When I got to the hospital, I was taken for a gynecological check–up while Neil waited outside.
I gave the doctor a brief rundown of my situation, followed by a series of tests. The results didn’t seem optimistic The doc suggested I stay in the hospital for a bit, which seriously bummed me out. I felt like a deflated balloon.
“The man outside, is he your husband? Should we fill him in on your situation? You’ll need someone to take care of you, the doctor asked.
“No, he’s just a friend. If I need his help, I’ll let him know Thanks.” I replied wearily
After I was transferred to the ward, Neil came to my bedside and asked. “What’s up? The doc wouldn’t tell me anything.”
I requested the doctor to keep it confidential, so she wouldn’t inform Neil Patient privacy was respected in such cases.
Looking at Neil’s worried face, I knew he genuinely cared for me. He had left Bonnie behind to rush me to the hospital. This wasn’t some figment of my imagination. I was debating whether I should tell him the truth, give him a chance to decide.
If I could successfully deliver the baby, I wouldn’t shoo him away from visiting.
“Neil, I was about to say when Neil’s phone rang
He glanced at the caller ID and picked up. After a few words, I got the gist of the conversation. It must be Kate on the other end.
“How did it get so serious?”
“I’m on my way.”
“Alright, got it.”
now I was determined. Neil had only sent me to the hospital out of conscience,
tongue, if not, I would’ve been accused of taking advantage
and looked at me hesitantly I smiled and said, “Go, you’ve done enough by
go check on her,” Neil seemed to be explaining to me.
you’re a free man” I maintained a calm
want to show it. The child in my belly wasn’t just mine, but if I wanted to bring him into the world, I had to bear this burden
his brows and then
door of the ward close, my heart remained restless for a me for the next few
time. After a while, I asked the doctor to find
to visit me in the hospital. I gave him the address and told
was from five hours ago, probably around the time when Neil was taking me to the hospital. A picture of an injured ankle and a brief
man she deeply loved chose to bring his unwell ex–wife to the hospital while she was injured. It must
she had it coming. I had endured countless painful moments of being abandoned, with Neil always choosing her over me.
that I was sweating bullets and hoped Neil would accompany me to
by the Whitmore family,
chance to upset Bonnie. On impulse, I liked Bonnie’s post. I was not sure if it was
Why’re you suddenly in the gynecology ward?” Orlando came
don’t get treated, it might affect future pregnancies. Scared me
here”
want to tell anyone in my family about
sighed deeply. “It’s all Neil’s fault you’re like this. I remember you being very
all in the past. I can only blame myself for being too sentimental back
Otherwise, it would have been messier and the child would have been affected” Orlando opened the thermos he brought with him. Inside was some soup. He said,
started sipping
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!