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
God I held my tongue, if not, I would’ve been accused
me hesitantly I smiled and said, “Go, you’ve done enough by bringing
pretty badly. I’ll go check on her,” Neil seemed to be explaining to me.
need for explanations, you’re a free man” I maintained a
belly wasn’t just mine, but if I wanted to bring him into the world, I
his brows and then left.
ward close, my heart remained restless for a me
the doctor to find me a nurse to
called Orlando to take a leave. He was worried and wanted to visit me in the hospital. I gave him the address and told him to come
my phone in bed, I saw a post by Bonnie. It 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 caption, “What hurts more
she deeply loved chose to bring his unwell ex–wife to the hospital while she was injured. It must
I had endured countless painful moments of being
pain that I was sweating bullets and hoped Neil would accompany me to the hospital.
Bonnie was accepted by the Whitmore family, pregnant with
upset Bonnie. On impulse, I liked Bonnie’s post. I was not sure if it was because I liked
happened? Why’re you suddenly in the gynecology ward?” Orlando came to
don’t get treated,
here”
to tell anyone in my family about the
sighed deeply. “It’s all Neil’s fault you’re like this. I remember you being very healthy and robust as a child, not
past. I can only blame myself for being too sentimental back then.”
have been messier and the child would have been affected” Orlando opened the thermos he brought with him. Inside was some soup. He said, “Have some, it’s made by your
carefully sat up and started sipping the soup
T1I1m3OJkIkKFS+l8OyoHlJ06YRqPN1m0fkFs/ffJOKC/sqR4S+g2VFcDaAKfyP6dzZ0oNIWXIjDLogkwaEWqwLeD3I2zEa9UODMtW9dhHlrMy6eUL/TbUyION6gd63suOWfJxY6SyKQe4PJWlHJ8c8UHfl8zYw3fyA3+4U7ewtjFqwjCm+KNedIkvbggdODuChPldTRFjU0kBOVn/M1CclF/kvMvyu50jwwC8EjLE3xOENmxnRyW8z4nOy48tjGRB4eBc2wWuL7uTUvIF0lk/CEIwNm6SQpqfZpogrs0QZQjiWz3N4Sd9xJDJ9Mh1ueL836l8Dh6a/I1XZ7ACuq8LiOelCDSy5TXsQHGsjWurwekcqdjsF31hhEOfV3wL3dxPGNL2+QA26xy3agAHKkg36DPyZnE63fvbSljpl4Va/2ZnTkySe4Y52zc7SzFt911RMLvFgMNStAypUblh2TXyyECW0FW0ZM3SV/ldh8t7GGeZ8bWSS9LlGdg8Gb5Os2IgFR4uz3FU26GOEKdjHPszO8PCP+ZVkdmeyyOnW576Z8GZ34fFTrAdlC3doNvVS8OozlT/QoJ0G9UHmOMa/2Oil8CgiQ8Cpfnx0UaFjJ3Cb7wJ5gPP6oCdspSu63mPT2w7ILR7QlmNYSpEhK03wITppB1j1ZetWR9hlss1PJZ02S9hd/4UyZoYDnYoSbBNgsi9y8MOVmjHRryqg3t+uwdAlGrszAf9IyT3U+HmfObA83Rv3/pVdMjQifOhNtCeFbguWiEX/iJvgtiTP2MW2y0dBoB+31AprRBziU1dL9xM1d/9c1mTLPEbTr4BDy2sMXx8Y4OGElUoysph+Of0XM8PwWdn4vv1A+/5tbHzbPGQEI0mUR0nOUUfCeUAANM4O6MHFs7CrtuZqJKc5MPDPGxwQl7ktKKy4ZxaEDuQC3YIqXiq/pBZeK7Mxxr7uyVrK7JITx/LvVx05MDUmz08JObmru2UJKPlCH96RbeU4b6E0x4SKHM6h0u8e7/1cNjSjvIndoEAVdClbx6VpgDPccVaA9nHLb0KD38lRtkENJYFoqwZJa4V4s5asSxfBQEzQ8/jggsDeHVNTESXFx3V40x0Yl3DWG19GWKdi8ctc1YX8nQW6aAddjiwy+wxzd5FxX0ADlz/q5MC3jvqnIY4L03Qdv2Ljc3ktYeQXx6YKfb/DzqCPJztvMnaxeCh5A1ar+xazZCTCJIWKb+CiiR2foOHTLX0EZwQUWOWx19riZoIa4vdHx6vqwjrjMZM1CxEgz3EahvKm+wf0XZTTCxmRHqKkYgN+SRiS1uS7CdPv9vwZ/ZhiTsgFCk0PxBqPxaOTanEACLpIVybYRYXyNFp5FPCbMvGVWAl9FhpE5Lw27spSjnj08mLOHrawU9QBjUcOfBNKSjk/+dEyFEebUrVU3nwvbgXeBl8ATpYVkFiU9562NeOtI04k3iLig1ke7QfXWGyMXcEkF5JJN8km3CcgAsjwITzjNxKiTOCjWTyhvUUagPtLGKoOdjoOYJZ4musO/zePmMVK0o5jfpfAgyXXfuUbVUjSln7VFzZiXNYFzC4v8mHCDf94L36EUrVeeUA1xV89KFcLaXnbBMeYBA5hP5hThLOtk76OIpymW6qN4mV0jiYqNaN2TFQ3Fd/bqV0dw8ozFUTrm9oIUxoFpuSfqGdR8Rv2rUY8l5/xWZbuigoHZQBdPhcc4uEVuAlcJ7Kik2i/ZWFUYi/8WmBt4AKmNohH01x/BFxF/oXfj0UmHZoZ2RxAIZd5oImQ5Hj4odyWuU3iMoo70vAxWWbdTnHKySQe9QIyp1xoY5JhVpUun9ILH2qP7nPeSc/91+4l99+f0KVgWXCTC/FhQ5wz8lwx0uZMFStqUY6g6y+7OTGXgWiKVe+lcqRvjdKTuXW+/Nyc/rJ01RWem9P5UFY55RFvVrMw2Plp/qC3ZzwAkhm1x3+0w6UTrkz1QZ/gvYrrO2LS7wnzwgJrxThCJKfF8nieF2uU3zriDqUYZj8HM7T07rNwn+m9qZBaLDJSsOXOgqluT5w8GO5oAnpXYjMjujttbjdkWppT1zEBqwQdWNQwcuWNvvmIEwjxge4gx5JQ7LIAqTu+UGHMK67ZYOH2kSv21WygH4owS5MGnRmIW3/JfDcc3XkS+C6f39g+nB2TvyoR7UxqZYKraXb7hLEe9Ox4kzpOrrSCH3n1hTBhiGux+OUr7Yh5JAEA5Soioc+PYDX+Gud+ZCi4CJL8QTMYqNdl0FNogafEuRXpLMHlVa+s/RUp/CHrOQXOXjtWT8BMj1lzdcYohVz/RLDAVAIQWFU85/4iYZO9TrAL9oWXu5rfCzTMvdx7C83CZAwIMVBj7ANvc+jbOkgt/WSkeozFmiJaQnSuXQUr7WDSgqJbssCMSBYoI+pwVQpzCDjkf8F9S/wfxC9M1C6nh1/3lckc6hvWn6roahzY1whC40eZ9OUHd60KxAlScJX0t0eN6bAykSXanUzSSrc8Difr+5HWbwItakjhM1Ax3+4knqwNZRcLtSrapFaiKoy2MX6fWJs5K5EtN++hVd3Bmev+IgsWhT3CSgQqSPlAxakSNWu/DGPfM3djHDdw26RRXdF6JvysQ7ksdh2F7qRIRIRL4P0Scw7mZsil3nELCGwGV2x6ytlu925J6IPbeHGX2jOOcwRdbDr5RvPBosUxK2ww4t4xAlK46uCoOqeNAaZ6tnUM/lmipfuIMy/NFysMaHSePg+MvR/3m0PEvqnOqLb0fAjC+YBZrMEqW+UVYM9JjTBlUgnloAvuz1YzSjNAY9dSHa5Js+CBwEXlcc3UcsuthJ5mMipgNpDWcPad2F9Swk98pAB7UAOnxhl+PsHby2uytK4cR+6NL5scMm8Js2XulVbR/3JrmoLvmbT/Us7OxRdQeGUnRgx7K0iQWe5ajfL7Ix9Nf4PNFFBDK/QLC/DKpjAVs/1T9j1ZsfUmyH0ViJrRj6Id3sloOmhqG2oPoiGrvO5GEzzsszT3mTp7DJlR0bTIvai+Q9nTgoXprUdXyHpX1FjybQt3g2DxdkH+uJuVE4WZfyPeE2SieoA6GUXZL5zctkb06dhwIQJR18O2Uqlpj3OFZXdeDLO+gmaYMyyyJt/x/4+hgncCXRYEv7/oZPQT5LgY+d3iOr2uVyug9Fd0DVLsTx8UgtWPlnWj3yilEfS2faSHcY7w4ehSpATfJHVBP65MLo+8fOBMCNUABauh7avXqCk6JM6wz8Xr/6ml9mtG3h7mSWPp/QRNDPNYlleLYWMeaVPkOrYSnBJYNBM7umKt8/NZvEWQdzPo8+gfXpNDJh/QBjXOyym7aOSuHK9wbEHU2PsXmn2/JJJ2n2jaNNcx714+LfdPPTNr2PA5IujpUtBbVD0We6LjnZqxwTVH7CDX5UkpjYiFv+tV1Ybz5d+0ipqBwUhnJGEg2lFdPtCJhKPXpj0H4fByd2YzovRUgh7Yw8Nx5pfy2sfLisnn1lpOvWdohOon+Yzo6rW6z5kstPlCUKWQG+bWBel/p/gCxcJLswyyV/UEAlCp+y433EqQsiwDSSfHbdlF7B5QClcaxNgSBdOHnX6r+lAoyT/trviYNLXQs5YDQdj07tmbZWlK79GVnRvGVNsiD/6vMWerNr4gWwcjii9YECtlgELVcUiUCtAmbzAU8R51Wej/L95qX5D4NpCLwnDHfuh2qLONYp3SNa++If19aJIrW48pZPZ+X1ihSTixL3/ydZhBSsOLDb34TsmVhHMFWfS8Ec8MJSOroO5sdz31yMNfqTp36dop9Qdju3vWtiyWMNvLbSObnFZih5L6ybgA593/1/rM6hLLouOyhtusXoAvlZX++z7gZ7lxXuKXPFwAPwcmdGycw0ezwKJmAGxrdxeLrLJDBPdsLSOTNTMMqyRtO53VX0foX1D34oK0fuZHVqpFNJUZpV1iHOCbEArbMEdkmcHGob8ddwqawd6iHRMlcTbAum26cfHdO/c7E/njRVwhPkbJJa0IjuELkjr+VubjB5fFZpDcd9gXGGgB5+OAqhr6DKvr7tV9yBUQcCk6kYkLwQN1QpexBuL0uPJiw1KV2JEd1HJCDVXYz0/Qnwlyb5m0ZKS56BPqi5NDe7eLeEk72X/MsUB6bYQosQ34rG3crkjPlLKcAp2DX05BS8WfAE9eTfVVS4nbwXt5Dn8b2VRa4UaAijE/p0OP8lPHcuy+aOOllRzYz6h2lRHvyjLdS6Os8+cD+5oCYEecrf2/JlKKH3EjE1QNoVkVn4JHMgfqt07iR6XyyM86Bp6jF1XFPaVBtjBGwAYJWW9JD70NHwS44c8KhZbWSF8LzeM1iJpO5seR8GIGCbOzYpExvifq3S0aYOct/3QKTzPgChsQshW2wiDzd6uT2md+Uq5lrRVmrawFJ29pEasnOk1U9L6dQvTm+6ycKNMJFbRPKJp/RNP0MwSAKj+tbpyW7J47As2AEMGy/bgHaYh+gIKSjwChfCTLo1TYRXCAdWW592ijq2HIfcK/ORkn0y5EVogV/Tl3vV2BhOKZ7dtUhc/f8fNN1TIH/ojry4dBFQJQlauC9xFCvb/GmcTKUY/xG2Rvkdgkt/pBQZL16m5a3seaIB8O9nl96uc/l9mIpvmkS1pkwdoqMRVblyquN3cj1p0e3WHluKrd0Q2Ar9a+tTxDsoeqGtCDwetLbu8Y+JtXs0TFwuA25wo+5QYDmh/YG1O+hgIE95YPT5cWSbJSrkM91VMH4zgSnIBMYnTkRSSP6w5ONLURdZgFDqg35HTQVDEHt0Jm5UBKXpbKkUULNTPq6Xv9Qki+3l97KdnFKS69gX1eo07ScsvmuQalduADAQ1yvMulOYzjrb18EPa+WYBiNNJuuJXmBwAyXigba4N1ldwau9aq2PUGBdhQO4RFk/aofMdJQmbx9XnBXIeVsfwvL0JejDT62THDEvI/JS/T8k2IbyTDs4hbuedFET7AGOzU659RYDnDwD25w5QIshugAQZer54uaAby9khPTmrvXQhfmYkrVL8nh61PsBFXl9j2cBX3gdEYwHUBkxMTK48YZaXsevcBZ1FJ9gPZ+LeoqI5HA66YuPtGO5f7ACyC9SRtNyhbcD/s79cUZNyL9F4+UgMpPprWScGOxHKhT6lPxk2r73sSLivqI1MMSfySAVAjHSf7XsJyYmHV893JrQXQJvTigdYEXsJAwAjg4le4rpr8S6RIac4HPUGNtDcvPo9S2ShWrmIAGlkSCD56xYSinCQj0qeuJEq2q3HnKOygqPNvKz1Odb4xfrpkjT8YVM5ZFWcgplDy5dW7L2c6UKPLhmpt2r/h7BNmmmq5+glNC7exqcU0AxJmwd46eO2gQSQCkCKKoyH4mzL/dJi5xZqXgRdmy6qs900LdgGnH8IZmBdEGP1ALN4qm8xV/o9HkP1/6GZNsvMQ9Sk2MFkd3rYBF9zqIhw5Rar9YwfLb4CWNo3QjAPyxf1AR5YX8UBrOnJ0OfA65+C1E6Y26WOvXBJUmexhEtXvxomCZwgMVegeG9+WSdZZpAwPzLDGKHI2k2SCdxzuxreLMcwT/dpRSYOaXausmv76vFwCcPzsHmrKEaTQjIF11c68yfHrnGC0sVE1Y7MPsE0lVt2w+sCrVyE1Y4DtiJ4XHsDgnzvWP0TtpeteSZICrwl76lNmwStNlramzdJBSIefSYXrgZnRKpAYRwgOk/HrldoykYHKfimr7mzuORfIoN92P7X8m2h9jeY8NW0ZSeRYPuhSJsDQBGca5cKheyCgQiUkTTnXL/EPp3xqnK5We3SDGU1SGt7sjzEW18UB4yaYmA87AdtRzfwcJQCsPR5I+AR3MaIl9l/DZbmZOfPGB5kwtN4RIHeWI/hvSE5IN8CZKsQ+P269IdM7Pm9m7PXpkvkftcWki3sWU4CQU16ZXfvqC20WEidEF35KQEAUak7zGcfCyY0CuSNrU2SfnYJOTPMJBeL8iecPNo+SzrUNdGYH/J79hLkRZPUMJxXY/Zpm9zkKRvUtmDZKfVVAkXAJoUwk3CcgEJIOltbuQrHqvhyW76pOkEEe/p1RKrwbGwi5L1AfpO+daJeEAhW47X9x8+drTghpiAlRE4t3RnxprbUEhFmmqqvXuZ6SQli60Ox5ZNtRFUZZXLQv+HVD86aUzl03F0vhuBBfaEivMQA+EE0s4EXyJT/jjM2N9zkDFb627nxTITtYEUZ2+QEhKonqLOMSSd2IiChZ9lU/mWgyJD5PdMVkbdImiFNaVJyHAMkB3gY/juZbUWNsW9/pAvuUi6rFyFNO4bePP5wQEW3aXez8oCrdduw1Ozn6fhgb5+15P58tOUCX9I6q2nHEXwK7bgjFfFnn77clkJ7yIJqauM8DnCQc7b09PH9gieqPxeYMq7LMRflNAg2Xf2PTTHAU98loepH7FPZmsjMm8h4PQ1N3uYKrggOfqcO71q+NPD5SkpZRF96nbFnX8oNXEPboTnWHaR2R/BLzQVajrheAbTHrl8om/wseWOi2ahoJgLVwbkq9UMDaD5g7Sp4kS/3Xkvz8/RvAm3mICcKV75i1C4RiGmPouV9SksheIIcYb3YCmYAHc4gaIJbjNWTMAE8xL0xSRrIn/hst/FCIgcaIW/t2T/1Dj9liY9IZ3YTn/Srku1Uqjk5tAMUVNhDNcp2OI/Meb2xiptWUWyVLkWx3+/MFjbmkyvah6ZCyWcSM36t4G9PvvwhMK3heyrES80GWraClWd1yIH+5EcxM87s/6QsaPcATf45Z0M9+PXsnRFuBsgv6BDce0D4pks3LkqI/er4vXpwcb4qYrxAVLkQLCougRnoDwoi+1TjL77S/F3aYypGF1m9kGHLd9V9GfOeVWPRBy83oQG9RaEtnZFXH38zuigfXDwCBINuYjG19xK8frWcrYClrvz2Q9dUtY+oAVs09XliZcO5WKc5/lkGON+rtz0oI6PBKFPuFn5o23GgyQFvuvJCDF8qbJHxtlUJw1DdsoELA095A4y3jS2FUYgBa4Y/t9V066/wCj/0xZc298zeLfUrDxUQC3A2sEupzxE5XjKPayG6304XdkKx5YDWCRyhVKKGQAzHpRASMu+IbhsLCnxw8RqsdWheq1okZ2lOhuDRRpUo6F/VPzk8xiKXV0RE/EKXGTBtpc2OMOlajiF+dUYPlQpTf4zisf9FV0I0qThy9Ztsc8xkqDqBfhA1f/KDZO9EbksUIodKARE3QTEdIn9wJtpwbfBzQCb39UV7x+awl2/3tYq8NFIjtPkprorrB1gNxx433rdN8UYb10W0fm0rZbGFstOuKonEQFuJZXFdYEuiQiqQrm68BIrrJ+CvBc96t8u5bNnW4pf85EOtJRneT7Pk4gTaxcVw//1mTRHkcLRYQIQmKbXm66Wg6WmGGBirlZcKVbp6Xczd5Z/1UUG6OvSmc2wmXAlZQeIq7tmcoA5VVK9SkVxPyqKkP3KOuEqZmTt9yZBFQQGHzSM2ooyLbwsThug/PWzFimozBMjIg3lrJxTXl2Rnm+2L+im8JetL0SgJad2I75gszDTNGdtPLHcTRJeHle4qua4Rzxfj7lfaF2nQlSeWIESIx+JZ+t9I2gGeXqscttpskUep/WiiJvnTdt2BseLic9mKtlPOHNA4vO+W0la3YWznv0QUWAZ04VoNeTxacp7yMkf1X00iHoa+LOXl6pZhEigJMkz7Nq/lWkh52gBPH17uJax/FMJ3LXpHWm2cPepkRO5sWgnOlcJr5A1ZcOHvCtHlnfviBYaaHKAFkXBXnOrNm/dqdgqRQMGGhTBjNwQDCna6KyCEN/gxiHco0L0qZx1DmiN6ZapiImyva4KwpUBImuaJy2SFdGyRIPI8CgxjAc8Our0abqFojgABshvwsNqYR31DjNNR+cFqWBwat/1QidezlFveXFEDFGbwHuomc2HiZ7Aw5wwqKUgXtoDbJQBmrtY8PeUwlMBAwKACLKPaA5eiYt5SMH3ERTWJY9VBPeFJZR4OVIAuGCpBf33JZmRgUEa7j/B+1mP0ua9PKTXvRd8F0bTtQHSV419gL/sn5dbuduPIAb9yIrkKVigGvptLbc7TBpTOxbkxkobVM1gtBkfcLjc1rVGDZGisXbdmyWwr7MS2ciwKda6oXkakw0TLrZCnw56hMmWVI0n7VGr5Vk3HwPvMSAUIqaCH3pcauoCTguFEN+gLq0U6PkkaOczun/IGG68ObHdP65ntFDgEBclaQRmYlXYPjg2ID7E3obHarcAENNFAXG04KjtPlwdvcfe4OJOpDdXOemStg7hq8BCkggthicv63RqkEDMMm4WjWnXD+cY/G5CuSs7EEY7F0JcelddF9EeeE/D5DdTqENhn3fQ880gXLsPZhlmkh4bxNEw4EE3m5wamp8KYOPvjdY8eWqOnG/ag84XMNtLUgnX/X84iEUDu/ADSKwFEW+mN3+9CUAuyVlOMVGbcbsfxEgousLqc57QBCoRJCPhpAPxpiqJriE+WHyIbPWB8TJFkqILUYjfYIs3ZSx4Fha+riHgirfIigQGIb8hZ8CwkDaMGx89aYdp+luF2gmkDFkM56+lBhwSbV0gdwb0WQq2+eb7+zYRFhJBpH6pAMQU0Pbai4GAZHNPOgLKRvikoaFzUnz9jYSu5VjuKUegfyoIQGtE2fhXtM9YuMIyhoY4SHN+IwndgUoe6TTY835AyvxFPDY1EvEdu258tuMMoKoIO8rTJbLuDkqMaUr7zhudFRuRDW0KAtjhlrOy9Wjae1QXxmNAnsyH9AJeo7TNW1DD5GOT9VCTz1EF2KfpaFRZ27HXiZDRQqiWgZQLwyY38CsZoMTKIj6kSjiUgrzNrlBJ9FkW55uc+bQoc/2rzWGGai+ulVxwAwKXrVJTvBcJ2Mb/sL9dStYExRk10i5+zkjZfZ6lWBMTXAAY74VB5n/MPgpCpmZ+Kx9xrV6Dd2feShtqC3juISBBQ+mDBkWIfYUlPc3Y+hTER+kE5sFCTQZBLYzzLg6l4xl7XhT14EWuFmA5KW4CXG2gIzaPf3Rnd+k2lbusv3x6KjOf6597elY4eKjk5WD9nbYqOWnTAyCqUREXWX+jbSGGjU+UWea7JCpUPsAYYAU0dxn259w4yL/Am2YAdVuMeqvxez8BGqosHUmOpjcH6lTqysKPeA62S731Et9F8x532GhhQZKdEXg9YR/LJibOTxfFeyFjcvOOWJIPHczDTA=
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!