Letting My Brother's Best Friend Take My V-Card

THE TRUTH

LUKE

The waiting room felt like a cage, each second stretching out like an eternity. Josh and | sat in silence, both

staring at the double doors that led to the operating rooms. Every tthey swung open, | braced myself, heart

thundering in my chest, only for snurse or orderly to walk through without looking in our direction.

We were running out of hope with every passing moment.

When the police arrived, the tension in the room shifted. Two officers walked toward us, their presence heavy

and

authoritative. Josh and | exchanged a quick look and then stood as they approached.

"Josh? Luke?" the taller officer asked, his eyes darting between

1. us.

"Yeah," Josh answered, his voice sharp and exhausting.

"We have squestions about Sarah-the woman who shot Laura," the officer began, pulling out a notepad.

"How do your know her? How well?"

Josh clenched his jaw, his fists tightening. "She's-she was staying with us," he said.

The officer's lips pressed into a thin line. "Did you know she's been in and out of psychiatric facilities?"

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THE TRUTH

Josh's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing. "What?"

1288 Ves

"She was a nurse," the officer continued, his tone even. "But she becaddicted to controlled substances-

fentanyl, among others. While working, she accidentally overdosed a patient, which resulted in their death. She

lost her license after that and was committed to treatment."

My stomach twisted. "How the hell was she back at the hospital?"

The officer shook his head. "She wasn't working. She was. visiting elderly patients to steal their medication.

According to her file, she's been using it again, and her mental health has significantly deteriorated. She was

discharged prematurely and slipped through the cracks. After tonight, we've had her transferred back to a

psychiatric facility under strict observation."

Josh swore under his breath, pacing a short line in front of the chairs. "She was living with us."

| ran a hand through my hair, anger bubbling just beneath the surface. "She could've-" | stopped myself. She did.

She shot Laura. She nearly destroyed us.

The officer nodded solemnly. "We'll contact you if we need further statements. Good luck."

trevealing a gurney being wheeled through. My breath caught as | recognized Laura's pale face, her body

hooked up to machines.

As they walked away, the double doors opened again, this ti

Josh froze, his eyes locking on her. "Excuse me-that's my wife," he said, his voice breaking as he rushed toward

her.

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THE TRUTH

He was at her side in seconds, his hand finding hers. The nurse pushing the gurney glanced at him, then nodded,

letting him walk with her toward the ICU.

| stayed rooted in place, watching as Josh disappeared down the hall. Relief and fear warred within me. Laura

was alive, but what about Jess?

The sound of approaching footsteps pulledfrom my thoughts. | turned to see a man in a white coat walking

toward me, his expression calm but serious. "Luke Anderson?" he asked.

"Yeah," | said, stepping forward. "Is Jess okay? What's going on?"

He extended a hand. "I'm Dr. Dos Santos. | specialize in neonatal surgeries. I'd like to walk with you."

My stomach dropped. Neonatal? Jess wasn't-she was still supposed to be in surgery. Why was this guy talking to

me?

"Wait-what do you mean neonatal?" | asked, my voice rising as | fell into step beside him. My legs felt heavy, like

| was moving through quicksand. "Jess is in surgery. What's going on?"

Dr. Dos Santos glanced at me, his

expression unreadable. "Jess

suffered a Peceninue fetia

his tandvrieadure . "That's why she

was bleeding so much. It's a serious

condition, and unfortunately, it

caused your baby to go into distress."

and The world tilted. My steps faltered, and | turned toward the doors, my eyes fixed on them as if | could will

them to open letthrough. "Distress?" | echoed, my voice hollow. "What do

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THE TRUTH

you mean, distress? Is she okay? Is the baby okay?"

Dr. Dos Santos placed a steadying

hand on my arm, his grip firm. "Your

baby girl's heart rate dropped m

significa I dup to Tél pare We're

dbirig Wry hing we can, but time

was of the essence. | performed an

emergency C-section to deliver her,

and she's currently stable in the

NICU. That is where we are going

right now." The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

The words hitlike a sledgehammer. Baby girl. Delivered. NICU.

| turned back toward the doors, my breathing shallow and uneven. "I need to see her, Jess. | need to see Jess. |

can't meet my baby girl without her," | said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Dr. Dos Santos nodded, his

expression softening. “lI understand,

but Jess is still in surgery. We're

woking e repais id daindge and

ehsiire &% stable. As for your

daughter..." He hesitated, and the

pause sent a cold wave of fear

crashing over me. "What?" |

demanded, my voice sharp. "What

about my daughter?" The content is

on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

"She's healthy albeit still very underweight, but that's to be expected if delivered this early. She should only be in

the neonatal intensive care for a week or so," he said.