voice cracked. "This wasn't supposed to happen…"
"But it did," he said softly. "And I'm here. We'll figure it out. Together."
The doctor quietly stepped out, leaving them alone.
Tammy looked up at Jeremy again, still dazed. "Three days… and now this?"
He smiled faintly. "You've been through a lot. You're the strongest person I know."
Her tears slipped free, and this time when he wiped them away, she didn't resist. She leaned into his touch, trembling.
Outside the door, Grandma Adebayo had already pulled out her rosary.
"She'll be fine," the old woman declared. "But now that baby must have a name rooted in strength."
Jeremy's mom said nothing—just stared through the glass window, eyes unreadable.
Tammy's parents stood beside each other in silence, holding hands for the first time in years.
Inside the room, Jeremy kissed her forehead. "You're going to be okay. We're going to be okay. I promise."