Twilight of Shadows

Chapter 18: The Breaking Point

Mingyu’s pulse hammered in his ears as he rushed through the corridors of the hospital, Jeonghan’s fragile form clutched tightly against him. The weight of the situation was suffocating, and every second felt like an eternity. He could feel the coldness of Jeonghan’s skin against his, his breaths shallow, his body limp. He could hardly breathe himself. His mind raced through a thousand thoughts, none of them making sense.

"What did Sooyoung do?" Mingyu muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning the hallways for the nearest doctor. "What the hell did he give you, Jeonghan?"

Jeonghan's eyelids fluttered, his head lolling against Mingyu’s chest, but there was no answer. Mingyu could feel his heart sinking deeper with each passing moment. His gaze flicked down to Jeonghan’s stomach—Dino. The baby was still growing inside Jeonghan, still fighting for life, but every second that Jeonghan remained unconscious, the baby’s chances of survival diminished.

"Please… don’t do this to us," Mingyu whispered, his voice broken. "Don’t leave me now. We can’t lose you both."

Suddenly, a team of doctors and nurses appeared, rushing toward Mingyu with hurried steps. They took Jeonghan from his arms with practiced precision, and one of them, a tall woman with sharp eyes, met Mingyu’s gaze.

"We’re doing everything we can, sir," she said briskly. "Please wait outside. We’ll keep you updated."

Mingyu nodded wordlessly, his stomach churning. He barely remembered the walk to the waiting room, but it felt like it took a lifetime. He could feel his heart beating erratically in his chest as he collapsed into a chair, gripping his hands tightly together.

Every thought in his mind was on Jeonghan and the baby. Dino. Their child. He had never wanted anything more than to protect them both, but now, everything was slipping through his fingers like sand. He didn’t know if Jeonghan would wake up. He didn’t know if Dino would survive.

"Please," he muttered desperately, closing his eyes as a knot formed in his throat. "Please, don’t take them from me."

---

The Choice

The door to the waiting room creaked open, and Mingyu’s eyes shot up as the doctor entered, her expression somber.

"Mr. Kim," she began, her voice calm but laced with an undertone of urgency, "Jeonghan’s condition is stabilizing, but it’s touch-and-go. His body was severely stressed by the poison, and the baby—" She hesitated. "The baby is in critical condition. Premature birth is imminent. We need to prepare for both scenarios."

Mingyu’s throat tightened, his eyes locking onto the doctor’s face. "What do you mean? What happens now?"

She took a breath before responding. "We have to choose, Mr. Kim. It’s possible that Jeonghan may not make it through this. If we try to save the baby immediately, it will place a heavy strain on his body. He may not survive, or there may be irreversible damage. But if we delay the birth, the baby could become too weak to survive. It’s a risk either way."

Mingyu felt like the ground had been ripped out from under him. He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think.

"Jeonghan…" Mingyu whispered, his voice breaking. "And Dino…" His eyes welled with unshed tears as he felt like he was drowning in the weight of the decision before him. "What am I supposed to do?!"

The doctor’s expression softened, but there was no answer, no easy solution to offer. She simply placed a hand on his shoulder, giving him a small, sympathetic squeeze. "I’m sorry, Mr. Kim. It’s a decision only you can make. You need to act quickly."